Clients from a wide range of industries turn to the healthcare and life sciences group at A&L Goodbody LLP for its full-service offering, which is particularly noted for its strength advising on large transactions, patent litigation, regulatory enforcement and structuring and funding advice for entities. Cliona Christle leads the practice and frequently advises on EU and Irish pharmaceutical and healthcare regulatory frameworks and compliance issues, alongside co-head Ronan Lyons, who focuses on M&A, corporate finance and private equity matters. John Whelan and Róise Nic Ghráinne are other key team members, bringing experience in technology and privacy, and regulatory and litigation matters respectively.

The team at Arthur Cox fields a considerable workload for large multinational and domestic clients. The life sciences team, led by Colin Kavanagh, provides corporate, commercial, regulatory and IP advice across the sector. While Kylie Dollard has expertise in life sciences corporate transactions, Bridget Clinton is a strong choice for advice on regulatory issues affecting clients. The team’s broad healthcare offering is led by Joanelle O’Cleirigh, who is a trusted adviser to key regulatory and statutory clients, as well as pharma companies, private hospitals and healthcare providers, particularly related to investigations and disputes. Kate O’Donohoe is another key contact for clients on healthcare-related issues.

Byrne Wallace Shields LLP‘s strong and specialised health and social care team, led by Sinéad Kearney SC, is well equipped to handle a diverse range of mandates for health and social care agencies, hospitals, private healthcare providers, and regulatory and professional representative bodies. The team’s expertise extends to mental health law, and child protection and child care law, which Olive Doyle and Eoghan Wallace specialise in respectively. The life sciences team is spearheaded by Colin Sainsbury, a recognised expert in the field, who brings strength to complex sector-specific corporate matters, alongside Catherine Dowling. Working with large companies across various sectors such as the pharma, biotech and medical device spaces, the group advises on mandates ranging from IPOs and exits, to licensing and supply chain issues.

The healthcare team at Hayes Solicitors LLP is known for its clinical defence litigation expertise, regularly dealing with sensitive, high-value and complex claims, as well as regulatory matters. Notably, the team has been a long-standing go-to for the Medical Protection Society and State Claims Agency. Mary Hough spearheads the offering, utilising her extensive experience as a leading medical negligence defence solicitor. For catastrophic injury and product liability claims, Stephen McGuinness is a key contact, while Louise O’Rourke is a go-to for catastrophic brain and spinal injury claims. Martha Wilson and Katy Meade are recognised for their work in maternity cases, and State Claims Agency representation, respectively.

Mason Hayes & Curran LLP‘s healthcare and life sciences offering is noted for the depth and breadth of work conducted for both public and private sector clients, such as the Clinical Indemnity Scheme of the State Claim Agency. Led by Kevin Power, the healthcare and medical law team handles complex and high-value medical negligence mandates, but its offering is much wider, extending to related IP and product liability litigation, governance and regulation, and professional regulation and discipline matters. Ciara Deasy is a key contact for hospitals and healthcare professionals, as are David Hickey and Katie McAuliffe. Bringing a particular specialism in medical and software medical devices, Michaela Herron heads up the life sciences group, which advises global technology, medical device and pharmaceutical companies on regulatory compliance, product liability and recall, and enforcement action. Martin Kelleher is a strong choice for corporate mandates in the life sciences market.

Acting for leading domestic and multinational clients, the healthcare and life sciences group at Matheson LLP offers wide-ranging expertise across litigation, corporate advisory work, regulatory matters and transactional work. Rebecca Ryan leads the healthcare litigation team and is noted for her strength in healthcare and product liability disputes. On the life sciences advisory side, Emma Doherty leads the corporate practice, while Kate McKenna oversees the regulatory life sciences offering, regularly handling the regulatory aspects of reorganisations, M&A filings and investigations. The transactional services side is led by David Fitzgibbon, who frequently advises multinationals on cross-border M&A, joint ventures and licensing issues, alongside John Coary, with Robert Barrett providing further depth on healthcare mandates.

McCann FitzGerald LLP‘s team is well-equipped to handle a diverse range of contentious and non-contentious mandates for clients in the healthcare and life sciences sectors, with key strengths in corporate transactions, IP litigation and product liability cases. Fiona O'Beirne has expertise in complex patent litigation, particularly in the medical device and pharmaceuticals, and Shane O'Brien is also a go-to for clients in these sectors, including for regulatory advice. With a focus on private healthcare and Irish operations of US pharma companies, Garreth O'Brien co-leads the life sciences group. Ciara O'Herlihy is a key contact for corporate transactions in the life sciences sector. As lead of the product liability and safety team, Conor Cunningham defends complex claims, with expertise in product recalls and safety issues. Roddy Bourke retired from the partnership in July 2025.

Comprehensively covering both healthcare and life sciences, William Fry LLP‘s team advises on a diverse range of mandates. The life sciences team, led by Laura Scott, is particularly well-positioned to assist with large, complex, multi-jurisdictional patent litigation, product liability disputes and M&A. Scott has expertise in patent disputes, and Charleen O’Keeffe and Colette Brady are other go-to names for clients in the sector. Key components of the healthcare offering, which Margaret Muldowney leads, are representing healthcare clients in clinical, professional and healthcare-related product liability claims, as well as personal injury and clinical negligence claims. For product liability mandates, Mary Cooney is a key contact.

