Fergus Armstrong

Fergus Armstrong practises exclusively as a mediator. He brings to his work experience gained as an lawyer with Aer Lingus (1969-74) and with McCann FitzGerald, Dublin (Partner 1974-2005; Chairman/Managing Partner 1987-1993) in the fields of company/commercial, partnership, finance, venture capital, new technologies, telecommunications, aviation and insurance. He also has experience of assisting voluntary, charitable and religious organisations.

Fergus has successfully mediated disputes related to shareholder and partnership relationships, commercial and financial matters, employment and pensions, as well as claims asserting tort liability against institutional defendants. He is a graduate of University College Dublin and Harvard Law School. He is accredited as a mediator by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR), London. He has attended Master Classes and Advanced Mediator Training given by Mediation and Training Alternatives (MATA), London.

Mel Casserly

Mel Casserly is accredited as an arbitrator by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators since 2006. Mel also qualified as an ADR Accredited Mediator in 2006. Mel completed a postgraduate diploma in Construction Law and Contract Administration in Trinity College Dublin in 2005. Mel is a graduate of University College Galway and the Institute of Public Administration.

He brings to his work experience gained as a lecturer in Civil Engineering in the Institute of Technology, Sligo since 2000 and as Executive Engineer with Leitrim County Council (1998-2000). Mel enjoys running, swimming, cycling and soccer regularly. He has successfully completed six marathons including one ultra marathon, and several triathlons. He is a committee member (treasurer) of the MSC Triathlon Club in Mullaghmore, Co. Sligo.

Dominique Cleary

Dominique Cleary now practices as a mediator having previously worked as a solicitor with Bank of Ireland Group. Her experience in litigation includes the management and resolution of commercial/consumer disputes and the negotiation of settlements. She has experience in commercial matters, intellectual property, the provision of general advisory services to business and marketing units, and has had extensive dealings with regulatory bodies, public inquiries and tribunals and revenue matters.

Dominique is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin and has a Masters in the law relating to consumer contracts. She was admitted as a solicitor in 1996. She has lived most her adult life outside her native Ecuador and is fluent in Spanish. She is accredited as a mediator by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR), London. She has attended Advanced Mediator Training given by Mediation and Training Alternatives (MATA), London. Dominique's sporting interests include show jumping, swimming and jogging.

Geoffrey Corry

Geoffrey Corry has mediated many interpersonal disputes over the past 20 years in Ireland involving emotional/physical abuse, bullying and harassment in a variety of settings: neighbour disputes, local authorities, family break-up, voluntary organisations and schools/universities.  Geoffrey works two days a week as a family mediator with the state run Family Mediation Service and is called in by employers to resolve workplace disputes. He has facilitated over 50 political dialogue workshops since the 1994 ceasefires at the Glencree Centre for Reconciliation which brought together political party activists in the back channel of the peace process.  Geoffrey designed and facilitated the roundtable consensus building process for the Bantry Bay Coastal Zone Charter, recognised as an innovative stakeholder driven approach which received an Environmental Merit Award.  

Geoffrey founded Tallaght Community Mediation and supports the volunteer mediators at Northside Mediation to resolve local neighbour and parenting disputes. He has taught mediation at UCD Adult Education for the past 15 years. Geoffrey also served as chairperson of the Mediators Institute Ireland from 1999-2002.

Michael Cover

Michael qualified as a Barrister in 1973 and a Solicitor in 1988. He spent more than 25 years as a lawyer in private practice and in-house, before being accredited as a mediator in 2002 with both CEDR and ADR Group. He has also trained with the International Trade Mark Association. Now an experienced mediator and practising mediator and arbitrator, Michael has attended programmes run by Pepperdine University, as well as programmes run by the Harvard Negotiation Project.

Michael is a mediation member of the UK Sports Dispute Resolution Panel. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He has recently taken on the leadership of the newly formed Intellectual Property and Information Technology Specialist Mediation Panel of leading provider, In Place of Strife. Michael is a keen sailor and qualified as a team umpire in sailing. He is a Vice-President of his local Rugby Union Club.

Paul Creedon

Paul Creedon has held senior management positions in several industries. In these roles he has gained experience in a broad range of areas including the negotiation of complex loan agreements, tax planning, capital investment programmes and accounting issues. He is experienced in dealing with matters relating to quoted companies from IPO to take-over.

