Holmes O'Malley Sexton

Commercial Litigation

Managing Partner

Harry Fehily is the Managing Partner and practises in the litigation department.

Having joined the firm in 1986, he has extensive experience of advising clients across a range of contentious and non-contentious matters with an emphasis on commercial litigation and financial lines claims, including professional negligence litigation, cyber claims and claims against directors and officers. He also has extensive experience of resolving property related disputes and shareholders’ disputes. Since 2004 he has practiced extensively in the Commercial Court (a commercial division of the High Court) and is vastly experienced in dealing with cases in this venue.

Much of his work involves dealing with high profile contentious disputes concerning public and private bodies. He frequently advises regulatory bodies on investigations, due process and fair procedures. He also advises frequently on public procurement issues. Harry advises on public administrative law as it relates to state bodies, disputes and investigations concerning public bodies, judicial review, employment law disputes particularly as they impact on the board and chief executives of companies, contentious issues as they impact on environmental law, planning law and health and safety law.

He has developed considerable experience in the area of construction law representing construction companies in respect of prosecutions against the companies arising alleged breaches of Health and Safety matters including indictable prosecutions following fatalities on their construction sites. In addition, he has recently represented a pharmaceutical company in respect of health and safety prosecutions brought by the Health and Safety Authority and environmental prosecutions brought by the Environmental Protection Agency arising from breach/alleged breaches at its plant.

On the advisory side he provides advice to local and multinational companies with a particular focus on high level contentious and board related disputes. Harry is also an experienced employment lawyer dealing principally with high level contentious issues. He works closely with the Boards and CEOs of state and private companies to find effective management solutions to critical employment situations.

Harry has extensive experience in insolvency and corporate recovery and represents liquidators, receivers and examiners. Harry has been involved in high profile examinerships. He has developed a particular expertise in assisting both the company itself entering into the examinership process as well as providing advice to creditors of the company entering into examinership.

English

Member of the Professional Negligence Lawyers’ Association (PNLA). Member of the Law Society of Ireland’s Guidance and Ethics Committee’s Panel to assist solicitors in difficulty with the Law Society. Member of International Lawyer’s Network. Member of Atlantic Way. Past President of Limerick Chamber of Commerce. Member of Limerick City Business Association. Director of Limerick Social Service Centre. Director of Mid West Hospital Trust. Member of International Board of Kemmy Business School. Board Member of University of Limerick Foundation. Former chairman of University of Limerick Concert Hall. Member of Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) Thought Leadership Group and Board of LIT Foundation. Founding Member of Irish Society of Insolvency Practitioners.

National University of Ireland Galway, BA. Law Society of Ireland, Certificate in Judicial Review. CEDR (Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution), Accredited Mediator. Admitted to the Law Society of Ireland.