Firms To Watch: White-collar crime

Louise Byrne Legal was launched in September 2023 by name partner Louise Byrne; she has longstanding experience handling criminal investigations, along with fraud and corruption matters.

White-collar crime in Ireland

A&L Goodbody LLP

A&L Goodbody LLP’s white-collar criminal law team includes specialist criminal and regulatory lawyers who assist clients with both internal and external investigations, with particular expertise in handling situations involving criminal wrongdoing, regulatory breaches, and criminal trials. Kenan Furlong has longstanding experience of handling money laundering and bribery matters and jointly heads the practice with Joe Kelly, who specialises in local and international regulatory investigations. Ciarán O’Conluain has built a strong reputation for supporting clients in interactions with regulatory authorities and Katie O’Connor manages civil litigation for clients within the financial services, construction, and pharmaceutical sectors. Other key members of the team include Mark Devane, Louise Byrne and Nicholas Cole.

Responsables de la pratique:

Kenan Furlong; Joe Kelly


Autres avocats clés:

Ciarán O’Conluain; Katie O’Connor; Mairead O’Brien; Dario Dagostino; Mark Devane; Louise Byrne; Nicholas Cole


Les références

‘Partner led but still with strength and depth across the team with non-legal support services to make a seamless solution for a complex market abuse investigation.’

‘Dario Dagostino is an impressive operator and conducted interviews calmly and intelligently. Katie O’Connor was on top of the details.’

‘The team have a great knowledge of our business and know our priorities and adapt their advice based on this.’

Principaux clients

Leslie Buckley


Volkswagen Group AG and Volkswagen Group Ireland


Principaux dossiers


  • Advised the Volkswagen Group on the Irish regulatory investigations involving the NOx issue.
  • Advised former Chairman of INM PLC on high-profile allegations regarding his work for INM.

Arthur Cox

Arthur Cox’s corporate crime team has built a strong reputation for representing clients in all phases of regulatory and criminal enforcement procedures, spanning from investigation to prosecution. The team has a sizable client base featuring a diverse set of domestic and international entities, including regulatory authorities, governmental agencies, private individuals, and financial institutions. Joanelle O'Cleirigh has extensive experience of handling whistleblowing and anti-bribery matters and jointly heads the team with Richard Willis, who specialises in cross-border data governance processes. Deirdre O’Mahony regularly defends organisations and senior individuals in criminal investigations. Senior associates Ciarán Egan and Tara Roche are also noted.

Responsables de la pratique:

Joanelle O’Cleirigh; Richard Willis


Autres avocats clés:

Tara Roche; Deirdre O’Mahony; Ciarán Egan


Les références

‘Easy to work with, personable, highly responsive.’

‘Richard Willis – really responsive, always available and gives smart advice.’

‘Very strong team; good breadth of experience. Excellent client focus.’

Principaux clients

Yuzhu Kang (Kang Family Worldwide Group)


Deloitte Ireland LLP


R.E. Administration (In Liquidation) Limited


Hears Technology Limited


Principaux dossiers


  • Represented Yuzhu Kang in multi-party commercial court proceedings claiming fraudulent misappropriation.
  • Represented John Bishop and Hears Technology in commercial court proceedings against a former director and shareholder alleging fraudulent overcharging
  • Represented the successful bidders in the Siteserv transaction in relation to the IBRC Commission of Investigation.

Mason Hayes & Curran LLP

The investigations and white-collar crime team at Mason Hayes & Curran LLP is sought after by a range of clients, with particular strength in the technology sector, where it assists IT corporates with regulatory investigations and those conducted by the Data Protection Commission. The practice is led by Liam Guidera, who handles a variety of fraud and corporate misconduct matters and investigations. Peter Johnston and Colin Monaghan work with domestic and international clients on contentious regulatory matters. Conor O’Leary is well-known for handling fraud-related affairs for clients from the financial services sector, and Shane Reynolds has built a strong reputation for representing local councils and state bodies in regulatory proceedings before all levels of Irish courts.

Responsables de la pratique:

Liam Guidera


Autres avocats clés:

Shane Reynolds; Conor O’Leary; Peter Johnston; Colin Monaghan


Les références

‘The team’s key strength is the ability to distil complex legal issues into comprehendible advice.’

‘Shane Reynolds stands out. He has vast experience as a criminal practitioner and provides insightful advice to clients with great clarity and empathy in complex legal cases.’

‘The Mason Hayes & Curran LLP is highly experienced in Ireland. They have a very sophisticated level of understanding of the Irish and EU regulatory framework for industry and strong insight into trends in white-collar crime, anti-money laundering, and regulatory offences. The team is very responsive to client needs, well-resourced and highly efficient in delivering quality legal services.’

Principaux clients

Banque National de Paris Paribas


Meta


Portakabin UK Ltd.


