Liam Harnett

Experience

Liam has extensive experience in complex commercial disputes, having previously practised at A&L Goodbody, Arthur Cox and Clyde & Co. Liam spent five years in Clyde & Co’s London office before returning home to Dublin. His practice focuses on commercial litigation and arbitration involving complex contracts, (re) insurance disputes, global risks, financial lines, product liability, professional negligence, construction, and regulatory issues. Liam also has a specialism in cyber breach and data privacy matters.

He has acted in some of the most significant Commercial Court disputes in Ireland, particularly in the aviation, financial services and insurance sectors.

Liam’s experience includes the following:

• Advising on Irish law aircraft lessor hull/war political risks coverage and EU sanctions compliance in the context of the February 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and on aircraft leasing agreements (circa value EUR 4 billion)

• Defence representation for the Central Bank Authority of Ireland (circa value EUR 2.88 billion) regarding financial/securities litigation arising from contracts for difference and on EU Market Abuse Regulations

• Acted in a wide variety of breach of contract matters including shareholder disputes and professional negligence cases involving top 4 accountancy firms, pilots, engineers, architects, developers, regulators, energy providers and medical professionals

• Managed the defence of Commercial Court proceedings on behalf of a global aviation company for large sums sought arising from alleged pilot negligence upon explosion of a large aircraft

• Advised on cross-border litigation for an international software corporation regarding an Irish/Taiwan software dispute on royalty payments involving an End User Agreement Licence

• Defence representation for a wealth management firm accused by the UK FCA of mis-selling pension opt-outs to 492 occupational pension holders, involving large sums

• Acted as breach counsel for insurer and corporate cyber breaches including advising on data privacy and cybersecurity issues

• Defence of product liability claims for international manufacturers

• Provided coverage advices on a wide variety of policy wordings including property losses and business interruption losses arising from Covid-19

• Plaintiff representation (subrogated) in a number of negligence cases involving construction disputes, as well as advising on latent defects cases with Grenfell Tower undertones

• Represented London market insurers in a Commercial Court contract dispute in respect of a subjectivity provision

• Defence of High Court defamation proceedings on behalf of a global business

• Acted for a wide range of parties in commercial arbitration subject to a range of arbitral terms

• Acting for several internal clients in high profile and complex disputes in the Irish aviation and energy/renewables sectors

Testimonials

General Counsel of a Securities Bank on a complex dispute: “…I would like to thank you for all your diligence and support for the director depositions. The Investment Bank was in very good hands, and I appreciated you going above and beyond to support both the Bank and our legal team in New York. We were all very impressed with your work…”.

Memberships