Galway-based and prominent West of Ireland barrister, Michael O’Connor, has this week been approved for the Grant of a Patent of Precedence by the Government and is to become a Senior Counsel.
He is only one of select number of members of the Bar of Ireland who has made the transition from junior counsel to senior counsel. His progression marks the profession’s recognition of his legal knowledge, advocacy, probity, independence and expertise across a range of specialist areas.
Michael is the son of the late Sean and Peggy O’Connor (nee Joyce ) of Kilroe, Headford. He is married to Dymphna and has five children.
Called to the Bar of Ireland in 1996, and both the Bar of England and Wales and the Bar of Northern Ireland in 2012, Michael has twenty-six years of experience working as a specialist barrister focusing on chancery and banking, judicial review, equity, land law, dispute resolution and mediation. He is a member of both the Honourable Society of Kings Inns and the Honourable Society of Lincolns Inn and he is also an accredited and active commercial mediator.
Michael has lectured at a number of third level institutions over the course of his career, including in areas such as administrative law, judicial review, labour law, construction and contract law, employment and HR and, more recently, in ADR and mediation. He is currently part of the external faculty of the Honourable Society of Kings Inns and a member of the Bar of Ireland’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee
Michael has advised and represented clients on thousands of legal issues and disputes over more than a quarter of a century. His reputation for excellence and efficiency has meant that levels of repeat business have always been a notable feature part of his practise.
He is a graduate from National University of Ireland, Galway where he obtained a Masters of Law degree (1.1 ), a Bachelor of Laws degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree. He attended The Honourable Society of King’s Inns where he undertook his professional training before being conferred with the degree of barrister-at-law in 1996 which led to him being called to the Bar of Ireland at the age of 24.
Michael will also now have the rare honour of being called to the Inner Bar later this year assuming the role of Senior Counsel.