Impedans


International Transport Workers’ Federation


Central Bank of Ireland


Allied Irish Banks plc


Bank of Ireland


Health Service Executive


Gas Networks Ireland


Kilkenny County Council


Commission for Regulation of Utilities


Child and Family Agency (TUSLA)


UBIL (a division of NatWest)


Waterford City and Waterford County Councils


Principaux dossiers


  • Represented Meta in multiple complex landmark DPC investigations and Irish and General Court of the European Union proceedings.
  • Represented a number of witnesses, including the Irish Prime Minister (Taoiseach), in the Siteserv Commission of Investigation established in June 2015.
  • Represented the International Transport Workers’ Federation in allegations of human trafficking in the Irish fishing industry.

McCann FitzGerald LLP

McCann FitzGerald LLP’s white-collar crime team acts for regulators and regulated entities in complex regulatory and business crime-related investigations and disputes. One key area of strength for the team is its expertise in fraud and asset tracing affairs leading to a steady stream of instructions to handle cross-border criminal and fraudulent disputes. Audrey Byrne specialises in international litigation and investigations and jointly heads the team with Megan Hooper, who has extensive expertise advising financial institutions on both regulatory and criminal investigations. Experienced litigator Catherine Derrig has been involved in a number of corporate fraud investigations of late, while Donal Hamilton focuses on contentious issues and investigations involving employees and whistleblowing. Michael Coonan, Rosaleen Byrne and Bébhinn Bollard are other key contacts.

Responsables de la pratique:

Megan Hooper; Audrey Byrne


Autres avocats clés:

Donal Hamilton; Michael Coonan; Rosaleen Byrne; Bébhinn Bollard


Les références

‘They have a sophisticated sanctions advisory and litigation practice, with insightful views on the regulators’ thought processes.’

‘We work with Audrey Byrne mainly. She has deep knowledge, a keen eye for detail, and excellent client handling skills whilst also being fun to work with.’

Principaux clients

Raidió Teilifís Éireann


Mediahuis Ireland Group Limited


Trafalgar Trafhold Limited, Instantania Holdings Limited, Kamara Limited and Bairiki Incorporated


Principaux dossiers


  • Advised Mediahuis Ireland Group Limited on a number of regulatory challenges, including an ODCE investigation.
  • Assisted Raidió Teilifís Éireann with the preparation of a report on certain voluntary severance schemes operated by the national broadcaster.
  • Advised a group of companies, including Trafalgar Trafold Limited, on cross-border proceedings for damages and injunctive relief.

William Fry LLP

William Fry LLP’s white-collar crime practice handles high-profile cases and investigations for clients including public sector bodies, multinational companies, and high-net-worth individuals. The team regularly acts for clients in proceedings before the Irish High Court and advises on money laundering, bribery, and corruption matters. Laura Murdock has significant experience of handling complex multi-jurisdictional commercial disputes involving financial crime and jointly heads the team with Paul Convery, who specialises in shareholder disputes and reputation management issues. Deirdre O’Donovan’s practice often involves advising clients on investigations arising from allegations of corporate wrongdoing and significant data breaches. Other key contacts include Adele Hall, Joanne Ryan, and litigator Garrett Breen.

Responsables de la pratique:

Laura Murdock; Paul Convery


Autres avocats clés:

Deirdre O’Donovan; Adele Hall; Joanne Ryan; Garrett Breen


Principaux clients

Havila Kystruten


Swan Hellenic Cruises Limited


Maybourne Hotels Group/Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani


Avonburg Finance Limited


Pola Logistics Limited


Principaux dossiers


  • Represented a number of parties in asset recovery proceedings, where the ultimate owner of the asset is a sanctioned entity.
  • Represented various parties in proceedings alleging corporate raiding and conspiracy to defraud.
  • Represented parties who are the focus of an investigation by Inspectors appointed by the High Court in an allegation of a significant data breach at the group.

ByrneWallace LLP

The white-collar crime team at ByrneWallace LLP is extremely proficient in assuming the roles of both prosecutor and defence in high-profile criminal investigations, with specific expertise in cybercrime and fraud cases. Jon Legorburu has extensive experience of handling investigations and litigation matters for clients from the financial services, healthcare, and insurance sectors and jointly heads the team with Seán O’Donnell, who specialises in contentious regulatory matters. Mark O’Shaughnessy is a key name for regulatory investigations and disputes and acts for domestic and international companies, and Eimear Redmond often advises public bodies on statutory interpretation and EU law obligations. Robert McDermott and Ben Grogan are also noted.

Responsables de la pratique:

Jon Legorburu; Seán O’Donnell


Autres avocats clés:

Mark O’Shaughnessy; Eimear Redmond; Robert McDermott; Ben Grogan


Les références

‘They had excellent domain expertise for an issue they advised us on. Their service was extremely quick and detailed. Their advice helped us resolve a dispute promptly.’

