Boutique employment firm Anne O'Connell Solicitors advises on contentious and non-contentious employment issues related to redundancy, unfair dismissal, and disciplinary matters. Anne O’Connell heads the practice, and is reputed for employment disputes with experience in representing clients before the High Court, Labour Court, and the Workplace Relations Commission. Public and private sector employers rely on Laura Killelea and Jenny Wakely, who handle day-to-day employment law and HR issues, including employee complaints and drafting employment contracts and policies.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘I have worked with Anne O'Connell solicitors since our company opened in April 2019. Anne and the team have been second to none in all aspects of employment law. Anne has been highly hands-on and available, as has her team, especially at short notice.' 

  • ‘They make it very personable and communication is clear for a non legal person and you just feel they are on your side at all times and working to get you the best outcome while maintaining clarity on pros and cons of decisions or approaches being taken - they keep the human touch while never wavering from the legal aspect.'

  • ‘I think what makes AOC unique is the level of expertise and the size of the team, meaning you still get a lot of 1:1 expert advice from those who have decades in the industry without having to go through layers and layers of hierarchy / management to get that knowledge and support. As it's a bit smaller you still get that personalised support that comes with firms of this size.'

  • ‘All consultations were quick and efficient, with help over Zoom for speed and flexibility. Each of the practice members demonstrated significant insight and experience of the industry in question, meaning that I didn't have to go the extra mile to explain industry-specific context. They understood my situation from the outset, and were focused on getting to a resolution as effectively as possible.’

  • ‘Laura Killelea is an excellent strategist and was my legal representation throughout my process. I cannot speak highly enough of her as she's emotionally intelligent, but also incredibly astute!’ 

  • ‘Their personable and understanding approach sets them apart—making complex legal matters feel less overwhelming and more manageable. They consistently demonstrate a deep knowledge of the law, coupled with a genuine desire to help and uphold the highest standards of integrity.  Whether it's a quick response or a more detailed explanation, they’re always fast and thorough in addressing our needs.'

  • ‘We've had the pleasure of working with Jenny Wakely on a number of cases, and she has been an outstanding partner. She takes the time to coach and educate us on areas we might not fully understand, and does so in a very approachable, disarming way. Her open and clear communication fosters a sense of trust, and when tough situations arise, she’s firm and assertive—exactly what you need in a strong legal partner.’

  • ‘As a multi-jurisdictional business, we work with various legal teams in different jurisdictions and Anne O'Connell  is one of the best we have ever worked with, always accessible and timely in responding. Anne's ability to assess the facts of a situation and ask really pertinent questions to get 'under the skin' of a particular issue has often led to uncovering of additional details that may have caused a problem/issue to become even bigger.'

Key clients

  • Brock Delappe Ltd
  • ESB Group
  • Certa Ireland Limited
  • Emerald Nursing Limited
  • Affirma Consulting Ireland Limited
  • Horizon Graphics Limited
  • MyMoneyJar Ltd
  • Sonoma Valley Limited
  • Mitie Facilities Management Limited
  • Doyle Shipping Group
  • Northdoc Medical Services CLG
  • Balbriggan ETNS
  • The Doyle Collection
  • Doyle Hotels (Holdings) Limited
  • S G Guarding Limited
  • SoftCo
  • KDoc Medical Services
  • The Sporting Emporium Limited
  • JE O’Brien and Sons Limited
  • Italicatessen Limited
  • ABM Therapy Limited
  • Fridge Spares Wholesale Limited
  • MiDoc GP CLG
  • Advocate Consulting Ireland Limited
  • James McMahon Ltd
  • Pioneer Total Abstinence Association
  • Pirate Studios Limited
  • HR Hub
  • Dunraven Arms Hotel
  • Synergy Serviced Apartments Limited
  • Square One Law LLP
  • Dexia Credit Local Dublin Branch
  • Spinal Injuries Ireland CLG
  • Banks Pharmacy
  • F.C.D.M. Limited
  • Royal Victoria Eye & Ear Hospital Research Foundation
  • Ansell Healthcare Europe NV/SA
  • SWARCO UK & Ireland Ltd.
  • Source Gallileo Ireland Limited
  • Iridium HR
  • ADVA Optical Networking Limited
  • BRC McMahon Reinforcements Limited
  • Hawthorn Village Management
  • Baggot Energy Services Ltd
  • Dense Air Ireland Limited
  • Navro Payments Europe Limited
  • Dreager UK & Ireland
  • SEEC MM Ltd
  • Curious Orange Ltd
  • Draeger UK & Ireland
  • New Life Teeth Ireland Limited
  • McCann Sadlier
  • Lords Legal Costs Accountants
  • Curragh Grange GP Practice
  • Ciara Brandon Bespoke Design
  • Associate of Clinical Biochemists
  • Abbey House Medical Centre
  • Europharma Concepts Limited
  • Irish Heart Foundation
  • Technopath Manufacturing Ltd
  • LGC Group
  • Lefebrve Sarrut
  • Expert Revenue Systems Limited
  • Funky Monkeys Softplay Clarehall Ltd
  • Hubard Medical Limited
  • BAKO Group Limited
  • Agri-Lloyd Ltd
  • Janix Ltd.

Work highlights

  • Advised ESB Group on highly sensitive employment law matters.
  • Represented two shareholders of Brock Delappe in defending High Court proceedings issued by an executive director alleging minority shareholder oppression due to his proposed redundancy.
  • Represented Doyle Shipping Group in complex employment litigation before the Labour Court and the Workplace Relations Commission.

Lawyers

Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Anne O’Connell

Other key lawyers

Laura Killelea, Jenny Wakely