EXPERTISE
Maura is Partner and Head of the Employment Group within the Disputes Group Ireland.
Maura leads the employment team in Ireland advising employers on all aspects of employment law including contentious and non-contentious matters. The team provides strategic and pragmatic employment law advice to employers in a wide range of sectors. She has been involved in many commercial transactions and has considerable experience of employment law issues arising in the context of mergers and acquisitions, including transfer of undertakings issues. She also advises on a contractual matters, development of policies and procedures, management of disciplinary, performance, absence and other processes. This includes regularly appearing in the Workplace Relations Commission, the Labour Court and the Civil Courts. Data privacy and dealing with data access requests under GDPR is a feature of many cases in which we are involved. Most recently she has advised extensively on protected disclosures, , restructurings, redundancies and legislative changes.
Maura’s disputes practice has involved the management of large scale litigation. This has recently included acting in a landmark case relating to the “Gig Economy” and the status of workers before the Irish Supreme Court, leading the team in Commercial Court proceedings relating to professional negligence in the financial sector, management of a large e-discovery process, defending High Court shareholder oppression proceedings. In addition to representing clients in the Courts, particularly the High Court and Commercial Court, Maura has advised extensively on alternative dispute resolution procedures including mediation. Maura’s practice includes advice on regulatory matters, including professional conduct investigations and decision making, administrative law and legal proceedings. She has advised on statutory investigations, tribunals of inquiry and directors’ liability for statutory offences.
- Experience
- Acting for Karshan (Midlands) Limited in landmark proceedings before the Irish Supreme Court concerning the status of delivery drivers, the first "gig economy" case to come before the Irish superior courts.
- Representing the majority shareholder in High Court proceedings relating to shareholder oppression, with issues of directors fiduciary duties and employment law.
- Advising Marks & Spencer (Ireland) Limited in relation to employment law issues concerning its Irish business.
- Advising a global insurance company in relation to a range of employment issues, most recently to include development of its policies and procedures for remote and flexible working arrangements and in preparing for the Individual Accountancy Framework (IAF) in the context of the Senior Executive Accountability Regime.
- Acting for Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland in relation to its role as statutory regulator and management of administrative and professional conduct processes concerning registered professionals
- Testimonials
"Maura is very responsive and pragmatic in her advice."
Chambers, 2024"Maura has a lot of knowledge, and nothing we ask for is too much trouble."
Chambers, 2024"Maura is extremely helpful and knowledgeable and will always be available to answer client queries."
Legal 500, 2024"Maura combines detailed knowledge, authority and negotiation skills to ensure our interests are met. She has a team with a combination of personalities and qualities who complement each other."
Legal 500, 2024" Maura professionally managed the legal team, opposing legal teams and Counsel with composure and focus throughout a very complex and emotional corporate dispute.’
Legal 500, 2024"On dispute resolution, Maura is exemplary. Thoroughly professional and totally reliable."
Legal 500, 2024"Maura Connolly, extremely mindful of all aspects and clear instructions on complex issues."
Legal 500 EMEA, 2023"Maura deals with the facts, moves the topic forward and provides the advice rounded out quickly."
Legal 500 EMEA, 2023"Quality throughout the team commencing with the partner, Maura Connolly, which guarantees a strong service and valued partnership in mostly difficult circumstances."
Legal 500 EMEA, 2023"Maura really knows her stuff. She very quickly grasps the details of the issue and provides clear and concise advice. She is methodical, cosidered and commercially aware."
Chambers Europe, 2023"Maura Connolly is a practical and effective lawyer who has a strong knowledge base and provides efficient, client-focused advice. She always sees the bigger picture and displays consistent attention to detail."
Chambers Europe, 2023“Maura is perfectly in tune with market developments and always displays an ability to think laterally.”
Chambers Europe, 2022“I can confidently say that over 30 years experience in different industries she is the best I have encountered. She has a strong team with her and their qualities are about understanding our business and being expert on employment legislation, people problems and resolving disputes.”
Legal 500 EMEA, 2021“Maura is at the top of her profession and is a hands on person, who exudes efficiency and capability. She is the person you want on your side in a difficult situation.”
Legal 500 EMEA, 2021“Maura is one of the most knowledgeable and experienced employment lawyers in the country. Her preparation levels are meticulous and all decisions are weighed empirically. Maura maintains an in depth knowledge of all her cases, while also sustaining high responsiveness. I would recommend Maura to any client.”
Legal 500 EMEA, 2021“…the other party will be in no doubt that you are extremely well advised. Maura grasps complex commercial detail immediately and gives a very unambiguous appraisal of the situation.
Legal 500 EMEA, 2021“She is able to decipher the other parties posturing with remarkable accuracy. She is also excellent in communicating and brokering with the other party that invariably results in a mutually beneficial agreement. Overall working with Maura and Eugene F Collins instils huge confidence and reassurance you are in safe hands.”
Legal 500 EMEA, 2021“Maura provides incisive, expert advice as well as pragmatic guidance in negotiations…her attention to detail is absolutely flawless.”
Chambers Europe, 2021“Headed by the ‘extremely effective’ Maura Connolly…she is always on top of the brief and ensures a high standard of service level is maintained across the team.”
Legal 500 EMEA, 2020“Her knowledge, advice and communication skills are excellent…she understands our needs and supports us with empathy and professionalism on a very timely basis.”
Chambers Europe, 2019“Efficient and self-assured Maura Connolly.”
Legal 500 EMEA, 2019“She is an extremely impressive lawyer and has excellent knowledge of all employment matters.”
Chambers Europe, 2019- Professional Memberships
Maura is a former Chair of the Law Society’s Employment and Equality Law Committee (2012 to 2015). She is also a member of the European Employment Lawyers Association, the Employment Law Association of Ireland, the Association of Pension Lawyers Ireland and the Health & Safety Lawyers Association of Ireland.
Maura has made presentations to a number of bodies including the Law Society of Ireland, Legal Island, La Touche Training and to clients. Maura also lectures to the Law Society’s Diploma in Employment law and has been appointed to act as mentor on the Law Society’s Masters programme for Employment Law.
- Publications
- Maura has published articles and commentary in the National media and has contributed articles to many publications relating to employment law.
- Cabinet Signs off on new Benefits for Employees >
- Dial a Drink - Issues with Online Sales of Alcohol >
- An Irish Solution to an Irish Problem - Outdoor Dining and Service of Alcohol in Ireland >
- Organisation of Working Time (Reproductive Health Related Leav) Bill 2021 (Updated 24 May 2021) >
- Decision Making by Quasi-Judical Bodies - The Implications of Zalewski >
- Introduction of the Code of Practice on the Right to Disconnect >
- Recent WRC Decision - Request to Work Remotely >
- Employers – take note of the new Code of Practice for Employers and Employees on the Prevention and Resolution of Bullying at Work >
- Level 5 – What an Employer needs to know >
- Budget 2021 – An Employers Perspective >
- Government approves increase in the National Minimum Wage from 1 January 2021 >
- Sectoral Employment Orders - the current position? >
- Education
- University College Dublin (2018), Professional Diploma in Professional Regulation.
- Honorable Society of King’s Inns (2015), Advanced Diploma in Corporate, White-Collar and Regulatory Crime
- Law Society of Ireland, Admitted as a solicitor in 1993
- LL.B. (1990), The University of Dublin, Trinity College
- Languages
French
Maura Connolly
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