Department profile
McCann FitzGerald LLP

Employment

Europe Guide 2026 : Ireland

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McCann FitzGerald LLP

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About

Provided by McCann FitzGerald LLP

Our Employment Law Group at McCann FitzGerald LLP provides strategic, practical advice to national and international organisations. Our specialist team advises across the full spectrum of employment, equality and industrial relations law, working closely with other practice areas to deliver integrated, commercially focused HR solutions.

We have extensive experience in complex and contentious disputes, workplace investigations and the employment aspects of corporate transactions, often with a cross-border dimension. We support clients on both advisory and litigation matters, aligning legal strategy with business objectives.

Our expertise includes employment contracts and HR policies; digital workplace and social media issues; data protection and confidentiality; investigations and disciplinary processes; whistleblowing; remuneration, pensions and benefits; equality and discrimination; industrial relations and union engagement; collective consultation, TUPE and outsourcing; termination and unfair dismissal; health and safety; restructuring and redundancy; and business immigration and employment permits.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Employment - Ireland

Band 2

What the Team is Known For

McCann FitzGerald has a widely praised employment department with substantial experience within the team. The law firm acts on non-contentious mandates relating to the transfer of undertakings in transactions, collective redundancies and data protection compliance. Lawyers in the practice handle employment-related litigation pertaining to discrimination, equality, unfair dismissal and harassment claims. The team also has experience in remuneration matters and protected disclosure mandates. In addition, it has strong knowledge of pensions issues within both the public and private sectors, advising trustees and employers on a range of matters relating to defined benefit and defined contribution pensions, including IORP II compliance, benefits harmonisation and pensions-related disputes.

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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • McCann FitzGerald represented Research Ireland in the successful defence of a High Court injunction application by its former director general to restrain the termination of their employment.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • McCann FitzGerald gets to the point quickly and is not afraid to give direct, succinct advice.

    Employment respondentEurope

  • McCann FitzGerald’s employment team consistently delivers clear, accurate and commercially focused advice, underpinned by deep sectoral experience.

    Employment respondentEurope

  • Everyone I deal with at McCanns is pragmatic and commercial.

    Employment respondentEurope

  • The lawyers in McCann FitzGerald's employment team are highly skilled experts who adapt their approach to align with clients’ needs.

    Employment respondentEurope

  • The team provides very practical advice at all times based on a combination of business circumstances and the realities of the matter at hand.

    Employment respondentEurope

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Eleanor Cunningham
    Eleanor Cunningham

    Eleanor Cunningham

    Eleanor Cunningham heads the law firm's pensions and incentives department and focuses her practice on employee share schemes and pensions plans, in addition to advising on IORP II compliance. She acts for trustees and companies in the public and private spheres, and is also adept at dealing with contentious issues.

    • Eleanor is very proactive and gives very practical and pragmatic advice with a real command of her subject.

      Employment respondentEurope

    • Her ability to navigate complex legal issues with ease reflects her deep expertise and sophisticated approach.

      Employment respondentEurope

    • Eleanor provides a responsive service and brilliant commercial awareness.

      Employment respondentEurope

    • She is very responsive and provides advice that can be acted upon.

      Employment respondentEurope

    • Eleanor provides excellent advice to clients in complex legal issues and challenges.

      Employment respondentEurope
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  • Catherine Austin
    Catherine Austin

    Catherine Austin

    Catherine Austin assists clients with the pensions aspects of M&A transactions, in addition to advising on IORP II compliance and scheme restructurings. She is skilled at offering advice to both trustees and corporates.

    • Catherine is a pleasure to work with. She is very calm in the face of a crisis, with a strong awareness of what's needed to get a project completed and very strong technical knowledge.

      Employment respondentEurope

    • Catherine is a top-class lawyer dedicated to client service and practical solutions.

      Employment respondentEurope
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  • Mary Brassil
    Mary Brassil

    Mary Brassil

    Mary Brassil is experienced in a broad range of employment topics, including contested dismissals, individual discrimination disputes and protected disclosure mandates. She is best known for her work on the labour law aspects of corporate transactions.

    • She is very focused on identifying the right solution to deliver the best commercial outcome.

      Employment respondentEurope

    • Mary is always calm, commercial and clear with her advice.

      Employment respondentEurope

    • Mary's proactive and effective approach is consistently solution-focused and driven by delivering customer value.

      Employment respondentEurope
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  • Donal Hamilton
    Donal Hamilton

    Donal Hamilton

    Donal represents clients in employment-related issues such as terminations, union-related activities, immigration advice and employee disciplinary proceedings.

    • Donal demonstrates excellent expertise and commercial insights.

      Employment respondentEurope
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  • Clementine Farrell
    Clementine Farrell

    Clementine Farrell

    Clementine Farrell acts for financial services, media and pharmaceutical clients on a range of pension scheme arrangements. She also advises trustees on governance and regulatory issues, including DORA.

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Ranked Individuals at McCann FitzGerald LLP (5)

Ireland

Members

Provided by McCann FitzGerald LLP

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