Public Sector

Public Sector Legal Advice

Holmes advises public sector bodies across Ireland on the legal and regulatory frameworks governing public administration. With over 50 years’ experience, we deliver clear, practical advice that helps public bodies meet statutory obligations, manage risk and make defensible decisions in complex and high-scrutiny environments.

Working closely with senior officials, in-house legal teams and decision-makers, we support public bodies and regulatory authorities in navigating Irish and EU law with confidence from statutory functions and policy development through to litigation and judicial review.

Holmes is ranked first under Band A (service contracts €50,000–€100,000) on the 2024 Office of Government Procurement Legal Services Panel, which means public bodies can instruct us directly by drawdown without running a further competitive tender process.

Public Sector Legal Services

Our public and administrative law team combines deep sector knowledge with extensive experience across governance, legislation, compliance and dispute resolution. We advise on:

Statutory Interpretation & Legislative Compliance

We ensure public bodies act within their legal powers and discharge statutory duties lawfully and proportionately. Our advice covers:

• Compliance with statutory duties
• Irish constitutional and administrative law
• EU directives and transposed legislation
• Freedom of Information (FOI) and Access to Information on the Environment (AIE) obligations
• GDPR and public-sector data protection
• Public procurement and regulatory compliance

Governance, Policy & Public Law Advisory

Holmes supports public bodies on governance, policy development and legislative frameworks, including:

• Advising on governance issues
• Designing governance structures and compliance frameworks
• Drafting legislation and statutory instruments
• Developing risk management policies and codes of conduct
• Advising on decision-making protocols and statutory processes
• FOI, Data Subject Access Requests (DSARs) and statutory complaints handling

Public Law Litigation & Dispute Resolution

We represent public bodies in a wide range of contentious matters, providing strategic and proportionate litigation support, including:

• Judicial review proceedings
• Enforcement
• Statutory appeals and tribunal hearings
• Public inquiries and investigations
• Planning, environmental and infrastructure disputes
• Procurement challenges

Trusted Public Sector Legal Advisors

Holmes is a trusted advisor to local authorities, regulators and state bodies across Ireland. Clients value our deep understanding of public law, our responsiveness in time-sensitive matters and our practical approach to complex legal frameworks. We combine legal rigour with a genuine appreciation of how public bodies operate ensuring advice is workable, defensible and aligned with public-interest objectives.

If you would like advice on governance, statutory compliance or public law litigation, speak with a member of our Public Sector team for a confidential discussion.