Paul was CFO of a telecoms provider in eastern Mediterranean area, controlled by Telecom Italia. He was previously Finance Director of Aran Energy plc, an oil and gas exploration and production company quoted in Dublin, London and on NASDAQ. He was earlier an Executive Director of Silvermines plc. Over a two year period he served as chairman of an entity established to achieve the break up of a group of companies, without further recourse to litigation. Paul is a graduate of University College Dublin and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland. He ia accredited as a mediator by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) in London. Paul is a keen sailor.

Ian Finlay

Ian Finlay is a senior counsel who has been in practice at the Irish Bar for over 25 years. He was called to the English Bar in 1987. He has appeared in many leading cases. His extensive experience of commercial and corporate disputes pursued through litigation led to his interest in mediation as a viable alternative. He has lectured on the relevance of mediation in an Irish context. As well as being a barrister, Ian Finlay is a history graduate, an award-winning photographer and has worked for the BBC as a film critic. He speaks good French and German. He is accredited as a mediator by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR), London.

Hugh Governey

Hugh Governey is very experienced in assisting clients and insurers in resolving disputes and in negotiating terms and conditions of complex insurance contracts and claims. He retired as CEO of Coyle Hamilton Willis Holdings Ltd in July 2005. His career spanned 45 years in the insurance industry and he continues as a non-executive director. Hugh is currently serving as Chairman of the Irish Credit Bureau and of Dublin Business Innovation Centre Ltd. He is also a Director of Rehab Group, Ireland & UK.
In addition, Hugh is Past President of:

• Dublin Chamber of Commerce
  
• European Federation of Insurance Agents & Brokers
  
• Irish Brokers Association
  
• Insurance Institute of Dublin.

Hugh is a Chartered Insurance Broker and Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute. He is accredited as a mediator by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR), London. Over the years, Hugh has been an active participant in Gaelic Football, Rugby, Squash, Tennis, Rowing & Skiing. On administration side was Hon. Sec. of Lansdowne Football Club 1974-86 and Chairman of Blainroe Lawn Tennis Club 1992-94.

Siobhan Hayes

Sibohán undertook a law degree at UCD prior to completing a masters in Brussels. She was admitted as a solicitor in 1995 and is now a partner at Arthur Cox. Siobhán has wide experience in civil and commercial litigation. Her practice areas include Health & Safety, banking and financial litigation, education, and advising the medical and nursing professions in relation to statutory and non-statutory inquiries. She is accredited as a mediator by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR), London. Siobhán is also a keen sailor.

John Hyland

John Hyland is a Founder member of the Centre for Dispute Resolution (CDR). John has been involved as director of the Centre For Dispute Resolution from 1996 to 2002 and established his own Consultancy Mediation Services.  John is an Adjudicator and Mediator for Department of Environment on The Private Residential Tenancies Board and a Mediator for Employee Injury cases for Dublin City Council. John is also an Associate of the Mediators Institute of Ireland.

He is presently a Facilitator for the Centre For Mediation (CFM) and has previously worked as a solicitor with Bank of Ireland Group. He brings to his work experience gained as a Barrister-at-law since 1985. John is an active member and participant of Irish Cycling Veterans Association and member of Irish Road Club (cycling) since 1980.

Yael Illouz

Yael Illouz has wide experience in corporate, technology, venture capital, telecoms and commercial law. Today, she practices exclusively as a mediator. Her previous work experience was gained in legal practice in the United States, Europe and Israel. She was a member of both the Californian and Israeli bars (1989, 1988). Yale worked with major firms in California and Israel (1989 – 2000) and served as in-house General Counsel for a multi-national telecommunications group in Ireland (2000 – 2006). Fluent in French, English and Hebrew, Yael is a graduate of the Hebrew University (LL.B., 1987, Jerusalem, Israel) and of McGeorge School of Law (LL.M. 1998, Sacramento, California). She is accredited as a mediator by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR), London. she has attended Advanced Mediator Training given by Mediation and Training Alternatives (MATA), London.