Eversheds Sutherland

Eversheds Sutherland handles advisory work in the field of anti-bribery, assisting clients with developing procedures, controls, and audits to minimise the risk of bribery and corruption. The team also advises on regulatory investigations and risk management situations. The practice is led by Eoin Mac Aodha, who regularly advises public sector bodies on regulatory functions. Pamela O’Neill is a key name for handling complex regulatory disputes and investigations in the financial services sector, and Ciara Geraghty is experienced in representing clients in judicial reviews and enforcement proceedings. Other key contacts include Norman Fitzgerald, Stephen Barry and Graham Kenny.

Responsables de la pratique:

Eoin Mac Aodha


Autres avocats clés:

Pamela O’Neill; Ciara Geraghty; Norman Fitzgerald; Stephen Barry; Graham Kenny


Les références

‘An excellent team. They have and maintain very good technical and subject-matter specific knowledge.’

‘They are well-resourced and understand how to apply their skills to the benefit of the client. They are practical in delivering advice which covers strategic options. Tactical decisions are made at appropriate times and with informed input from the client.’

‘They understand the need for the best response possible to be identified and implemented in a crisis situation.’

Principaux clients

Commission for Communications Regulation


Ernst & Young


Residential Tenancies Board


Kingspan Group plc


National Standards Authority of Ireland


Swissport


Principaux dossiers


  • Represented Persona, and Sigma, in a claim arising from alleged interference and corruption on the part of a then Government Minister and leading businessman in the competition for the grant of the second mobile phone licence in 1995.
  • Advised ComReg on investigations and prosecutions which resulted in 102 criminal summonses against Pure Telecom and Roctel Telecom.
  • Represented EY in defending Commercial Court proceedings brought by IBRC against EY.

Matheson LLP

Matheson LLP’s regulatory investigations and corporate crime team handles prevention, detection, reporting and risk management of white-collar crimes. Practice head Karen Reynolds has longstanding experience advising financial institutions on a wide range of regulatory issues, including insider dealing, anti-bribery and corruption, fraud, and cyber security breaches. Nicola Dunleavy SC and Deirdre Crowley regularly assist clients with internal corporate investigations and investigations brought by external regulators. Senior associates Deirdre Crowley and Connor Cassidy are also noted.

Responsables de la pratique:

Karen Reynolds


Autres avocats clés:

Nicola Dunleavy SC; Deirdre Crowley; Deirdre Crowley; Connor Cassidy


Les références

‘The team are second to none when it comes to guiding clients through the complexities of regulatory and criminal investigations, avoiding all the landmines and delivering clear and comprehensive advices at all stages.’

‘Karen Reynolds is very impressive. She is extremely knowledgeable, astute and an excellent communicator who builds close relationships with her clients and provides sensible and pragmatic advice in a crystal clear manner.’

‘Nicola Dunleavy has exceptional ability, diligence and integrity.’

Principaux clients

Centric Health


Iveco Group N.V., CNH Industrial N.V. and Stellantis N.V


Breccia Unlimited Company and Blackrock Hospital Limited


Irish Precision Optics


Irving Oil / Top Oil


Ticketmaster


Volkswagen Group Ireland Limited and Volkswagen Financial Services Ireland Limited


Principaux dossiers


  • Advised Centric Health on an inquiry commenced by the Irish Data Protection Commission following a cyber-attack.
  • Advised Iveco Group on the defence of a significant number of High Court Irish claims.
  • Advised Irving Oil / Top Oil on a fuel price investigation by the Irish competition regulator in the context of significant price increases arising from the Ukraine conflict.

Beauchamps LLP

The white-collar crime and crisis management team at Beauchamps LLP is proficient in handling regulatory and criminal investigations for clients including financial institutions, charities, public sector entities, and regulatory bodies. Thomas O’Dwyer heads the practice and is experienced in providing reputation and crisis management-related advice to clients facing criminal allegations. Other key members include experienced litigators Sharon Delaney, Edward Lyons and Séan Canniffe.

Responsables de la pratique:

Thomas O’Dwyer


Autres avocats clés:

Sharon Delaney; Edward Lyons; Séan Canniffe


Les références

‘We have worked closely with Beauchamps LLP for several years, and they are always ready to meet our demands and have a unique ability to be aware of the environment in which we operate and the challenges we face.’

‘Thomas O’Dwyer is impressive. He is our go-to advisor for white-collar crime. Thomas has an amazing ability to understand the business environment in which we operate, that leaves us with the confidence that we are working with the best in the market.’

Principaux dossiers


  • Represented Ulster Bank DAC in proceedings involving a forged signature on a customer’s cheque.