William Fry LLP continues to handle environment and planning matters for a diverse set of clients that features energy companies, high-value data centres, mineral refineries, energy grid operators, and multinational blue-chip companies. Of late, the team has been highly active in the renewable energy sector, assisting clients with environmental law-related due diligence. Conor Linehan SC possesses extensive expertise in matters related to waste management, land contamination, and environmental impact assessments and co-heads the team with Michelle Martin, who handles both contentious and non-contentious matters and specialises in environment-related judicial reviews and compliance investigations, with specific expertise in cases related to climate impacts.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'The team went above and beyond to get our matter done in a timely manner, in spite of a number of last-minute hurdles.'
  • 'Always on the end of an email or phone call. Timely and courteous responses.'

Key clients

  • Aughinish Alumina Limited
  • Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners
  • Fingal County Council
  • Diageo
  • Tirlán (formerly Glanbia)
  • Skyborn Renewables Offshore Solutions GmbH
  • Tesco Ireland Limited
  • Uniphar Plc
  • Poundland Limited t/a Dealz
  • Digital Realty Trust
  • Towercom Limited
  • SIRO Limited
  • EirGrid Plc
  • EngineNode Limited
  • Cooley Distillery/Beam Suntory
  • Quanta Capital

Work highlights

  • Advised EirGrid plc on a proposed emergency development of additional electricity generation capacity to secure supply for the next number of years.
  • Represented Aughinish Alumina Limited in two planning judicial review challenges to its proposed multimillion-euro extension of certain operations at its alumina extraction plant at Askeaton, Co Limerick.
  • Advised Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners on the planning and environmental issues related to the acquisition by its fund of 50% of Statkraft A/S’ offshore wind portfolio in Ireland.

Lawyers

Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Conor Linehan SC

Other key lawyers

Michelle Martin