CIPD in Ireland Employment law conference

In a rapidly evolving landscape, it can be difficult to stay up to date on the latest changes to EU and Irish employment law. Make it easier by joining us for the annual CIPD Employment law conference in partnership with ByrneWallace LLP which takes place on Thursday 6 February 2025 at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin.

Hear about all the latest developments, assess your level of compliance, and set your strategic priorities for the year. This vital conference is your platform to elevate your approach beyond employee entitlements – letting you shape an enhanced employee experience and organisation culture.

Meet the range of legal experts from ByrneWallace LLP alongside experienced people practitioners and progressive employers to share new insights and learnings

Programme highlights

1. Your compliance checklist

The latest legal changes and proposals to impact your workplace.

2. EU developments and the Irish context

How EU laws are shaping employment practices in Ireland

New EU regulations on pay transparency and their implications

3. The equality landscape: what's emerging?

The latest advancements and campaigns covering equality, diversity, and inclusion

How gender pay gap reporting is evolving

4. Are we destined to return to the office?

Remote and flexible working: what is shaping and influencing practice right now?

5. Retirement and pensions

Fighting your way through the maze of retirement intricacies

Auto-enrolment: are you ready for implementation?

Don’t miss out on this valuable opportunity to stay ahead of employment law trends.

Register today!

This conference provides a collaborative forum, fostering a day of learning, sense-checking, and networking with industry peers. Gain essential tools for compliance and forward planning, positioning your organisation on a solid foundation as you commence 2025.

Legal Experts

Michelle Ní Longáin SC, Head of Employment Law and Head of the Public Sector Group, ByrneWallace LLP.

Michelle has extensive experience in all areas of employment, equality and administrative law in three jurisdictions. Michelle qualified as a solicitor in Northern Ireland, practising there in employment and equality law from 1994, practising in England and Wales from 1996 to 1999 and returning to Ireland in 1999 when she joined the firm. Michelle advises public and private sector clients, primarily employers, on complex, novel and challenging areas of employment, equality and administrative law and provides strategic advice including on the resolution of intractable matters.

Michelle is the immediate past President of the Law Society of Ireland (2021- 2022) and has been a member of its Council since 2004. She has chaired many Law Society committees including Education, Finance, Audit subcommittee and Gender Equality Diversity and Inclusion Taskforce. She was a member of the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland from 2007-2013. Michelle has an invaluable perspective in advising clients from her experience in professional and regulatory bodies and from almost three decades of experience in advising and representing clients in significant internal and external matters. Michelle designs and provides comprehensive training.

In October 2024, Michelle was awarded a Patent of Precedence which entitles her to use the title of Senior Counsel. She is one of seven solicitors awarded the title in 2024. Patents of Precedence are granted by the Government, under the terms of the Legal Services Regulation, on the advice of the Advisory Committee on the grant of Patents of Precedence.

Michael Kennedy, Partner, ByrneWallace LLP

Michael Kennedy holds a Bachelor of Civil Law Degree (“BCL”) from University College Dublin. He qualified as a solicitor in 1987 and has been practising exclusively in the area of employment law since then.

At the 2012 inaugural National Irish Bank Irish Law Awards “commending excellence within Ireland's legal sector” which were launched by Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Alan Shatter, Michael was named as Employment Lawyer of the Year.

Legal 500 named Michael as one of Ireland’s top 2 employment lawyers, in their 2012 rankings. Chambers and Partners, who described ByrneWallace LLP as “a centre of excellence for employment law”, also placed Michael at the top (“Band 1”) of Ireland’s employment lawyers in their 2012 rankings, describing him as “accomplished and experienced”, a lawyer who “clearly explains all the possible consequences and doesn't just quote the book but outlines how things will play out”.

Loughlin Deegan, Partner, ByrneWallace LLP

Loughlin represents and advises public-sector and private-sector clients across the full range of contentious and non-contentious employment law matters. He has advised and represented major Irish and multi-national companies, especially in the pharmaceutical and medical devices sectors. He has also acted in many contentious employment matters and industrial disputes. Before joining the firm, he previously served as Special Adviser to the Attorney General and worked in the Employment Law Unit of Ibec, latterly as Acting Head of Employment Law.

Rhona Murphy, Consultant, ByrneWallace LLP

Rhona has more than 20 years’ experience advising on employment law, industrial relations and equality matters. She worked for Ibec for almost 15 years and was Ibec’s Head of Employment Law Services from 2007 to March 2020. She has advised a significant number of major Irish companies and organisations in the public and private sectors, including in the health sector and pharmaceutical and medical devices sectors. She was previously a board member of the Equality Authority and has a keen interest in industrial relations and alternative dispute resolution.

Liam Connellan, Partner and Head of the ByrneWallace LLP Pensions Team

Liam has extensive experience and advises many leading employers, both private and public sector, scheme trustees and individuals. His expertise ranges from advising on the pensions aspects of corporate M&As and reorganisations, drafting and amending pension scheme documentation, restructuring pension schemes, the application of pensions regulatory and tax legislation, trusteeship and scheme governance, to advising on pensions disputes and pensions litigation.

Liam also works closely the ByrneWallace LLP Employment Law Team advising on the pension provisions of contracts of employment, the negotiation of settlement agreements, and the resolution of pension disputes.

Liam is a member of the Law Society’s Pensions Committee, the Association of Pension Lawyers in Ireland (APLI), the Irish Association of Pension Funds (IAPF) and an associate member of the UK Association of Pension Lawyers (APL). He has spoken on various aspects of pensions law at seminars hosted by the Irish Institute of Pensions Management, the Law Society of Ireland and the Life Insurance Association.

Emmet Whelan, Partner, ByrneWallace LLP

With over ten years’ employment law experience, Emmet advises on all aspects of employment law and in particular specialises in contentious employment matters and employee benefits. Clients include senior executives and large public and private sector employers.

Emmet is co-author of Tottel's Employment Law in Ireland and the Law Society Employment Law Manual. He has also lectured on employment law issues and contributed to the Irish Employment Law Journal, the Employment Law Review and the Journal of Public Affairs Ireland.

Suzanne Keenan, Partner, ByrneWallce LLP Employment Law Team

Initially practising employment law in Northern Ireland for 12 years before joining ByrneWallace LLP, Suzanne has a wealth of experience in her field.

Suzanne advises clients on best practice in employment law to safeguard business reputation, improve retention rates and minimise the risks of litigation. She has advised on a broad range of employment matters including; employment contracts, employment policies, disciplinary procedures, conduct issues, capability issues, management of sickness, terminations (including redundancies), termination agreements, grievances, restrictive covenants, dispute resolution, equality and diversity, whistleblowing, recruitment procedures, employee benefit schemes and Transfer of Undertakings for relevant business transfers.

In recognition of her work Suzanne was named a finalist in the following awards:

• Inspirational Women in Law Awards (UK) – 2017;
• Professional Services (Small business) – Women in Business Awards (NI) – 2019; and
• Professional Services (Corporate) – Women in Business Awards (NI) – 2023.

With a strong background in litigation, Suzanne is well positioned to represent clients in employment disputes in courts and employment fora.

Cancellations: Cancellations MUST be notified in writing.

No refund can be made for cancellations received after 17 January 2025. A substitution may be made at any time. CIPD reserves the right to cancel or reschedule the event or change its associated programme or substitute a speaker. In the event of cancellation, liability is limited to the amount of registration only.

Please Note:

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