Meet the team
John Dunne
+353 (0) 1 639 5912
+353 (0) 87 679 7684
john@mcdm.ie
John initially practiced in the area of employment and equality law with the Irish Business and Employers Confederation, and later with Matheson Solicitors, one of Ireland’s largest law firms, where he was made a Partner in 2005.
John has argued many cases for clients before the Rights Commissioner’s Service, the Employment Appeals Tribunal, the Equality Tribunal and the Labour Court. He has appeared with Counsel before the Civil Courts, most frequently the High Court, in connection with injunction applications, and with breach of contract and other related actions.
John also advises clients in relation to legal compliance, with particular emphasis on commercial restructuring, redundancies, and transfers of businesses, and the employment aspects of mergers and acquisitions of businesses, including due diligence, warranties and indemnities.
The dogged John Dunne is the right man if you are in a fight. Strong advice, astute commercialism, and an impressive negotiation style.
Peter McInnes
+353 (0) 1 639 5913
+353 (0) 86 042 7331
peter@mcdm.ie
Peter advises corporate clients and senior executives on a diverse range of employment issues including disputes, unfair/wrongful dismissal, applications to restrain dismissals, discrimination, individual and collective redundancies, and industrial relations.
Peter is a tough, yet practical commercial litigator. He has acted for clients in Commercial Court cases arising from shareholder/boardroom disputes in both private and public companies. He is also a CEDR (Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution) accredited mediator with considerable mediation experience in the areas of employment and commercial dispute resolution.
Peter McInnes has a rare ability to explain things succinctly and in layman’s terms. Knowledgeable, tough, and practical – he highlights courses of action for the best and worst-case scenarios. One to have on your side.
Peter Murphy
+353 (0) 1 639 4690
+353 (0) 87 678 3199
petermurphy@mcdm.ie
Peter joined the firm in January 2021 having worked for over a decade in a specialist Employment Law firm. Peter has, since qualifying, specialised in Employment Law representing both Employees and Employers. He has considerable experience representing clients before the WRC, Labour Court and also the Circuit Court, High Court and Court of Appeal. Peter advises on the full range of employment law issues, contentious and non-contentious, from the commencement of the employment relationship to its termination.
Peter holds a Diploma in Employment Law from UCD and a Diploma in Sports Law from the Law Society of Ireland. He is a member of the Associate Faculty of the Law Society of Ireland’s Law School where he tutors law students on the Professional Practice Course.
Peter acts as a Thesis Supervisor for post graduate Employment Law Students and has for many years been an Internal Examiner on the Employment Law module of the Law Society's Professional Practice course. Peter is a member and former two-term Chair of the Employment Law Association of Ireland and also sits on the Employment and Equality Law Committees of the Law Society of Ireland and also the Dublin Solicitors Bar Association. He is an associate member of ELA (UK) and a member of the European Employment Lawyers Association.
Ciarán Ahern
+353 (0) 1 639 4690
+353 (0) 87 9671854
ciaran@mcdm.ie
Ciarán joined the firm as a partner in September 2021 from A&L Goodbody, where he had trained and practised as an employment solicitor for ten years. Ciarán has significant experience advising both employees and employers on all aspects of the employment relationship, from drafting contracts to managing employee issues to litigating unfair dismissal claims. Ciarán regularly represents employers and employees on employment claims at the Workplace Relations Commission, Labour Court, High Court and Circuit Court.
On the non-contentious side, Ciarán has much experience in the employment aspects of mergers and acquisitions including TUPE, corporate restructurings, and redundancy procedures. Ciarán also advises on corporate immigration, work permits and Irish citizenship matters. Ciarán is the current treasurer of the Employment Law Association of Ireland, tutors and lecturers on Employment Law at the Law Society of Ireland, and regularly volunteers with FLAC (Free Legal Advice Centres).
Jane Babb
Consultant
+353 (0) 1 639 4690
jane@mcdm.ie
Having trained and practised employment law at Arthur Cox, Jane has ten years’ experience providing employment law advice to senior employees and to the HR and senior leadership teams of domestic and multinational clients across all industries. Jane's experience includes advising on the employment aspects of transactions and on all aspects of the employer-employee relationship from selection to termination, as well as providing client training on disciplinary matters, immigration and equality & diversity. Jane takes a client-focused approach, aligning legal advice with client strategy, values and culture.
Jane led graduate recruitment and trainee professional development at Arthur Cox. She also led business development strategy, marketing and client relationships at NKF, a leading Swiss law firm. She has an LLB from Trinity College Dublin and an LLM from the College of Europe, Bruges. She also has a diploma in Executive and Business Coaching from UCD.
Fiona Sharkey
Senior Associate
+353 (0) 1 639 4690
fiona@mcdm.ie
Fiona joined the firm as an associate in October 2023 from A&L Goodbody, where she had trained and practised as an employment solicitor for 8 years. Fiona advises on the full suite of employment law issues that arise from the commencement of the employment relationship to its termination. She has significant experience in advising employers on complex mandates in relation to the conduct of internal and external investigations and HR processes. Fiona regularly advises both employers and employees on policy formation/implementation, industrial relations, dismissals and redundancies, employment equality and equal status cases, and on claims before the Workplace Relations Commission, Labour Court and the Civil Courts.
Fiona holds a First Class Honours Bachelor of Laws (Political Science) (LL.B. Pol. Sci.) from Trinity College Dublin and a Master of Laws (LL.M) from the London School of Economics and Political Science. She also holds an Advanced Diploma in Applied Employment Law from the Honorable Society of Kings’ Inns. She is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association (UK) and the European Employment Lawyers Association.
Susan Callan
Office Manager
+353 (0) 1 639 4690
susan@mcdm.ie
Susan is our Office Manager. She joined the firm when it was first established as McInnes Dunne in December 2013. She is an integral member of the team and works closely with all of the Partners, assisting with clients, pleadings and Court filing. In addition to running the office, Susan is also the firm’s bookkeeper.
Susan has a higher Diploma in Legal Studies and Practice from Griffith College and is a member of the Irish Institute of Legal Executives