Experience

Ciara is a seasoned litigator advising a broad range of clients in both the public and private sectors.  She has significant experience dealing with a wide range of contractual, real estate, commercial landlord and tenant and administrative law disputes, to include public procurement disputes. Ciara’s in-depth litigation experience extends to the Circuit and High Courts and to the Court of Appeal.  Ciara regularly acts in high value and complex disputes in the Commercial Division of the High Court. Ciara also has significant experience in alternative dispute resolution including mediation and arbitration. Ciara brings this extensive experience to bear by providing strategic advices in respect of risk management, litigation and settlement strategies, where appropriate. This specialist expertise is complemented by her in-depth experience in advising clients in respect of Commissions of Investigation.

Ciara is a certified project manager (having been trained in the PMP Methodology) and regularly draws upon her project management expertise to manage large-scale litigation tasks including complex discoveries.

Ciara also completed a certificate in Law and Sustainability through the Smith School of Enterprise and Environment, University of Oxford in October 2023 and has worked closely with the UCC School of Law in developing and delivering its undergraduate course in Environmental, Social & Corporate Governance (ESG): Law, Policy and Practice.

Key highlights include advising:

  • Rabobank and the Zurich Insurance plc in Commercial Court proceedings against their landlord arising out of significant deficiencies in a newly constructed office block in Dublin City Centre.
  • J&E Davy and a life assurance company in relation to property funds/ mis-selling disputes.
  • CHC Ireland DAC in procurement proceedings challenging the Irish Coast Guard's tender result for aviation services with a contract value of approximately €800m.
  • A US financial services provider in Commercial Court proceedings taken against their landlord arising out of the exercise of a break option in Citywest, Dublin.
  • Quintain in defending various sets of proceedings in relation to adverse possession and easement claims affecting substantial development lands.
  • Various real estate clients (including Global Student Accommodation, NAMA Statutory Receivers and Greybirch Limited) in relation to Circuit Court ground rent applications to acquire the freehold interest.
  • IBRC Commission of Investigation: advising a leading financial advisory firm on its engagement with the Commission of Investigation in respect of its role in advising on the sale of Siteserv to Millington.
  • Transport Infrastructure Ireland in relation to the statutory arbitration procedure for the compulsory acquisition of land.
  • National Transport Authority in the defence of two sets of proceedings, one issued under the public procurement regime and the second seeking judicial review of the award of the Leap Card Operation Contract in the Commercial Division of the High Court.