The Dye & Durham Irish Law Awards were held in the Convention Centre Dublin, celebrating the hard work and accomplishments of Irish law professionals. The event, hosted by Irish broadcaster Ivan Yates, acknowledged the achievements of individuals and firms in about 35 different categories. Special Merit Award winners Áine Hynes S.C. and Darren Lalor B.L., and Lifetime Achievement Award winner Mr. Justice Michael White gave speeches.
The awards event was backed by various sponsors including Brewin Dolphin, Calcutta Run, Clio, Currencies Direct, Gwen Malone, iilex, Ireland’s BlueBook, Irish Legal News, Jameson Financial, LEAP, Select Hotels of Ireland, Viz Legal, LegalBooks.ie, Oroko, and the headline sponsor, Dye & Durham, as well as media partner Business Post.
Martina Winters, the Sales & Marketing Manager at Dye & Durham stressed the importance of acknowledging and rewarding the ever-hardworking law industry individuals, adding that solicitors, especially, are often present in both joyous and trying times of people’s lives. LegalBooks.ie’s Managing Director, John Hogan, highlighted the significance of these professionals who uphold justice, protect people’s rights and advocate for fair business practices.
The awards celebrated the best professionals in the legal circle. The panel consisting of 18 judges sifted through over 500 entries from more than 200 organisations and educational institutions. Lawyers and firms from across the nation converged to appreciate the successes within the industry. Awards presented spanned from Lawyer of the Year to Corporate Law Team of the Year.
Darren Lalor B.L., a Special Merit Award recipient, expressed his thrill of winning an award via a social media post: “I am beyond delighted to be a recipient of the Dye & Durham Irish Law Awards Special Merit Award 2024. Keep going until something stops you.”
Meanwhile, Wendy Doyle, from the Wendy Doyle Solicitors, winner of the Sole Practitioner of the Year Award, also savoured her victory, making a proud declaration on a social platform.
We experienced a stellar evening filled with joy, having been shortlisted in multiple categories at the Dye & Durham Irish Law Awards and triumphing in two segments! We were victorious in the Leinster Employment Law Firm Team division, securing the Lawyer of the Year and Sole Principal of the Year titles.
It was an absolute pleasure sharing these moments with esteemed colleagues and companions. The chance to practice in a profession that I am so passionate about each day fills me with gratitude.
Award Recipients were:
Banking & Finance Legal Team / Lawyer of the Year:
The award went to Allied Irish Banks.
Civil Litigation Law Firm/Lawyer of the Year:
Overall Winner, Lanigan Clarke LLP, Co. Donegal from Connacht/Ulster.
Leinster: Honour goes to Mulholland Law, Co. Louth.
Dublin: Co. Dublin’s Doyle and Company LLP Solicitors were celebrated.
Munster: Award presented to MHP Sellors LLP, Co. Clare.
Corporate/Commercial Law Team/Lawyer of the Year:
Dentons Ireland, from Co. Dublin, claimed the prize.
Criminal Law Firm/Lawyer of the Year:
Pádraig Langsch of Co. Limerick was recognised.
Diversity and Inclusion Law Firm:
Co. Dublin’s Fitzsimons Redmond LLP received the accolade.
Employment Law Firm/Team/Lawyer of the Year:
Connacht/Ulster: Prize scooped by Alastair Purdy & Co.
Dublin: O’Mara Geraghty McCourt, Co. Galway cinched the Overall Winner title.
Leinster: Awarded to Wendy Doyle Solicitors, Co. Dublin.
Munster: Honour bestowed upon Sweeney McGann LLP Solicitors, Co. Limerick.
Excellence & Innovation in Client Services category:
Connacht/Ulster: P. O’Connor & Son Solicitors, Co, Mayo received the award.
Dublin: OSM Partners LLP, Co. Dublin snagged the Overall Winner spot.
Leinster: Trophy handed to Coghlan Kelly Solicitors, Co. Wexford.
Munster: McCarthy + Co Solicitors LLP, Co. Cork picked up the award.
Excellence in Communications category:
Kieran Mulcahy Solicitors of Co. Limerick were recognised.
