Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Expertise

We provide advice on all areas of commercial disputes. Our clients include financial institutions, State agencies, corporates, SMEs and private individuals from a wide range of sectors. In each case, we offer a bespoke team focused on individual client needs and the nature of the dispute, drawing on highly experienced specialists from a range of practice areas – including commercial and financial disputes, corporate disputes, shareholder disputes, technology disputes, insolvency, defamation, and media.

We are known for efficiently and effectively managing high value, complex mandates, including cross-border, multi-party and multi-jurisdictional issues. We are highly experienced in handling cases before Ireland’s Commercial Court. We use legal technology to ensure time and cost is contained as far as possible.

Our service is focused on achieving best outcomes for our clients, in and out of court.

Arbitration

Arbitration is a core service in our litigation and dispute resolution practice. Our team regularly represents clients in commercial arbitrations, working to resolve disputes in that context.

We focus on results, offering clients detailed knowledge and experience of Irish and international arbitration codes and processes. We are active members of leading ADR institutions including Arbitration Ireland, the Irish International Arbitration Association, the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) and the Irish Commercial Mediators Association (ICMA).

Our arbitration team has global experience, with strong connections with international arbitration centres and firms in other jurisdictions. We provide services to international clients and firms in enforcing arbitral awards and defending challenges to arbitral awards in Ireland. Our offering includes arbitrations in a wide range of sectors, including commercial and contract disputes, construction, landlord and tenant, insurance, energy and technology.

Mediation

We also utilise mediation where appropriate as an effective ADR approach in the early resolution of disputes, including corporate and commercial disputes, property, shareholder, and workplace disputes. In all cases we take a commercially pragmatic approach to dispute issues with a view to securing the best possible outcomes for our clients.

We also advise clients on the benefits of mediation – including reduced costs, efficient use of time and resources, flexibility, confidentiality, and voluntary participation. Hayes is a long-standing and active member of the Irish Commercial Mediation Association, a not-for-profit organisation which promotes the awareness and use of mediation in business for preventing and resolving disputes.

Experience

Hayes is widely recognised as a leading adviser on litigation and dispute resolution. Examples of recent work include:-

• Acting for a European bank in Commercial Court proceedings involving claims of €7million.
• Acting for IT company in a Commercial Court breach of contract claim involving a claim of US$31million.
• Acting for the shareholders of a medical and diagnostic software and supply company in defending warranty claims in context of a €100million share sale.
• Representing the Italian Competition Authority in administrative law proceedings.
• Acting for the defendant in a windfarm construction dispute.
• Representing official receivers and banks in commercial property disputes.
• Represented a plaintiff in landmark High Court defamation proceedings resulting in a record €10 million jury award in their favour.
• Representing one of the main truck dealers in relation to mass litigation before the Competition Court arising out of a finding by the European Commission of a truck cartel.
• Acting for a defendant in the Belfry Litigation involving more than 300 claims arising out of property investments in the UK.
• Representing M.U.T. 103 Limited (in liquidation) in relation to claims exceeding €100m arising out of the Dolphin Trust investments in Germany.
• Acting for one of Ireland’s leading businessmen in relation to various Commercial Court litigation relating to the redevelopment of the Setanta Centre in Dublin city.

• Advising on and handling claims for State agencies including NAMA, the State Claims Agency, and the Department of Education.