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Expertise

Sharon Daly is Head of Matheson’s London Office and is a partner in the Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department.

Sharon is widely acknowledged as one of the leading corporate litigators in Ireland with over 25 years’ experience in all aspects of commercial litigation and dispute resolution. Continuously recognised for her ability to respond creatively to complex issues, Sharon was recently awarded ‘Lawyer of the Year’ at the Benchmark Litigation 2019 Europe Awards.

Sharon has been involved in some of the most significant commercial litigation to come before the Irish courts in the last 10 years, including defending a major financial institution in a series of multi-billion, multi-jurisdictional disputes arising from investments in Bernard L. Madoff’s business. Sharon also acted for insurers in the largest property damage dispute to come before the Irish courts in relation to the liability of hydro-electrical dams and flood damage arising therefrom.

Sharon and her team advise a wide range of clients on highly technical insurance issues including policy wordings, coverage and policy disputes, resulting in significant cost and time savings to our client and minimising reputational risk.

Sharon is Co-Chair of the Insurance Committee for the International Bar Association and has actively sought to use this committee to bring together leaders in the insurance industry to address the challenges in the industry globally.

As Head of Matheson’s Brexit Advisory Group, Sharon leads a multi-disciplinary team who advise and assist clients on the implementation of their Brexit plans.

Experience Highlights
  • Acted for a financial institution in a multi-billion (2.9bn) euro fraud claim achieving a dismissal of same on an interlocutory motion on public policy grounds.
  • Defending a financial institution in a fund custody negligence claim seeking recovery of $500m achieving a strike out on a preliminary issue.
  • Representing a major broker in the EU investigations into the commercial motor industry in Ireland.
  • Acting for insurers in a significant coverage dispute on a financial lines run-off policy.
  • Acting in a high-profile multimillion euro professional negligence claim action against a major firm of solicitors in relation to the administration of a very large and complicated estate (confidential).
  • Acting for AIB in a very significant coverage dispute under the civil liability section of a Bankers Blanket Bond policy following an employee fraud.
  • Acting for Kenmare Resources in the appeal of a €10m libel award achieving a 97.5% reduction to €250k.
  • Acting for University College Cork against the Electricity Supply Board (ESB) in a claim alleging ESB mismanaged a hydro-electric dam and caused millions of euro in damages as a result of downstream flooding in Cork city.
Accolades

Sharon Daly is recommended.
Dispute Resolution: European Legal 500 2020.

Sharon Daly is a first-class litigator, a very talented lawyer. She has an exhaustive knowledge of the law in the area of litigation. I am very relieved she is on our side.”
Dispute Resolution: European Legal 500 2020

Sharon Daly is “commercial, high-energy driven and committed.”
Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution: Chambers Global 2020

Ranked as one of the Top 10 Most Innovative Lawyers in Europe
Financial Times Innovative Lawyer Awards Europe 2019

Lawyer of the Year
Benchmark Litigation 2019 Europe Awards

Sharon Daly is a "formidable opponent, her name alone carries force. She is very decisive; she is forceful when she needs to be. I think she is excellent".
Chambers Europe 2019

Sharon Daly is an "exceptional operator" and regarded as "a leading coverage practitioner in Ireland".
Insurance: European Legal 500 2019

Sharon Daly "uses a common-sense approach to solving any issues and is open to finding novel solutions".
Dispute Resolution: European Legal 500 2019

Sharon Daly is named a leading individual.
Dispute Resolution: European Legal 500 2019

Sharon Daly is an "excellent insurance lawyer" .
Insurance: Chambers Europe 2019

Recognised for Insurance Law and Litigation
Best Lawyers Ireland 2019 edition

Sharon Daly is recognised in the Influential Women in Re/Insurance Report
Intelligent Insurer 2018

Winner, Best in Insurance, Europe
Euromoney Europe Women in Business Law Awards 2018

Sharon Daly is an "excellent negotiator".
European Legal 500 2018

Sharon Daly is "a very good strategic thinker. She really cares and always want to get the best result for her client. She's formidable and superb in hard-fought commercial litigation."
Chambers Global & Europe 2018

Sharon Daly is recognised in the Influential Women in Re/Insurance Report
Intelligent Insurer 2017

Recognised for Insurance Law and Litigation
Best Lawyers Ireland 2018 edition

Sharon Daly is named a leading individual.
European Legal 500 2017

Sharon Daly is described as a "great litigator" with "a strong reputation in the insurance defence market."
Chambers Europe 2017

The market-acclaimed Sharon Daly “is a very commercial operator," according to one source, with another describing her as "decisive, confident, clear-thinking, no-nonsense and pragmatic - a fine legal mind".
Chambers Global & Europe 2017

Education

University College Dublin (BA in Commerce)

The Industrial Development (Amendment) Act 2019

May 5, 2020, 13:14 PM
Getting Irish business Brexit-ready. New legislation brought into force by the outgoing Irish government is a welcome step in helping Irish business meet the challenges posed by Brexit.
Title : The Industrial Development (Amendment) Act 2019
Filter services i ds : a5faa30f-5dbb-45a0-ac57-91b70be7c811;
Engagement Time : 2
Insight Type : Article
Insight Date : Mar 18, 2020, 20:00 PM
Getting Irish business Brexit-ready.  New legislation brought into force by the outgoing Irish government is a welcome step in helping Irish business meet the challenges posed by Brexit.

The Industrial Development (Amendment) Act 2019 is one of a wide range of measures introduced to get Irish business Brexit-ready.

Doubling of Funding for Enterprise Development Agencies

The overall capital funding allowance that can be provided to IDA Ireland, EI and Science Foundation Ireland, in their combined lifetimes, is increased from €7 billion to €14 billion.

New Supports

Enterprise Ireland (“EI”), the state agency responsible for the development and growth of Irish enterprises in world markets :

• can now offer enhanced supports to client companies involved in research, development and innovation

• has increased flexibility to support enterprise development

• is empowered to manage its investments in client companies on a par with private sector investors.

For the first time, EI can provide grants to the horticulture sector and can partly fund research and development undertaken outside of Ireland by Irish based companies.  Government approval will be needed for investments above €7.5 million in any company.

The act was commenced by the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation with effect from 7 January 2020 (with the exception of a section amending the Microenterprise Loan Fund Act 2012) .

The measures were originally contained in the omnibus Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019.  The Irish government decided, however, to accelerate the introduction of this element of the legislative response to Brexit given the strategic importance of state business support to the Irish economy.

To discuss the impact of Brexit on your business, contact Matheson’s Brexit Advisory Group or your usual Matheson contact.

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