Michael Murphy is a Partner at Holmes, advising on professional negligence litigation and dispute resolution, and on commercial litigation, including cases before the Commercial Court. He also advises on public liability, cyber claims, and GDPR and data breach matters. Michael advises clients across the insurance and financial services, construction, and public sectors. He trained with Holmes O'Malley Sexton, qualified as a solicitor in Ireland in 2013, and joined the firm in 2009.
Recent Work Highlights
- Advised on indemnity and the arbitration and resolution of a claim involving an architect sued for a cumulative €23 million, arising from allegedly negligent investment advice given to two members of one of Ireland's most popular rock bands.
- Defended seven sets of related High Court professional negligence proceedings against a firm of accountants over whether investor loans were recourse to property only or fully recoverable; real exposure in excess of €2 million was resolved via a net €200,000 settlement, agreeing with the new charge holder to purchase the residual loan - an innovative solution that saved the insurer over €2 million.
- Acted for an engineer and his insurers in resolving a complex construction claim brought against the contractor and engineer over allegedly negligent construction services for one of Ireland's largest dairy food producers; after an unsuccessful mediation, at which the contractor had been unwilling even to cover its own costs, adjudication resolved the claim with the contractor agreeing to meet 50% of it.
- Resolved a cyber claim involving €300,000 misappropriated by an Eastern European cybercriminal from an Irish firm of solicitors; having explored the potential liability of both the facilitating bank and the external IT contractors, swift action, including a Latvian court action with a local firm's assistance, secured full recovery of the funds, leaving the firm with no loss.
- Assisted in recovering €15,000 of €30,000 misappropriated from a solicitors' firm client account through a phishing scam, from an England-based fraudster.
Professional Activities
- Member of Forum of Insurance Lawyers (FOIL)
- Member of Professional Negligence Lawyers Association (PNLA)
- Delivers lectures to PPC1 students on civil litigation and professional negligence, Law Society of Ireland, Blackhall Place.
- Leading industry speaker at national and international conferences upon a diverse array of topics including professional negligence, commercial litigation, insurance, data protection and cyber security risks
- 2013 - Member of the Law Society of Ireland.
Education
- 2018 - Ingenium Smart Choice Leadership Programme, Certificate in Leadership.
- 2005 - LLM(A), University College Cork.
- 2004 - BCL, University College Cork.
Michael Murphy receives strong feedback for his professional indemnity practice. Clients say that his strong technical skills and "his arguments are well thought out, researched and backed up." His advice on "strategy is clear, decisive and very accurate."
Michael Murphy
Insurance Dispute Resolution | Chambers Europe 2021
Contentious construction and debt collection matters are a growing area for the team, led by Harry Fehily, Michael Murphy, and Pat McInerney.
Michael Murphy
Legal 500 EMEA 2021 | Dispute Resolution
Holmes earns praise for its proven capacity to handle diverse claims across employers' and public liability, as well as motor insurance claims. It defends insurers and self-insured companies or associations in personal injury claims filed by employees or third parties.
Insurance: Dispute Resolution
Chambers & Partners Europe 2023
Holmes are effective litigators but also have particular expertise in arbitration, mediation and other alternative dispute resolution options. They are experts in their field and are skilled dispute resolution practitioners.
Dispute Resolution | Legal 500 EMEA 2023
They provide sound, timely and comprehensive advices on legal liability, quantum/reserves and strategy. I would recommend them to someone who is seeking legal advices and/or dispute resolution services.
Dispute Resolution | Legal 500 EMEA 2023
A law firm’s personnel is a most important resource. Holmes excel as market leaders.
Insurance | Legal 500 EMEA 2023
Awards, Membership and Recognition
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