Matheson, Ireland’s largest law firm, is delighted to announce that Nicola Dunleavy, a partner in its Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department, has been granted a Patent of Precedence which entitles her to use the title of Senior Counsel.
The Government has announced its list of thirty-seven (37) legal practitioners - twenty-five (25) barristers and twelve (12) solicitors – who are to be granted the title of Senior Counsel. This follows recommendations made by the Legal Services Regulatory Authority’s (LSRA) Advisory Committee to the Government on the grant of Patents of Precedence to use the title of Senior Counsel.
A partner in the Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department, Nicola Dunleavy has a broad commercial litigation and investigations practice and co-leads Matheson’s Commercial Litigation Group. Nicola has very significant expertise in major EU and multi-jurisdictional cases, including in M&A, energy, planning and environmental disputes. In January 2021, she was elected President of Arbitration Ireland, becoming the first female to be elected in the association’s history. She is also Court member of the London Court of International Arbitration and is a Chartered Tax Advisor. Nicola holds an LLM in International, European and Comparative Law from the European University Institute, Italy and an LLB from Trinity College Dublin.
Matheson Managing Partner, Michael Jackson said; “I would like to congratulate Nicola on her achievement as being one of only 12 solicitors in Ireland to receive this accolade. These prestigious appointments, approved by Government, recognise outstanding solicitor practitioners on the basis of proven excellence and specialist expertise.”
“This is a truly distinguished honour for Nicola and for all of the members of Matheson’s Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department.”
Partner and Chairperson of Matheson, Tara Doyle said; “This is a fantastic endorsement, not just of Nicola, but of the work that she and her colleagues in our Commercial Litigation Group undertake on behalf of our clients every day. Solicitors in Ireland can now be appointed as Senior Counsel on the basis of proven excellence. As the largest law firm in Ireland, the members of our commercial litigation team continually demonstrate their commitment to that same criteria - a proven capacity for excellence as an advocate or litigant, or specialist knowledge in a particular area of law.”
This is only the second time that solicitors have been appointed as senior counsel, an honour which up to recently been reserved for barristers.
Read more about Matheson’s Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution team.