Well-reputed for its strong defence litigation practice, Comyn Kelleher Tobin LLP‘s healthcare team assists key clients in the sector, including the State Claims Agency, Health Service Executive and Medisec. The group is regularly sought out for assistance in catastrophic medical negligence, professional negligence and product liability claims. The team is noted for its experience in large disability and social care matters, as well as its ADR and mediation expertise. Eamon Harrington leads the team with a wealth of experience in medical and professional negligence defence work, which Patrice O’Keeffe is also known for. Key partners Alison Kelleher and Yvonne Joyce are strong choices for both contentious and non-contentious mandates, as are Katharine Kelleher, Hilda O’Keeffe and Lebeau Jonker.

The healthcare team at Kennedys is noted for its capability in clinical negligence and regulatory cases, with its advice being regularly sought out by public and private sector clients, including insurers, medical professionals and healthcare service providers. Joanne O’Sullivan leads the team and actively represents clients in Medical Council proceedings and coroner’s inquiries, as well as court proceedings at various levels. Clients also speak highly of Shanna Dunne, who specialises in high-value catastrophic injury, fertility and medical device product liability claims.

RDJ LLP advises on matters spanning litigation, business transactions, regulatory compliance and data protection, for a client base which includes public and private hospitals, life sciences and digital health companies, research institutes and universities. The group is led by Fergal Dennehy and Imelda Tierney, who has a strong focus on medical malpractice actions. Padraic Brennan, who specialises in medical negligence litigation, is another name to note. The group also supports life sciences clients on IP agreements and R&D projects, and is particularly well placed to advise third-level and clinical clients on clinical trials.

Addleshaw Goddard‘s team is a go-to for healthcare and life sciences companies navigating legal, governmental and operational challenges. Acting for both public and private sector clients, the group handles a range of mandates, such as data protection and corporate contracts and transactions. Ronan O’Neill leads the team, and is noted for his capability in contentious matters. As head of the regulatory group, Stephen McLoughlin is proficient in handling fitness to practise inquiries and judicial reviews, while David Hackett is strong on IP and IT and data protection mandates.

Particularly well-placed to advise on cross-border mandates, Bird & Bird‘s healthcare and life sciences team advises large, multinational clients in the sector on a range of matters related to contentious and non-contentious IP, data protection and patent disputes. Co-head Ann Henry is particularly well-versed in complex litigation, with experience handling large patent disputes before the Commercial Court. Michael Finn, who also leads the team, is noted for his regulatory and product liability work, as well as his IP litigation practice. Another key contact for healthcare and life sciences clients is Deirdre Kilroy.

Carson McDowell’s healthcare claims team provides specialist defence expertise to healthcare providers, indemnifiers and medical professionals, offering a dedicated group of lawyers experienced in complex, high-value clinical claims. Sinéad Keavey, who leads the Dublin offering, is highly regarded in clinical negligence defence mandates, specialising in product liability and medication-induced birth complication mandates. The wider group spans Dublin and Belfast, with Roger McMillan heading healthcare, Jacqueline McAleese overseeing clinical claims and Leigh Linton leading the regulatory and professional discipline practice. Francesca Lowry spearheads the dental claims sub-team, and further depth is provided by Kathleen Byrne and Deirdre Ryan in Dublin.

The healthcare and medical malpractice department at DAC Beachcroft Dublin is valued by clients for its strength in medical defence litigation. It is known for its representation of the State Claims Agency, as well as London market and other international insurers writing Irish healthcare risks, ranging from hospitals and clinics to consultants. The head of team, Niamh McKeever, is very active in the space.

DLA Piper Ireland LLP‘s life sciences team regularly handles a wide range of transactions, IP and regulatory mandates for clients in the sector. The team excels in patent and IP-related disputes, having recently acted for clients in significant cases before the Commercial Court. With expertise in tax, Maura Dineen leads the life sciences team. For multi-jurisdictional patent disputes, Aoife Murphy is a key name to note, as is Gavin Woods. Darach Connolly spearheads the competition and regulatory offering.

Eversheds Sutherland’s healthcare team is a go-to adviser for private and public hospitals, primary care providers and medical professionals, with a strong reputation in insurance defence claims across the sector. The group handles a wide spectrum of healthcare litigation, including catastrophic birth injury cases, delayed or missed diagnoses and other complex malpractice claims. It is also a key contact for major insurers and direct service providers seeking strategic guidance on contentious and high-exposure matters. Emma Meagher leads the team, and is well-equipped to handle clinical negligence claims.

Philip Lee LLP‘s healthcare team assists both public and private sector clients, regularly providing advice to healthcare providers and regulators on their statutory powers and duties under law, standards and guidelines in Ireland. Marie Kinsella leads the healthcare team while actively advising on contentious and non-contentious mandates. The pharmaceutical and life sciences team, which is led by Anne Bateman and Ronan Dunne, advises large medtech and pharmaceutical companies on their Irish operations.

Pinsent Masons LLP‘s life sciences and healthcare groups are well-equipped to handle a range of disputes, transactions and regulatory mandates. The firm is particularly well-known for assisting generic companies in patent litigation. Noted for her capabilities advising life sciences clients on various IP, data, FOI and AI issues, Karen Gallagher leads the life sciences team alongside co-head Neil Keenan, who has a wealth of experience handling corporate transactions in the sector, including assisting clients with fundraisings and subsequent exits. With a focus on healthcare transactions, Dorian Rees leads the healthcare offering. Maureen Daly is another key name to note.