Analysis

James Milliken, solicitor at Belfast-based Carson McDowell, considers the impact of generative artificial intelligence on UK copyright law. At the most basic level, copyright law attempts to balance the needs of authors with the interests of society as a whole. It is intended to provide a middle gro

McCann FitzGerald partners Rosaleen Byrne and Amy Brick and associate Louise Mitchell examine the first CJEU judgment to address the question of non-material damage under Article 82 of the General Data Protection Regulation. As set out in our previous briefing Compensation in Data Breach Claims &nda

Lewis Silkin Ireland partners David Hopper and Síobhra Rush examine the first WRC decisions on European Works Councils in Ireland. In the first cases decided under Ireland’s legislation on European Works Councils, the Workplace Relations Commission has provided welcome guidance for mult

Ireland must withdraw from the discredited Energy Charter Treaty, argues Eoin Jackson. In February 2023, a leaked communication from the European Commission signalled that a collective EU withdrawal from the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) appeared "unavoidable". This follows on from announcements from

Darren Lalor is one of life’s enthusiasts — and that approach certainly extends to his work as a criminal barrister. “It’s a job that enables me to make a real difference to peoples’ lives, people who often have very little and who need committed lawyers to stand u

Ben Clarke BL examines the key points of a recent court ruling on Section 26 applications. In the recent Court of Appeal judgment in Keating v Mulligan [2022] IECA 257, Noonan J. reaffirmed the principles governing applications pursuant to Section 26 of the Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004.

Mason Hayes & Curran partner Gerard Kelly and associate John Milligan examine an EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) ruling on a trade mark by street artist Banksy. We previously reported on a trade mark invalidity dispute involving the famous English street artist Banksy’s flower thro

Mason Hayes & Curran associate John Milligan and partner Hazel McDwyer consider a recent EU ruling on a trade mark that was perhaps too sustainable. The General Court of the EU recently held that the slogan “Sustainability through Quality” is not a trade mark as it is not sufficientl

Developing a personal brand allows solicitors to differentiate themselves from their competitors and stand out in a crowded legal marketplace. A solid reputation can attract new clients and facilitate career advancement. Unfortunately, many of the brightest legal minds remain unknown because they ha

The Synthesis Report published three weeks ago by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) came as no surprise to many — including Dublin lawyer Rose Wall — when it stressed that climate-related impacts are hitting the world much more quickly than previou

Philip Lee partner Clare Cashin and senior associate Michael Cahill discuss a High Court case which highlights the high threshold to be met in order for a defendant party to succeed in an application to strike out proceedings for want of prosecution. In the case of Barrett v Traymount Construct

Dr Ian Marder and Dr Joe Garrihy look at the new prisons and detention bill and assess its potential impact on prison oversight. March saw the publication of the Oireachtas joint committee on justice’s report on the draft Inspection of Places of Detention Bill. This bill has significant implic

Nathan Campbell, employment and business immigration associate at Belfast-based Cleaver Fulton Rankin, reflects on recent changes to the Immigration Rules and considers how the amendments could impact businesses in Northern Ireland. A new statement of changes to the Immigration Rules has been publi

Matheson partner Rory O'Keeffe and solicitor Samuel Elliott discuss a recent English court ruling and what it means for cryptocurrency developers. In a significant case for investors in, and developers of, cryptocurrencies and other blockchain assets, the English Court of Appeal delivered judgment i

Stuart Nevin, principal associate in the Belfast office of Shoosmiths, analyses the trends in Northern Ireland's real estate market.