Michael Irvine

A consultant solicitor and an accredited mediator, Michael Irvine has undertaken courses with Friary Law / ADR Group and CEDR.  Michael Irvine is a solicitor and Council Member of the Law Society. Michael is a partner and consultant in Matheson Orrmsby Prentice and practices in commercial law. Michael is a former President of the Law Society of Ireland. In sport, Michael played Senior Club Rugby for 10 years with Dublin University (gaining 3 colours) and Old Wesley Rugby Club.  He has represented Leinster Rugby at Junior Level. Michael is also interested in Cricket, having played in University, and plays golf.

Tony Kearney

Formerly based in the UK but now resident in Ireland, Tony has 25 years experience of all aspects of dispute resolution having worked as a solicitor in the UK from 1981-2005.  During this time he worked for a major UK company as Group Legal Advisor and dealt with all aspects of its construction, commercial and employment issues in the UK and internationally.  He now works as a combination of mediator, trainer, consultant, writer and farmer.

Tony is an experienced mediator having been involved in many such processes, including highly complex multi million pound, multi party, and multi-issue disputes.  He has in depth experience of all types of litigation and dispute resolution procedures.  His extensive experience as “in-house counsel” has also given him invaluable insight into how it feels to be a party involved in a dispute. 

Tony qualified with a LLB from the University of Canterbury New Zealand, and is a member of the Law Society England and Wales. He is an Accredited Mediator (Friary Law), as well as being a member of the ADR list of accredited mediators in Ireland and the UK.

Tony’s sporting interests include rugby, soccer, GAA sports, golf, tennis and athletics and in recent years he has completed the London Marathon, the London Triathlon and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. He is a keen sports enthusiast with a good working knowledge of most sports.

Paddy Maguire

Paddy is a practising chartered accountant and auditor and has been so since qualifying in 1983. His practice involves Corporate Audit and taxation services together with personal compliance taxation services. The practice also provides business advisory services such as share valuations and acting as meeting Chairman. In particular, the practice specialises in dispute resolution services in the areas of mediation and Arbitration. Paddy is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, holds a Diploma in Arbitration Law & Practice and is an accredited as a mediator by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR), London. He is also a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and an Associate of The Irish Taxation Institute.

Paddy has been involved in the administration of the sport of sailing since 1983. He was President of the Irish Sailing Association between 1998 & 2002. One of the principal achievements of his Preseidency was the development and implementation of sailing’s first strategic plans. Indeed this was the first such plan developed by a national governing body in Ireland. His term in office also saw a substantial growth in membership and professional staff. Paddy was also a keen rugby player at school and later on, in Clontarf Rugby Football Club. He remains a keen rugby supporter and a member of Blackrock Rugby Football Club.

Stuart Margetson

Stuart Margetson is a partner in the Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department of Matheson Ormsby Prentice, one of Ireland’s leading law firms, where he advises on dispute resolution in the areas of product liability, administrative and environmental law and commercial disputes generally. Over more than 25 years of practice Stuart has managed many highly complex commercial litigation projects involving both domestic and international clients in the corporate, institutional and private client sectors.

Stuart is a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin and is accredited as a mediator by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR), London and has considerable experience of the mediation of disputes. Stuart is also a founding member, and former chairman, of the Irish Commercial Mediation Association (ICMA), a member of the Law Society’s Arbitration and Mediation Committee and a member of the Mediators Institute of Ireland (MMI). Stuart is a panel member of both the Solicitors Mutual Defence Fund and the Medical Protection Society, defending claims of professional negligence against solicitors and doctors respectively. Stuart has a keen interest in all sports and has been actively involved in hockey, rugby, golf, cricket and tennis. Stuart is currently a trustee of both the Irish Hockey Association and the Lei nster Branch of the Irish Hockey Association, having served as President of the Leinster Branch of the Irish Hockey Association in the period 1998 to 2000.

Paulyn Marrinan Quinn S.C.

Paulyn is a senior counsel having been called to the bar in 1979 where, she has a general civil practice with a particular specialty in the area of insurance and re-insurance liability issues. She was appointed Ireland’s first Insurance Ombudsman in 1992. Paulyn is currently Ombudsman for the Defence Forces. Paulyn has spent many years pioneering alternative dispute resolution methods at the coalface. She is an accredited arbitrator and mediator and is the founder, lecturer and programme co-ordinator of Conflict and Dispute Resolution Studies at Trinity College Dublin. Paulyn is also a course co-ordinator and mentor for the MBA and degree courses at the University of Limerick, UCK, the IPA and the Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business.

