Nicola Dunleavy is "not only a skilled lawyer but also has strong emotional intelligence".
Chambers Global and Europe
Expertise
Nicola Dunleavy is a partner in Matheson’s Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department, with a broad commercial litigation, investigations and arbitration practice. In 2021 she was appointed by the Irish Government as a Senior Counsel. Nicola is represents clients in complex, multi-jurisdictional commercial disputes, including arising from mergers and acquisitions and EU law, and in constitutional litigation. Sectors include technology and telecommunications, pharmaceutical, chemicals, food and drink, waste, water, energy, mining, and transport. Nicola represents clients in investigations by the EU Commission, ComReg, and other regulators and in defending criminal prosecutions. Nicola has very significant experience in major development, energy and real estate disputes, including planning environmental and safety judicial review and disputes.
Nicola served as a member of the Court of the London Court of International Arbitration until 2024 and is a former President of Arbitration Ireland. Nicola is an advocate in alternative dispute resolution, such as expert determination, adjudication and mediation. Nicola is a Chartered Tax Advisor and an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
Representative matters include:
- In technology and digital economy disputes, representing platforms and software developers in a range of Irish Court proceedings and in arbitration.
- In climate change litigation - including ESG and permitting litigation - leading the representation of developers of renewable and conventional energy, data centres, housing and transport projects, including referrals to the CJEU.
- Representing truck manufacturers in Competition Court follow-on damages claims stemming from the European Commission's settlement decision, a high profile competition infringement matter in Europe.
- Representing taxpayers in disputes with the Revenue Commissioners and with the State, in the Tax Appeals Commission and in Irish and European Courts.
- Representing buyers and sellers in post-acquisition warranty and indemnity disputes in ICC and LCIA arbitration and in actions for enforcement of arbitral awards.
- Acting for Royalty Pharma in take-over litigation related to its $6.5 billion bid for Elan.
- Defending regulatory investigations and criminal prosecutions for alleged data, regulatory (pricing, tax), safety and environmental offences.
- Advising Macquarie Asset Management in relation to its agreement to acquire the Beacon Hospital in Dublin, subject to customary regulatory approvals.
Dispute Resolution: The European Legal 500 2024
“Nicola Dunleavy is an intellectual heavyweight who ensures clients are comfortable while fighting in your corner.”
Environment: Chambers Europe 2024
"Nicola Dunleavy is very impressive. She is a very good operator."
Dispute Resolution: Chambers Global and Europe 2024
"She has a high sense of service and a lot of experience."
Dispute Resolution: Chambers Global and Europe 2024
"Nicola Dunleavy SC runs an outstanding team at Matheson and is fully engaged in all cases. Her knowledge and understanding of planning and environmental law are exceptional. She is very much focused on solutions and advising the client on what it needs
to do to secure planning permission/environmental consent."
Planning and Environment: The European Legal 500 2023
"Nicola Dunleavy SC is the best in the business. Knowledgeable and practical and works tirelessly for her clients and her team"
Planning and Environment: The European Legal 500 2023
"Nicola Dunleavy is exceptional, really brilliant, has a good depth of experience and can put herself in her client's shoes."
Dispute Resolution: Chambers Global and Europe 2023
"She is very polished and exudes confidence in her approach with clients."
Dispute Resolution: Chambers Global and Europe 2023
"Nicola Dunleavy is probably the leader in the field in this jurisdiction. She is an excellent lawyer with brilliant judgement and is wholly committed to delivering for her clients."
Planning & Environment: The European Legal 500 2022
“Nicola Dunleavy is an exceptional lawyer in this area.”
Dispute Resolution: The European Legal 500 2022
Nicola Dunleavy’s “expertise in the field stands out," and "she is highly responsive."
Dispute Resolution: Chambers Global and Europe 2022
"Nicola Dunleavy has assisted our company over an extended period of time and can be relied upon to always provide practical and forthright advice notwithstanding the difficult nature of matters requiring attention".
Dispute Resolution: The European Legal 500 2021
"Nicola Dunleavy is an outstanding litigator. She has a deep understanding of the litigation process and how issues might play out. She is able to deliver quality strategic advice and add value in all interactions".
Dispute Resolution: The European Legal 500 2021
"Nicola Dunleavy "is fantastic to deal with. Nicola really got to know and understand our business, she provides professional well thought out advice and also works through the advice as part of the broader team and understands the complex business we
operate. Nicola is a superb professional advisor, with good business acumen, who deploys a common sense approach to problems".
Dispute Resolution: The European Legal 500 2021
"When she speaks she has a level of gravitas; you can just sense that she has been there before and knows exactly what she's talking about".
Dispute Resolution: Chambers Global and Europe 2021
Nicola Dunleavy "is personable, responsive and commercial".
Dispute Resolution: Chambers Global and Europe 2021
Nicola Dunleavy has been recognised by The Legal 500 as an elite leading lawyer.
Planning & Environment: The European Legal 500 Hall of Fame 2020
“Nicola Dunleavey is amazing to work with, she is on the ball at all times and works very well with clients to deliver what they need.”
Planning & Environment: The European Legal 500 2020
Nicola Dunleavy is truly exceptional, head and shoulders above her competitors. She is an excellent lawyer and offers hugely practical and informed advice to her clients. She is enormously hard working and gets the best out of a dedicated team who all
do their best for her.”
Planning & Environment: The European Legal 500 2020
"Nicola Dunleavy is an outstanding litigator. Her advice and support to our business has been fantastic.”
Dispute Resolution: The European Legal 500 2020
Nicola Dunleavy is “great at listening to and understanding the clients requirements”
Dispute Resolution: Chambers Global and Europe 2020
Dispute Resolution: Chambers Global and Europe 2020
Trinity College Dublin (LLB)
Qualified as a solicitor in Ireland
Chartered Tax Advisor, Irish Taxation Institute
European University Institute, Florence, Italy (Masters in European, International and Comparative Law LLM)