EXPERTISE
Margaret's Representative clients include: Tuath Housing Association, Home Building Finance Ireland, Bank of Ireland, Allied Irish Banks plc, Golden Port Estates, CA Ventures and Fold Housing Association.
Margaret advises on construction, planning and environmental law matters arising on construction projects promoted by public and private developers. Margaret’s practice is a combination of both contentious and non-contentious construction matters. She has extensive experience in the construction sector advising contractors, developers, funders and professional teams on construction projects and on dispute management and resolution.
Margaret advises on planning and environmental compliance as well as civil and criminal liability and judicial review of planning decisions. Margaret advises on agreements for lease, building licences, construction contracts, performance bonds, collateral warranties and construction funding agreements as well as statutory compliance requirements for construction projects.
Recent experience includes advising:
- CA Ventures on its construction contract, design team appointments and related construction documents for multi-million Euro development of a 600+ bed student accommodation scheme at Carrigrohane Road, Cork.
- Tuath Housing Association on a JV development arrangement with another Approved Housing Body to develop 155 social and cost rental housing units.
- On the drafting of bespoke construction contracts, development agreements and agreements for lease as well as related sub-contracts, collateral warranties and performance guarantee bonds across several business sectors including significant projects in the living sector covering large residential developments, care homes and student accommodation and she advises on hotel, retail and commercial office developments.
- Golden Port Estates on development agreement and construction documents for a 350 unit development and forward sale to a US based equity fund.
- Irish Distillers Limited on contracts for redevelopment of the Jameson visitor’s centre.
- Fold Housing Association on development agreement and related contracts for senior living development.
- Testimonials
"Margaret is excellent to deal with and has an innate sense of the issues and how to deal with them".
Chambers, 2024"Margaret is a excellent leader and thinks outside the box. She also stress tests all possible solutions offered to arrive at the correct one."
Legal 500, 2024"Margaret leads a super team that has always been available with a high level of expertise."
Legal 500, 2024"Margaret is sought out for her practical approach to matters and her insight when dealing with issues of great complexity in domestic legal matters and in a multi-jurisdictional context."
Legal 500, 2024"Margaret is an outstanding advisor in her field. Case evaluation and definition is highly detailed and all potential side issues are flagged and run down, with close client engagement. There is a strong focus on providing holistic advice to the client, beyond the mere issue-specific issue."
Legal 500 EMEA, 2023"Margaret brings a wealth of fine qualities to bear on each project. In addition to her first-class legal knowledge and experience, she always brings genuine enthusiasm and discerning insight to each new matter."
Legal 500 EMEA, 2023"Margaret has superb attention to detail, very knowledgeable."
Legal 500 EMEA, 2023"Margaret consistently brings an outstanding level of service and the depth of her knowledge and experience offers clients the quiet certainty that they are in the best hands."
Chambers Europe, 2023“Margaret is low-key in her approach but no less effective for it…she is thorough and capable of developing a strong working relationship with the other side on a case.”
Legal 500 EMEA, 2022"Margaret is our main partner contact, and she knows the system inside out. She has also been very helpful in assisting with contract disputes. She is always at the end of the line and available to deal with queries and questions."
Legal 500 EMEA, 2022"Margaret knows the system inside out...Her attention to detail, deep knowledge of the sector and personal touch is what sets her apart from peers."
Legal 500 EMEA, 2022“Margaret's common-sense attitude that she gives to her work is welcome and appreciated.”
Chambers Europe, 2022“Margaret has demonstrated a superb ability at managing complex cases involving the client and a large number of experts from varying professions, thereby ensuring that the case is well presented and achieving results which meet with, or exceed, the client’s expectations.”
Legal 500 EMEA, 2021“Margaret is particularly noted for her experience in using arbitration and mediation to resolve construction disputes…she is very approachable, dedicated and competent. She will proactively stick to the task and coordinate an all encompassing solution.”
Legal 500 EMEA, 2021“Margaret Austin advises clients on building and fit-out contracts as well as design team appointments. She is also knowledgeable in disputes pertaining to defective materials and disruption claims, including conciliation and adjudication proceedings.”
Chambers Europe, 2021“Margaret is measured, focused and insightful.”
Legal 500 EMEA, 2020“Margaret is very approachable, knowledgeable and commercial, and really helpful in terms of can-do attitude and availability.”
Chambers Europe, 2020“Margaret’s ability to combine strategic advice on the big picture issues with attention to detail on finer technical points makes her a standout lawyer.”
Legal 500, 2019“Margaret is very switched on, attentive and responsive…she has a strong business acumen and high level of expertise”
Chambers Europe, 2019- Publications
- Margaret has written numerous articles and lectured at Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, Engineers Ireland and the Law Society on aspects of Construction Law, Planning Law and Environmental Law. Margaret is co-author of Cavendish Law Publication – Chapter on Planning & Environmental Law.
- A welcome development: Temporary Waiver of Development Contributions
- A review of the new large-scale residential development act >
- Court of Appeal clarifies the position in respect of conflicting Section 5 declaration >
- The Affordable Housing Act 2021: New Measures >
- Introduction of the largest housing plan in the history of the State >
- Alun Owens V An Bord Pleanala: Transparency in decision making process >
- Review of Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021 >
- Publication of the Land Development Agency Bill 2021 >
- Introduction of new measures to tackle the housing crisis >
- Covid-19: Construction Contracts >
- New Sectoral Employment Order Approved for the Construction Sector - Ireland
- Professional Memberships
Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, past Chairwoman of the Irish Environmental Law Association and Treasurer of the European Environmental Law Association.
- Education
- Admitted as a solicitor in 1993
- Diploma in European Law (1993) University College Dublin
- LL.B. (1990), Trinity College Dublin
- Member of the Chartered institute of Arbitrators
