Sectors Public Sector
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Public Sector

The public sector in Ireland covers a vast range of disciplines and diverse service sectors. In total, there in excess of 350,000 people employed in the public sector with approximately 60% of them engaged in the provision of health and education services across the country.

Public sector group

We have a long and proud history of representing those directly accountable to the people of Ireland. We understand the unique challenges and constraints under which those in the public sector operate. As one of Ireland’s largest law firms, we devote substantial resources to providing a one-stop shop for legal services and have a distinctively integrated cross-firm approach to our clients’ needs and projects. We have extensive experience working on behalf of State and semi-State bodies, agencies, local authorities, multiple Government departments and the health authorities. Michelle Ni Longain heads our public sector group. She brings considerable experience to bear on behalf of her public sector clients and is regarded as one of the country's leading employment, equality, administrative and freedom of information practitioners. Our public sector group also administers an extensive in-house training programme to ensure our clients are kept informed of important legislative developments affecting them. We also lecture externally to the public sector including Public Affairs Ireland and the Public Appointments Service.

Public sector services

Our public sector services group covers all the legal needs of the public sector including:

  • Employment, HR and industrial relations
  • Administrative law
  • Healthcare services
  • Property services
  • Projects/PPPs
  • Public procurement
  • Childcare and care of the elderly
  • Regulation and governance
  • Fitness to Practice 
  • Freedom of information/data protection
  • Medico legal
  • Litigation
  • Corporate and commercial
  • Competition and EU law
  • Finance
  • Construction
  • Pensions and employee benefits

Recommendations

ByrneWallace LLP is ranked as a Tier 1 firm in the Public Sector chapter of Legal 500:

ByrneWallace has ‘an excellent understanding of the issues and culture within the public sector’ and ‘ranks as one of the top performers in this area.’ The firm advises a broad spread of clients across employment, infrastructure and administrative issues, but it is on the health side where the firm really shines, acting for the HSE, the Department of Health and Children and various hospitals and educational faculties.

ByrneWallace LLP is also ranked in the Pensions & Employee Benefits chapter of Legal 500:

ByrneWallace has an ‘in-depth understanding of public sector issues’ and provides ‘invaluable insight that cannot be easily replaced’

THE TEAM      
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Partners are very accessible and can be contacted at short notice. They all consistently meet deadlines and provi... Legal 500 2023 - Public Sector view all related testimonials
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Sean O'Donnell and Eimear Redmond are particularly helpful. Sean is very responsive to queries and requests, and ... Legal 500 2023 - Public Sector view all related testimonials
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The staff at ByrneWallace are competent, capable and extremely well informed. I have not only used them for their... Legal 500 2021 - Public Sector view all related testimonials
Their accessibility is second to none. They always deliver on our expectations and the work is always carried out... Legal 500 2021 - Public Sector view all related testimonials
Readily available for consultation, provide sound advice using their experts in the particular field so the stren... Legal 500 2021 - Public Sector view all related testimonials
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It is an excellent practice in devising innovative solutions for clients.... Legal 500 2021 - Public Sector view all related testimonials
The ByrneWallace team stand out for their overall knowledge pool and expertise. They are very strong on following... Legal 500 2020 - Public Sector view all related testimonials
The ByrneWallace team are attentive and responsive, and not caught up in jargon.... Legal 500 2020 - Public Sector view all related testimonials
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Response times are excellent. It is a pleasure working with ByrneWallace.... Legal 500 2020 - Public Sector view all related testimonials
Strong communication, client-centred, strong teamwork.... Legal 500 2020 - Public Sector view all related testimonials
The ByrneWallace team are good at listening, with key analytical skills that are helpful in solving problems.... Legal 500 2020 - Public Sector view all related testimonials
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Response times are excellent. It is a pleasure working with ByrneWallace.... Legal 500 2020 - Public Sector view all related testimonials
"Strong communication, client-centred, strong teamwork."... Legal 500 2020 - Public Sector view all related testimonials
"They are good at listening, with key analytical skills that are helpful in solving problems."... Legal 500 2020 - Public Sector view all related testimonials
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"Completely knowledgeable and demonstrate a complete understanding of the highly complex legal environment in whi... Legal 500 2020 - Public Sector view all related testimonials
ByrneWallace stands out for the 'flexibility of the team and the depth and range of its knowledge': it advises p... Legal 500 2019 - Public Sector view all related testimonials
Healthcare and social care are areas of strength at ByrneWallace, where Sinéad Kearney has been representing the... Legal 500 2017 - Public Sector view all related testimonials
ByrneWallace is well regarded for its work representing public sector entities in litigation and in relation to l... Legal 500 2016 - Public Sector view all related testimonials
The ‘excellent’ Michelle Ní Longáin heads ByrneWallace’s practice, which includes ‘health law expert’... Legal 500 2015 - Public Sector view all related testimonials
ByrneWallace is ‘a treasure trove of expertise’, with a practice spanning health services and healthcare, emp... Legal 500 2014 - Public Sector view all related testimonials
ByrneWallace divides its extensive public sector workload into two key divisions: health services, led by Sinead ... Legal 500 2013 - Public Sector view all related testimonials
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