Commercial & Corporate

Ciaran is a Partner who has a multi-disciplinary practice in the areas of Real Estate and Housing Dispute Resolution, Commercial & Media and Entertainment. He has been practicing since 2013 and holds Diplomas in Insurance Law and Sports Law, a Certificate in Commercial Transactions, and is a registered European Trademark Attorney.

Ciaran has extensive experience in residential and commercial conveyancing, banking and construction law and with a particular emphasis on social housing. He has acted for Approved Housing Bodies for 10 years in the acquisition and long-term leasing of social housing units and has a unique insight into the key legal, commercial and social issues around social and affordable housing and cost rental.

He has acted in the acquisition of both new and second-hand properties ranging from individual houses to large-scale multi-unit developments. He was the lead solicitor for an AHB in relation to the acquisition of the following developments:

• 85 Apartments at a derelict development in Dundalk
• 95 Apartments in County Cork
• 137 units and 110 connected units in Limerick
• 69 units in Castle Island on behalf of two AHBs working in conjunction

Ciaran has acted in the restructuring of group companies and the sale of companies for values between €1 million and €20 million, and he undertook all property due diligence on the sales. Ciaran was key advisor in the sale of a major Irish Brand to a US drinks brand, with ongoing royalty payments. He advised on title, planning, corporate governance, IP and drafted leases/licences.

Ciaran has represented a logistics company in the acquisition and disposal of industrial units nationwide. In representing a group of Irish Construction Companies for 8 years, Ciaran has advised consultants and developers on building agreements, collateral warranties and other sub-contract construction documents.

Ciaran has significant litigation experience at all Court levels including the Commercial and High Courts in insurance, commercial, IP, and general litigation. He has acted as a defence solicitor for one of the main insurers in the Irish Market for the last 10 years and is the lead defence solicitor for a major state-owned body.

Ciaran has acted in the defence of professional negligence claims in relation to the property matters and assisted major lending institutions to enforce their rights under mortgage and charge documents through the High Court.

On copyright, Ciaran acted on behalf of 12 co-defendants in High Court proceedings issued against a major artists, their international record labels and publishing companies.

On sports law, he provides legal advice to many sporting organisations including a League of Ireland Football club, on regulatory matters, child protections policies, property matters and their obligations in relation to player safety, health, and welfare. Ciaran has an in-depth knowledge and particular interest in case law in the areas of sports injuries suffered in schools, on the field of play and the liability issues for sporting organisations and schools.

He has represented international artists and bands on trademark and copyright matters including contentious High Court litigation which necessitated injunctions.

It’s hard to believe Ciaran has free time, but when he does, he can be found on golf courses at home and abroad and playing football.

Practice Areas:

• Commercial Litigation
• Commercial & Corporate
• Insolvency and Enforcement
• Real Estate
• Insurance Defence
• Intellectual Property
• Intellectual Property Disputes

Sectors:

• Media, Entertainment & the Arts
• Closely Held & Growing Businesses
• Social Housing

Ronan is a senior solicitor who has worked in the Litigation and Employment Law Department at Gleeson McGrath Baldwin since 2014. He was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in 2017 and holds a BCL in Law and German from University College Cork. He has a practitioner certification in Data Protection (PDP) and has completed courses in Mediation and Negotiation with the Law Society of Ireland. He is a member of the Law Society of Ireland, the Dublin Solicitors Bar Association and LAWorld International Legal Network. He sits on the Law Society’s Technology Committee and the LAWorld NextGen committee.

Ronan’s practice includes employment disputes, data protection, public and product liability, construction law, personal injuries and general commercial litigation. He handles cases across all court jurisdictions, including the District, Circuit, and Superior Courts. He has also represented clients before the Labour Court, the Workplace Relations Commission, and in statutory hearings, inquests, and tribunals.

He advises on data protection law, including regulatory investigations and District and Circuit Court claims, and provides support on drafting and reviewing commercial contracts, employment terms, and workplace policies in line with current legislation.

In 2017, he represented the Law Society of Ireland at the INADR Law School Mediation Competition at Strathclyde University, Glasgow.

In his free time, Ronan likes to spend his time gardening or in the outdoors. He is a regular volunteer with environmental organisations such as ReWild Wicklow.

Practice Areas:

• Commercial Litigation
• Commercial & Corporate
• Employment Law
• Insurance Defence
• Intellectual Property
• Professional Negligence

Sectors:

• Closely Held & Growing Businesses

Tessa Robinson is a senior solicitor with more than 15 years’ experience in the legal profession, having qualified as a solicitor in 2016 following ten years of practice at the Bar of Ireland.

She works primarily in the Commercial and Corporate area, advising clients on a wide range of commercial and company law issues including scaling up businesses, reorganisations, and financing. She has particular expertise in mergers and acquisitions, commercial transactions, commercial lease drafting and negotiation, corporate reorganisations, financing transactions, and licensing matters. She also has experience in complex litigation, including appearances before the Commercial and Chancery Courts.

Tessa is a graduate of TCD and the King’s Inns. She is a member of the Law Society of Ireland and the Dublin Solicitors Bar Association, and has a Diploma from the Law Society in Technology and IP Law. She has provided advice on a volunteer basis at FLAC clinics. Her notable transactions/cases include:

• Acting for an international leisure group in the business acquisition and financing of a number of Irish hotels
• Representing European online travel agencies in ‘screenscraping’ and competition law litigation before the Irish High Court, including advising on database rights
• Commercial Court injunction regarding the transfer of a development site valued at €17m and the breach of an undertaking
• The sale and business transfer of a number of childcare services
• Acting for shopping centre landlords in relation to the lettings of their commercial units.

In her free time, Tessa enjoys cycling and in September 2024 she took part in the Paris2Nice charity cycle, raising €25,000 for Pieta House.

Practice Areas:

• Dispute Resolution
• Commercial & Corporate
• Insolvency and Enforcement
• Insurance Defence
• Intellectual Property
• Intellectual Property Disputes

Sectors:

• Leisure, Hospitality & Retail
• Media, Entertainment & the Arts
• Closely Held & Growing Businesses
• Social Housing

David Larney is a senior solicitor with more than 40 years’ experience in property and commercial law. He is qualified to practice in both Ireland and the UK, and brings a wealth of legal knowledge and practical insight to his consultancy role.

David previously served as Managing Partner of the firm for more than two decades and led its Property and Commercial Department. He also lectured and tutored for many years with the Law Society of Ireland. He is frequently engaged by third-party law firms in a consultative capacity, both to provide expert witness testimony in court and arbitration proceedings, and to assist with the completion of complex property and commercial transactions.

David is known for his commercially focused, pragmatic approach, always aiming to ensure the efficient and timely delivery of business outcomes.

Outside of legal practice, David is fluent in Spanish and has a working knowledge of French. He is also an enthusiastic chess player and a devoted supporter of Leinster Rugby and the Irish national rugby team.

Practice Areas:

• Commercial & Corporate
• Real Estate

Sectors:

• Closely Held & Growing Businesses