Expertise
Deirdre Cummins is a partner in the Employment, Pensions and Benefits Group at Matheson. Deirdre specialises in pensions and benefits law and advises trustees and employers on all aspects of Irish pension arrangements both in the private and public sectors. In particular, Deirdre advises on issues arising from the ongoing management and administration of pension arrangements, from establishment to winding up, as well as the pension aspects of corporate transactions including share sales, MBOs and asset and business transfers.
Deirdre has advised a wide range of clients including public sector and semi-state organisations, trustees, national and multinational companies, and smaller companies and individuals.
Deirdre also has broad experience in pensions litigation and has advised extensively on contentious matters between employers and trustees in the context of restructuring and winding-up pension schemes.
Deirdre is member of the Pensions Council and is a former chairman of the Association of Pension Lawyers in Ireland. Deirdre is a lecturer on the Law Society Certificate Course in Pension Law and Practice and has tutored on pensions and related matters on the professional courses of the Law Society.
Deirdre has participated as a speaker in seminars on pensions and related matters and is a contributor on pension matters to periodicals and professional journals.
- Advising defendant trustees in the biggest pensions litigation to come before the Irish courts.
- Advising the trustees in relation to the largest pension scheme insolvency in the State and all ancillary matters including discovery of pension scheme documentation in the context of court proceedings.
- Advising State Street on all pensions law aspects of its €57 million acquisition of Bank of Ireland Asset Management (BIAM) from Bank of Ireland Group.
- Advising both trustees and sponsoring employers in relation to the winding up of defined benefit pension schemes in deficit and the establishment of ancillary arrangements to facilitate the payment of monies over time outside the schemes to active and deferred members.
Deirdre Cummins is recommended.
European Legal 500 2020
Deirdre Cummins is named a leading individual.
European Legal 500 2020
Deirdre Cummins is named a leading individual.
European Legal 500 2019
Deirdre Cummins has "a detailed understanding of her specialist area together with the ability to provide advice in a clear and precise manner".
Employment: Chambers Europe 2019
Deirdre Cummins is "effective and practical. No matter the problem, she comes to us with a practical solution. She’s very solid".
Chambers Europe 2019
Deirdre "provides succinct pragmatic advice in a timely manner."
Chambers Europe 2018
Deirdre Cummins is recommended.
European Legal 500 2017
Clients praise Deirdre's approach, highlighting her "knowledge, expertise and skill, as well as a degree of pragmatism and commercial awareness."
Chambers Europe 2017
Trinity College Dublin, L.L.B.
Qualified as a solicitor in Ireland