Brian Murphy

Brian Murphy is a chartered accountant who has practiced for many years as a partner in O.J. Kilkenny & Co. During this time, Brian provided a range of specialist advices to a wide variety of clients many of whom were involved in the entertainment area. More recently O.J. Kilkenny & Co merged with Mazars and Brian acts as a consultant to this firm continuing to provide advice to clients with increasing emphasis on the tax effective wealth management of their resources. Brian serves on a number of boards in Ireland and internationally representing his own and clients’ interests. Brian continues to be a partner in O.J. Kilkenny & Co, London, a leading firm in London which specialises in the entertainment market. Brian received a bachelor’s degree in commerce from Dublin University and is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland and a member of the Institute of Chartered accountants in England and Wales. He enjoys golf, reading and travel. He is accredited as a mediator by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR), London.

John McBratney

John McBratney is experienced in commercial and banking law, company law, inheritance matters, professional negligence and disputes in relation to disciplinary procedures as well as advisory work of various kinds. He is a senior counsel who has practised at the Irish bar for over 20 years. He initially qualified in Dublin as a solicitor and for seven years worked in London with Freshfield Solicitors. He was then a partner for four years in Arthur Cox. In 2005, he served on the committee appointed by the Minister for Justice and Law Reform known as the Legal Costs Working Group. John has been a member of the Board and Chairperson of The Gallery of Photography and until June 2006 of The Tyrone Guthrie Centre at Annaghmakerrig. He writes occasional book reviews for the Irish Times and has a keen appreciation of the visual arts and various other art forms. He has had a long involvement with the horse racing industry which he enjoys. He is a director of a bloodstock company for over 25 years and has been involved in advising the Turf Club from time to time for over 10 years on various issues. He is accredited as a mediator by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR), London.

Christopher McCandless

Based in Belfast Christopher has been a partner with Chartered Accountancy firm Johnston Kennedy DFK since 1998. He now has responsibility for business advisory services to the professional and medical sectors in addition to advising many sporting organisations on governance and financial matters. Christopher also acts as an advisor in cases involving both civil and criminal litigation and in particular areas of tax evasion. 

Christopher is a Qualified Mediator having been accredited as a ‘QDR’ by the Academy of Experts, London and is also an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He has mediated both in London under County Court appointed schemes as well as locally in N Ireland under party appointed mediations, predominantly in shareholder and partnership disputes. 

Christopher is currently senior coach at South Antrim Hockey Club (SAHC) and a youth coach at Lisnagarvey Hockey Club as well as serving on the management committee at SAHC. A keen supporter of Ulster and Irish hockey he is delighted to currently hold the post of manager to the Irish Veterans (Over 40’s) Team.

Brian McLoghlin

Brian McLoghlin is experienced in the aviation industry, cross border financing and leasing transactions, joint ventures, business acquisitions and general commercial law. He is involved in a range of activities including mediation, commercial legal practice, aviation consultancy and membership of company boards (some of which he chairs). Brian began his career as a barrister but subsequently became a solicitor working mainly in-house, including as Company Lawyer of Aer Lingus and finally as Group Secretary and Chief Legal Officer of GPA Group plc. He has considerable international experience, having worked with GPA in the US and the EU Commission in Brussels.
Brian is accredited as mediator by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR), London. Brian's main sporting interest is rugby. He is a member of UCD RFC and Garryowen FC. He captained the 3rd A team in UCD in 1967/8. Brian also played for Palmerstown, Aer Lingus and Brussels British. He is a keen golfer and is Chairman and a Life Member of Limerick County Golf and Country Club.

Turlough O' Donnell

Turlough O’Donnell is a senior counsel having been called to the Irish Bar in 1979. An accredited mediator, Turlough is currently Chairman of the Bar Council of Ireland and has been re-elected to the position for 2007/2008.

James O' Higgins

Jim O’Higgins has been practicing as a mediator for more than a decade. His first experience was in mediation of family law issues. Since then, he has mediated disputes in the small business context, succession disputes and education disputes. He has also been involved in the resolution of Public Authority employment issues and personal injury, and also child abuse disputes. He chaired the group which founded and designed the scheme for the state Family Mediation Service. Jim is a consultant solicitor with Kent Carty Solicitors and has an LLB degree and diplomas in European Law and Theology. He is accredited as a mediator by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR), London. He attended an advanced mediation course run by CEDR, London and Pepperdine University of California which concentrated on the U.S. model of mediation.

