GEMME Ireland and the specialist Bar ADR Committee organized an event entitled "Mediation in the Commercial Court - a View from Practice and the Bench" which took place on Thursday, 28 November 2024. It was a hybrid event with attendees having the option to attend in-person or join virtually.
(In the picture from left to right: Michael Cush SC-Ms Justice Eileen Roberts-Ms Justice Marguerite Bolger-Mr Justice Denis McDonald-Kelley Smith, Senior Counsel)
There was a large attendance (online) and in-person for a this seminar event. Presentations by all speakers and panel members was followed by an engaging Q and A facilitated by Her Honour Ms Justice Marguerite Bolger (a Judge of the High Court and Chairperson of GEMME Ireland)
Biographical Notes
Keynote Speakers
• Kelley Smith, Senior Counsel
Kelley Smith is a Senior Counsel practising in Dublin. Kelley specialises in commercial
litigation and has appeared in the leading Supreme Court judgments in respect of
contractual interpretation (MIBI v Law Society of Ireland), statutory interpretation (Dunnes
Stores v Revenue Commissioners) and commercial injunctions (Merck Sharpe & Dohme v Clonmel Healthcare). Kelley has also been called to the Bar of England and Wales and is the chairperson of the Corporate and Insolvency Bar Association.
• Michael Cush, Senior Counsel
Michael Cush is a Senior Counsel and is a vastly experienced and leading counsel in commercial litigation.
He regularly mediates in commercial disputes.
Panel
• The Hon. Mr Justice Denis McDonald, Judge of the High Court
Mr Justice Denis McDonald studied law in Trinity College Dublin from where he
graduated in 1984. He obtained a Barrister-at-Law Degree from the King’s Inns in 1986
and commenced practice in that year. He was called to the Inner Bar in October 2000.
He practiced primarily in the areas of chancery and commercial law. He was also a CEDR accredited mediator. In October 2010 he was appointed by the Governor of the Central Bank as chairman of the Irish Takeover Panel serving as chairman until April 2018. He was elected a bencher of the King’s Inns in October 2017. He was appointed to the High Court in April 2018. He has been a judge attached to the Commercial List since October 2018 and in charge of the Commercial List since October 2021 until his recent nomination to the Court of Appeal.
• The Hon. Ms. Justice Eileen Roberts, Judge of the High Court
Ms. Justice Roberts is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin (LLB) and of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland. She was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in 1991. She worked as a solicitor with law firm A&L Goodbody, specialising in commercial litigation and becoming both head of litigation and Chair of the firm. She specialised in large scale commercial disputes including property, financial services, insurance, maritime, and aviation disputes. Ms. Justice Roberts is a CEDR qualified mediator and a former committee member of both the Irish Commercial Mediation Association and the Commercial Litigation Association of Ireland. Ms. Justice Roberts was appointed as a judge of the High Court in July 2022. She sat in the chancery division until she was assigned as a judge of the Commercial Court in October 2023. She was appointed to The Law Reform Commission (as a Commissioner in a part-time capacity) in February 2024.
