Gore & Grimes Solicitors LLP lifted the gong as Ireland’s top law firm at the Dye & Durham Irish Law Awards 2023.

The Dublin firm won the award at the gala awards ceremony which took place at the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road, Dublin 4, on Friday (9 June).

The individual ‘Lawyer of the Year Award’ went to Jason O’Sullivan, principal and founder of JOS Solicitors, which has offices in Galway and Dublin.

Provincial winners included:

• Jordan & Kennelly (Connacht/Ulster),
• Douglas Law Solicitors LLP (Munster),
• Byrne Carolan Cunningham LLP (Leinster).

Solicitor Geoffrey Shannon SC, who was recently appointed a judge of the Circuit Court, was honoured with a ‘Special Merit Award’.

'Peerless work rate'

The former Law Society director of policy has a peerless work rate, output and erudition, judging panel chair solicitor Richard Hammond said in his citation.

This year, the award is for Dr Shannon’s work as independent reviewer of the St John Ambulance Ireland, examining both historical handling of child sexual abuse, as well as a review of current safeguarding practices. 

Dr Shannon previously was awarded a Special Merit Award at the Irish Law Awards in 2013.

His co-recipient this year is Dr Louise Crowley of UCC, for her work on bystander intervention training.

A ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ was made in absentia to 1993/94 Law Society President, former McCann FitzGerald partner and UCD tutor, Michael V O’Mahony.

Ireland’s Blue Book sponsored the ‘Law School of the Year Award’, which went to Griffith College, as well as the new category ‘Legal Educator of the Year’, which was won by Dr Aisling De Paor of DCU.

Law Society trainee Conor Courtney won ‘Law Student of the Year’.

Prizes

Ireland's Blue Book also sponsored several raffle prizes of stays in Irish country houses and manor-house hotels, in aid of the Calcutta Run.

The full list of 2023 winners can be found on the Irish Law Awards website.

More photos are also on Gazette.ie.