Family Law Firm/Team/Lawyer of the Year category:
Connacht/Ulster: Neil Manley, Co. Down was awarded.
Dublin: Dillon Solicitors LLP, Co. Dublin were the Overall Winners.
Leinster: Susan Webster of Susan Webster & Company, Co. Kildare was honoured.
Sweeney McGann LLP Solicitors situated in County Limerick, Munster is known for its law practices. The in-house (excluding Civil Service/Public Sector) Lawyer of the Year accolade was claimed by Kellanova Europe (also recognised as Kellogg’s by many), a European legal team based in County Dublin. A special mention goes to Patricia Hickey from County Dublin for bagging the Mental Health and Capacity Law Firm / Team / Lawyer of the Year award.
Making the legal world proud is the influential ‘Domestic Violence: Law and Practice in Ireland’ authored by Sonya Dixon B.L and Keith Walsh S.C, hosted by Bloomsbury in County Dublin, which won the Law Book of the Year.
Taking innovation in law to a new level, Jacob Law, from County Waterford, was acknowledged with the Law Firm Innovation Award. Galway can now boast the award-winning University of Galway School of Law, capturing the Law School of the Year.
Law Student of the Year was none other than the hardworking Ms. Marwa Zamir from County Kildare. In the category of Legal Executive of the Year, Gemma Fuller from County Cork claimed the title. Laura Cahillane from University of Limerick was distinguished as the Legal Educator of the Year.
County Limerick’s HOMS Assist secured the Personal Injury/Medical Negligence Law Firm/Team/Lawyer of the Year. On the other hand, the Irish Refugee Council Independent Law Centre from County Dublin was granted the Pro Bono Publico/Community Law Firm/Lawyer of the Year award.
In the realm of Probate Law, Lavelle Partners LLP from County Dublin took centre stage. Various Property Law accolades were spread throughout the country – Connacht/Ulster: Geraghty & Company Solicitors LLP in County Galway; Dublin: Chief State Solicitor’s Office – State Property Division, State Securities in County Dublin; Leinster: Byrne Carolan Cunningham LLP Solicitors in County Westmeath and Munster’s overall winner was O’Connor O’Dea Binchy Solicitors LLP in County Limerick.
County Dublin witnessed the Chief State Solicitor’s Office – Justice Division, Justice & Crime Section, winning in the Public Sector / Civil Service In-House Legal Team/Lawyer of the Year category. The Service Provider to the Legal Profession award was bestowed on Law Society of Ireland, Four Courts Consultation Rooms in County Dublin. Lastly, Natasha McDermott, a sole practitioner from County Donegal in Connacht/Ulster, was highly celebrated.
The winners have been announced for various categories in the legal profession at the #DyeDurhamILA2024. Nicole Nevin & Co. Solicitors from Dublin, as well as Ciarán Mulholland from Mulholland Law in Louth, were joint winners in their categories. Ishaq Alam from Limerick was also awarded.
The Sole Principal of the Year title went to Louise Howard from Galway in the Connacht/Ulster region, Anne O’Connell Solicitors from Dublin (the overall winner), Wendy Doyle Solicitors also from Dublin for Leinster, and Marcella Sheehy from Tipperary for Munster.
When it came to the Law Firm of the Year awards, Alastair Purdy & Co from the Connacht/Ulster region, Dentons Ireland from Dublin, Susan Webster & Company from Kildare (Leinster), and McCarthy + Co Solicitors LLP from Cork (the overall winner) were honoured.
In the individual Lawyer of the Year Category, Samantha Geraghty from Mayo, John M. Quinn & Co from Dublin for the Leinster region (including Dublin), and Aoife McCarthy from Cork (Douglas Law Solicitors LLP) who was also the overall winner, were recognised for their stellar legal work.
Furthermore, Rhonda Barry from Bryne Wallace in Dublin was acknowledged as the Bid Manager of the Year. Special Merit Awards were conferred to Áine Hynes S.C. and Darren Lalor B.L., both from Dublin. A Lifetime Achievement accolade was given to Mr. Justice Michael White from Donegal.