Catherine Sanz | Business Post

Catherine Sanz

@catherine-sanz

Legal correspondent and senior reporter

Celtic Tiger developer avoids having legal defence struck out

A judge extended the time for Conor Clarkson’s compliance with a High Court order, in a case relating to a dispute over rent for a pub premises in south Dublin

Barrister profession seen as ‘out of touch’ with general public, report says

Large solicitor firms ‘encroaching’ on areas of traditional expertise, according to a strategic review conducted by EY for the Bar Council

Liquidator of Dolphin Trust-linked company steps aside as his replacement is confirmed

Anthony Fitzpatrick asked to be substituted as the liquidation of RE Administration had gone on for far longer than he expected

Attorney General warns speed of AI progress must not outstrip the law

Paul Gallagher said intelligent systems, recently claimed to be ‘sentient’, could not displace human responsibility

Horse trainer group suing Glanbia alleges losses of at least €30m

Legendary trainer Aidan O’Brien is one of the plaintiffs taking food firm to court after stable’s racehorses tested positive for anabolic steroid

The Big Interview

‘You are more than able for this role, and we want you to want this role’ – Gemma Freeman of Dentons

The insolvency lawyer has risen to the top of a male-dominated profession – and credits the strongly pro-female atmosphere at her firm, Dentons, for much of that

‘Disquieting error’ in Bourke’s insolvency arrangement criticised by High Court

Mr Justice Mark Sanfey urged all personal insolvency practitioners to ‘reflect carefully’ on their obligations to the court

Entitlement to legal representation regardless of ‘rogue state’ origin – Court of Appeal judge

David Barniville warned against the ‘rush to judgement’ regarding individuals potentially being denied legal representation

Revealed: New British protocol law to remove all customs checks

Boris Johnson’s government is expected to publish the new piece of legislation tomorrow, while a spokesman for Simon Coveney, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, says that ‘breaking international law would be a retrograde step for the UK’

Cosgrave’s Web Summit launches new venture capital fund

It is understood the company is a management vehicle for the Web Summit Ventures Fund, which will be an American-based venture capital fund

Northern Ireland

Bordering on the insurmountable: NI protocol hangs in the balance

Tensions rise as many believe legislation being prepared by Britain to unilaterally scrap parts of the Northern Ireland protocol will cause more problems than it solves

Old Irish Goats given special status

Breed with origins going back an estimated 5,000 years currently has no legal protections

Attorney General stepped in over hike in Law Library fees

Paul Gallagher asked Bar Council chair for more time before it altered a cap on subscription costs for Cork and country-based barristers

Tax adviser claims Google ad ban will destroy his business

Gary O’Brien, owner of My Tax Refund, is seeking an injunction to allow his firm to buy advertising on the platform, on which he had already spent €350,000

Website developer sues Quote Devil over lost share value

Chief executive of insurance brokerage, which was recently sold for €30 million, says plaintiff’s claim of ‘quasi-partnership’ is ‘pure fantasy’

Broken trust: The fight to recover invested funds from doomed Dolphin venture

A group of about 1,800 Irish investors placed a collective €107 million in German Property Group, formerly Dolphin Trust, before it collapsed in 2020. Some are seeking restitution in the courts, but a long legal battle lies ahead if they are ever to get their money back

Former solicitor Michael Lynn told a ‘concoction of lies’, court hears

Michael Lynn has pleaded not guilty to the theft of €27m from seven financial institutions

Law on Trial: The dangers of forensic evidence and how to avoid miscarriages of justice

In this week’s episode, Neville Cox, Professor of Law in TCD, also speaks about defamation in light of the Depp-Heard trial in the US

Personal insolvency: Is the system here fit for purpose?

PIAs were implemented to help debtors who lost huge sums of money during the financial crash, but there are questions over trust and the room for error

$50m VC fund rebrands to avoid name row with Web Summit

The Semble Fund II is now known as Tapestry following a dispute with Paddy Cosgrave over rights to the name