James O’ Sullivan

James O’ Sullivan qualified as a solicitor in 1993 and is a partner in the firm Ronan Daly Jermyn since 1996. James has practiced in the area of litigation and his work includes the District, Circuit, High and Supreme Courts. James has been involved in personal injury, commercial litigation, construction disputes and health and safety law. This range of work has exposed him to much arbitration on behalf of his clients through the years. 

James was accredited as a mediator by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) in 2007. James has had an active interest in dispute resolution and attended many mediation seminars both in Ireland and the UK.  

James is an elected member of the Council of the Law Society of Ireland, and is Chairman of its Education Committee. He is also a member of one of its Regulatory Committees and a member of its Taskforce on Client Care. James O’ Sullivan is a member of the Southern Law Association, as well as being a past President of the organisation. 

James played hockey with Belvedere Hockey Club in Cork for a number of years. He has sailed competitively since his teens and is a member of the Royal Cork Yacht Club. James has a keen interest in all aspects of equestrian sport and competes his horses in show jumping and cross country.

Dr Mary Redmond

Mary Redmond is a CEDR qualified mediator and Consultant Solicitor at Arthur Cox Dublin where she specialises in Employment Law. She is author of the standard text Dismissal Law (2007) and Strikes - An Essential Guide to Industrial Relations (2010). As director of the Labour Relations Commission for two terms, she had first hand experience of industrial relations issues in Ireland. With over 25 years' experience of employment law practice, she is consistently rated internationally as one of Ireland's most recommended employment lawyers. Redmond is a non - executive director of Cricket Ireland, and Chairman of 4FM Radio. She is a Council member of the Institute of Directors, UK, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. She was director and former Deputy Governor of Bank of Ireland Group, former director of Smurfit Group plc, Campbell Bewley Group and of the Royal Liver Assurance.

She has been a member of several statutory boards including the RTE Authority. In 2004 Redmond was made an Honorary Fellow of the Christ's College, Cambridge. Redmond is founder of two national charities, the Irish Hospice Foundation and The Wheel. She is currently a Trustee of the Iveagh Trust.   

James Sexton has extensive experience in a broad range of legal areas. He specialises in company law, share purchase and sale, commercial contracts, public procurement and employment contracts. In 1970, he co-founded Holmes O'Malley Sexton in Limerick, and is currently working as a consultant solicitor in the firm's business department. Jim has played a vital role in the establishment and development of this department. While continuing in practice, Jim has decided to use his experience as a negotiator in the field of mediation and to develop his professional work in this area. His main client base consists of local, multinational and subsidiaries of international corporations, as well as private individuals. He is accredited as a mediator by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR), London. Jim's chief sporting interest is rugby, and he is a member and former President of Old Crescent RFC.

Ercus Stewart S.C.

Ercus is a senior counsel having been called to the Irish Bar in 1970. He is also a member of the bars of Northern Ireland, England and Wales and New South Wales. His practice includes Commercial and Civil Law, Contract, Employment Law and also International and Domestic Commercial Arbitration. He is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators in London. He is a member of a number of world-renowned arbitration panels including the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (“I.C.D.R.”), New York & Dublin, the ICC panel in Dublin and the Sports Disputer Resolution Panel, London. He has a keen interest in sport and is an active participant in the Irish Mountain Running Association.

David Casserly B.L.

David Casserly is a member of the Bar of Ireland and New York, he is an Accredited Mediator and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Prior to commencing at the Irish Bar, David practised as an attorney with a major international law firm and spent three and a half years as the Legal Counsel and Head of Mediation at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). David is also an accomplished sportsman, with representative rugby honours.

Orlaith McCarthy

Orlaith McCarthy is a solicitor who has practised for over 25 years with BCM Hanby Wallace Solicitors. She has wide experience in litigation, property and family law. Orlaith is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin and is accredited as a mediator by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) London. She is also a member of the Irish Commercial Mediation Association and a member of the Law Society's Arbitration and Mediation Committee. Orlaith has a keen interest in sport and has been actively involved in hockey and golf.

Liam Keane

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