Employment | Europe

A&L Goodbody has an impressive practice with leading employment and pensions teams acting for clients from a range of sectors. The law firm is renowned for handling high-end employment disputes and large-scale transactional matters, advising on an extensive range of issues such as TUPE and collective redundancies. The team acts for several large trustees and employers on the restructuring of pensions schemes and related litigation, often for clients in the finance and insurance sectors. It regularly acts on cross-border matters. A&L Goodbody further assists with protected disclosure matters, GDPR compliance topics and data protection regulations.

Arthur Cox has a formidable employment department which handles the pensions and employment aspects of large transactional and internal restructuring projects. The law firm offers longstanding experience in high-end labour law matters concerning remuneration, social security disputes, employee transfers and senior executive terminations. It regularly assists companies with internal investigations and resultant disciplinary processes. The team handles disputes over protected disclosure and allegations of discrimination. On the pensions side, the law firm advises a combination of trustees and employers on the reorganisation and restructuring of pension schemes, on GDPR issues and on the resolution of internal disputes.

ByrneWallace has a widely admired and respected employment team providing top-quality advice on the whole spectrum of labour law matters, including terminations, unfair dismissals, disciplinary matters, discrimination claims, protected disclosures and whistle-blowing cases. It also assists with restructurings, collective redundancies and TUPE mandates. The team is experienced in public sector work, with a proven track record of advising the Irish government on a range of policy and procedural issues in the field. It advises on GDPR compliance for both public and private sector entities.

Mason Hayes & Curran has a highly regarded employment law department with an extensive base of prominent domestic and international clients, particularly in the technology and education sectors. The law firm demonstrates considerable activity in contentious and injunctive proceedings, including unfair dismissal cases. The team also has experience in M&A-related labour mandates, transfers, multiple redundancies and industrial relations matters. Additionally, the law firm has a capable pensions practice which often assists employers or trustees with a range of issues, including scheme establishment and closure or questions arising from corporate transactions.

Matheson has an impressive employment practice which frequently assists large multinational companies in the financial and technology sectors. The team is proficient in redundancy and transfer mandates, in addition to M&A-related employment matters. The law firm is also experienced in the handling of complex contentious matters concerning employment relationships and dismissals, regularly defending employers before the Irish High Court. Matheson comes particularly recommended for cross-border and international work, with experience advising large US multinationals and global law firms on Irish employment law. The law firm also maintains a respectable pensions practice advising on IORP II compliance and scheme transfers.

Eversheds Sutherland has a strong pensions team that advises trustees and blue-chip companies on complex and cross-border issues relating to defined benefit and defined contribution schemes, including the launch of master trusts, wind-ups and restructuring processes. The law firm is known for handling contentious employment matters such as redundancies and unfair dismissals, often involving senior-level employees. The team is experienced in assisting corporates with employment law-related GDPR compliance and disciplinary matters. It acts for both domestic and international clients, most notably in the technology, healthcare and retail sectors.

Eversheds Sutherland has a strong pensions team that advises trustees and blue-chip companies on complex and cross-border issues relating to defined benefit and defined contribution schemes, including the launch of master trusts, wind-ups and restructuring processes. The law firm is known for handling contentious employment matters such as redundancies and unfair dismissals, often involving senior-level employees. The team is experienced in assisting corporates with employment law-related GDPR compliance and disciplinary matters. It acts for both domestic and international clients, most notably in the technology, healthcare and retail sectors.

Hayes solicitors has a strongly rated group advising on a range of employment matters, including the implementation of workforce reorganisations or redundancies on behalf of clients needing to downsize or to relocate employees. The team has experience on both the plaintiff and employer sides of unfair dismissal claims. It advises on disciplinary and discrimination claims and assists with litigation seeking to enforce restrictive covenants against former executives. Lawyers at the firm act for a mixture of multinational corporations, charities and state organisations.

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 or 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.

RDJ dominates the Cork market and has a significant presence in Galway. The law firm demonstrates strong experience in employment disputes concerning discrimination and equality claims and unfair dismissals. The team includes lawyers experienced in data protection matters and protected disclosure. The law firm also handles employment law issues related to corporate transactions, such as TUPE considerations and collective redundancies. It advises employers across a wide range of sectors, with a particular focus on the healthcare, technology and education spheres.

William Fry LLP has a respected employment and pensions law practice that offers advice to domestic and international clients on complex corporate employment issues. The team members have particular experience in employee transfers, employee incentive schemes and top executives' severance packages. The law firm also possesses an acclaimed contentious practice with expertise in unfair dismissals, protected disclosure, discrimination claims and senior executive terminations. It offers comprehensive pensions advice for employers in the context of transactions, restructurings and wind-ups, in addition to related IORP II compliance.

Addleshaw Goddard is well regarded for its capacity to assist with a broad range of employment topics for clients in various sectors. The law firm provides a comprehensive advisory service on employment contracts and handbooks, as well as disciplinary matters, redundancies, acquisitions and TUPE. The team has a respected contentious practice, acting for employers on contested dismissal matters as well as allegations of discrimination. It has experience in mediation proceedings and notable expertise in immigration-related concerns.

LK Shields Solicitors is an established commercial law firm with notable strength in transactional, contentious and day-to-day employment issues. The law firm advises both employers and senior executives on labour law matters ranging from policy updates and TUPE to collective redundancies and terminations. The team handles disciplinary matters, and disputes regarding breach of contract, unfair dismissal and discrimination. It also advises on negotiations with trade unions.

Beauchamps has a noteworthy employment group working with domestic and international clients on contractual and advisory issues, including policy review, internal investigations and performance management. The law firm is also active in employment disputes, advising employers and employees from regulated industries such as professional services and the public sector. The team acts in litigation and settlement proceedings relating to unfair dismissals, redundancy negotiations and disciplinary processes, and also advises on protected disclosures.

DLA Piper maintains a reputable employment practice, frequently advising on the employment aspects of M&A transactions and corporate restructurings. Lawyers in the team provide advisory services to clients across jurisdictions in relation to HR matters such as health and safety and data protection. Additionally, the law firm has a strong disputes practice, assisting clients with unfair dismissals and senior executive terminations.

Whitney Moore advises employers on a number of contractual and labour law issues, including mandates related to TUPE regulations or recruitment and performance plans. The law firm has particular knowledge in corporate immigration. It acts on contentious matters relating to disciplinary hearings, terminations of top executives, protected disclosure cases, unfair dismissal and personal injury claims. It is also experienced in data protection and matters involving employee grievances.