Mr Justice Michael Peart has been presented with the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ – he was the first solicitor to be appointed to the High Court bench and retired in October 2019 from the Court of Appeal.

Former Law Society Director General Ken Murphy and Tralee solicitor Patrick Mann received special merit awards at the 2021 Irish Law Awards.

Cork’s Bill Holohan, of Holohan Lane, lifted the lawyer of the year trophy, while Philip Lee lifted the gong for corporate law firm of the year. The diversity and inclusion award went to Matheson.

Criminal law firm of year

Michael Hennessy Solicitors was named criminal law firm of the year, while Anne O’Connell Solicitors won the employment law firm of the year.

Reddy Charlton lifted the award for regional firm of the year, while DCU won as law school of the year.

Callan Tansey Solicitors won the medical negligence firm of the year, and probate law firm of the year was won by P O’Connor and Son.

The event on 29 October, at the Clayton hotel in Dublin, took place after a pandemic-induced gap of two years.

Family law award

MacSweeney and Company were honoured with the property firm of the year award.

The law firm website award went to Conor McLaughlin and Associates, while Donnacha T Anhold, of Carter Anhold & Company, was awarded sole principal of the year.

Stuart Gilhooly SC lifted the gong for sports lawyer of the year.

Tracey Solicitors won the marketing and communications award, while Lisa McKenna of McKenna and Company won the law firm innovation award.

Hatstone LLP lifted the award for international firm of the year.

The overall award for family law went to Dublin solicitor Keith Walsh.

The public sector legal team award went to the criminal asset section at the Chief State Solicitor’s Office.

The full list of winners can be viewed on the Irish Law Awards website.