Partners

Expertise

David is head of the Commercial and Business Team at Hayes solicitors, and advises many of the firms major clients.  David advises on media, corporate and commercial and IP matters to clients, particularly to clients in media, sports, retail and the motor sectors. 

David advises extensively on intellectual property rights issues and is a registered trademark agent.  He also represents clients in regulatory matters, criminal investigations and prosecutions.

David advises regulated professionals, such as pharmacists, doctors and others, on contract, disciplinary and conduct matters.

Experience

• Media - David leads the Hayes team advising The Irish Times on an array of commercial issues, including pre-publication consideration of articles, advertisements, media contracts and copyright, and the use of the Internet as a modern medium of communication.
• Sport – David advises a number of high-profile sports individuals, as well as sports organisations, on contract matters, endorsements, image rights and other issues. 
• Regulated Professionals – David advises regulated professionals such as pharmacists, doctors and nurses, in professional conduct matters, contract issues and other related issues. 
• Consumer goods - David has a long-standing advisory relationship with Unilever, the major multinational consumer goods company, and oversees the Hayes team responsible for providing legal services to them.
• Retail - David is part of the Hayes team advising Primark, one of Ireland’s leading businesses, on a range of matters ranging from general corporate and commercial matters and IP.
• Media – David acts for NewsBrands Ireland, the representative body of Ireland's national newspapers and Irish editions of UK national newspapers. This calls for regular advice on intellectual property matters, with a heavy emphasis on copyright.
• Automotive - David leads the Hayes team advising the Society of the Irish Motor Industry and its members on a broad range of commercial and regulatory issues.
• Data Protection – David advises his clients on data protection and GDPR issues, including in contracts and in advisory issues.  David also represents clients in complaints and criminal prosecutions relating to data protection matters. 
• Commercial Court Litigation – David has advised in numerous high profile and complex disputes covering a broad range of business and regulatory issues.
• Professional regulatory – David is legal adviser to the Royal Institute of Architects in Ireland on a wide range of issues relating to its statutory duties and membership services.
• Competition – David advises clients on competition matters and CCPC investigations. He has represented a number of clients in high profile competition law criminal prosecutions, including prosecutions in the Central Criminal Court.

Qualifications/Education

• Bachelor of Civil Law Degree, University College Dublin
• Professional qualification as a solicitor, Law Society of Ireland, 1998.

Memberships

• Law Society of Ireland
• Dublin Solicitors Bar Association
• Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee of the Law Society
• Association of Regulatory & Disciplinary Lawyers (UK)
• A founding committee member of the Health & Safety Lawyers Association of Ireland
• Former member of the Business Law Committee of the Dublin Solicitors Bar Association
• Former member of the Business Opportunities Task Force of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce.

Other

• David frequently lectures on these areas and works closely with clients in providing training to their personnel
• He regularly tutors in commercial law with the Law Society of Ireland
• David regularly provides talks and lectures for clients, and in the last couple of years has spoken at events organised by the Dublin Chamber of Commerce, Dublin Solicitors Bar Association, the Law Society of Ireland, as well as providing in-house training to clients.

 

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