Meet the Team- Ireland
—
Our Story
In September 2018, we merged with P.J. Walsh & Co. Solicitors which was established by the late Patrick J. Walsh in 1937, the year of the Constitution of Ireland. PJ’s son-in-law, Sean Sexton, took over the running of practice in the 1970’s.
In June 2024, we merged with O’Brien Redmond Solicitors. Inspired by a generation of family solicitors before him, O’Brien Redmond Solicitors was established by Brian O’Brien in 1997. Brian's mother was a solicitor and her aunt became Ireland’s first practicing female solicitor.
These exciting mergers have allowed us to increase our capacity and bolster our legal expertise so we offer a best in class service to our valued client base.
Ken Kennedy – Principal
Ken Kennedy is the principal of Ken Kennedy Solicitors. Before setting up Ken Kennedy Solicitors in 2018, Ken spent ten years working for various leading Irish and UK law firms including Matheson, Maples & Calder and Gowlings WLG.
Ken has extensive experience in all residential and commercial property matters, corporate law matters including share purchase, asset purchase and all other company law matters. Ken’s main practice areas also include construction law, private client matters and civil litigation. He also has significant experience in advising on a range of personal and corporate & personal banking and finance matters.
Ken is also qualified in England & Wales and holds a master degree in Project Management.
Frances Kennedy - Head of Property
Frances is Head of Property at Ken Kennedy Solicitors. She previously worked as a real estate solicitor for Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c. for 6 years, Kelly Kennedy & Co. Solicitors for 13 years and prior to that worked for Bank of Ireland.
Her main areas of expertise include commercial and residential property law, commercial leasing, probate law, trust & estate planning, insolvency law and civil litigation (having attended the Circuit Court, High Court and Supreme Court).
She qualified as a solicitor in Ireland in 1999.
She has a Masters in Business Management from Smurfit Business School, diplomas in Insolvency Law and Trust & Estate Planning from the Law Society of Ireland and a certificate in Banking Law from the Law Society of Ireland.
Danny Ryan – Head of Litigation
Danny Ryan is our Head of Litigation. He brings a wealth of experience having worked for several of the leading Irish commercial law firms, including Matheson and William Fry, and was Head of Legal and Insurance at St James’s Hospital for several years.
Danny’s experience includes general litigation, Employment Law, Medical Negligence, Healthcare and Capacity Law and Coronial Law. He also has experience in Planning Law, contentious Probate and Licensing matters and has advised clients in dispute resolution acting for both Plaintiff and Defendant.
Danny is a Barrister-at-Law and Commissioner for Oaths for Dublin; he has completed the Legal Studies Diploma with the Honourable Society of Kings Inns, is an Employed Practising Barrister within the firm and is a member of the Employment Law Association of Ireland.
Danny is also a member of the Medico-Legal Society of Ireland
Michael Hastings – Head of Finance
Michael advises on a broad range of corporate and finance-related issues. His work primarily involves acting for lenders and borrowers in relation to corporate and property acquisitions, financings and restructurings. He has acted for a wide range of banks and financial institutions, as well as alternative lenders, in relation to domestic and international loan facilities.
Michael has extensive experience of drafting and advising on loan, security and intercreditor documentation. Before joining Ken Kennedy Law, he worked as a partner in the Finance and Capital Markets Group at a Top 5 law firm in Ireland. He also lectures regularly in the Law Society of Ireland on property finance related topics
Eibhlin Dowley – Head of Probate
Eibhlin joins the team as a Probate Solicitor specialising in administration of estates, Wills, succession, tax planning and enduring powers of attorney. Prior to joining Ken Kennedy Solicitors in 2023, Eibhlin has gained substantial experience in these practice areas including conveyancing and litigation. Eibhlin assists clients in a supportive and efficient manner throughout the legal process at difficult and stressful times. Eibhlin qualified as a solicitor in 2004. She holds a law degree from Trinity College Dublin and has also completed Diplomas in both Environmental & Planning and Family Law from the Law Society of Ireland.
Brian O’Brien
Civil & Commercial Litigation, expertise in Debt Recovery
Brian O’Brien graduated with a BComm from UCD, Dublin, in 1980 and qualified as a Solicitor in 1985. Brian set up his own firm in 1997 and is a past lecturer and litigation examiner in the Law Society. Brian was appointed a Commissioner for Oaths in 1989 and a Notary Public by the Chief Justice in 2007. Brian is an Accredited Mediator through Mediation Forum Ireland.
Mark Donnellan – Senior Property Solicitor
Having worked with a number of leading commercial law firms, Mark joins the firm as Commercial Property Solicitor in our Property Department. Mark has experience in all types of property transactions but particularly in relation to the acquisition, disposal and financing of commercial property. Mark has also completed a Diploma in Finance Law and a Certificate in Conveyancing, with the Law Society of Ireland.
Michelle Collins
Residential & Commercial Conveyancing, Wills & Probate
Michelle Collins qualified as a Solicitor in 2002. Michelle graduated from the University of Limerick with a BA in Law and European Studies in 1998. Michelle also holds a diploma in Commercial Conveyancing. She has been with O'Brien Redmond Solicitors since 2001. Michelle advises on all aspects of Conveyancing, Landlord and Tenant issues, Wills and Probate.
Aoife Reynolds
Aoife is a graduate of NUIM receiving her LLB Degree. During this time Aoife held committee positions on both the NUIM Law Society and NUIM European Law Students Association for which Aoife received a MUSE Award for Internationalisation. Aoife assists with both residential and commercial property transactions. Aoife engages directly with clients from the beginning to the end of transactions providing support throughout the process.
Sean Sexton – Consultant
Sean Sexton, was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in Easter 1970 and initially practiced with the late Hugh J. Fitzpatrick prior to joining P.J. Walsh & Company in 1973.
His experience covers the areas of conveyancing, general litigation and commercial transactions. He has also developed an expertise in Regulatory Matters covering the Legal, Accountancy, Medical (Doctors & Nurses) and Pharmaceutical professions, having been involved in recent times in most of the high profile cases dealing with, in particular, members of the legal profession. Sean served as president of the CUS Union from 1989 to 1991 and was Captain of Milltown Golf Club in 1999.
Sean is a highly respected solicitor amongst clients and colleagues alike. His extensive experience in all areas of the law is an invaluable asset to the firm.
Joseph Mooney – Licensing Law Consultant
Joseph Mooney qualified as a solicitor in 1988. As a practitioner he has a vast experience in the field of licencing law and has been involved in many of the ground breaking cases in the licencing area. Joseph prides himself on timely advices yielding significant economies to the trade.
Joe covers all application types including: Restaurant, Off-Licence, Special Restaurant, Special Exemption Orders, Hotel, Renewal and Transfers and Selling a Licence
Mu Li – Consultant (Chinese Business)
Mu has a strong legal background in both China and Ireland. She obtained a master's degree in International Business Law from the top Chinese law school at Peking University and qualified as a lawyer in China in 2009. Mu also obtained a doctoral degree in Law at University College Dublin. Her research interest is high-tech trade policies and foreign direct investment. Prior to joining Ken Kennedy Solicitors as a consultant, Mu worked as a consultant in the Corporate Finance Department of Deloitte Ireland. Mu has a particular interest in Corporate Law, Banking and Finance, Company Insolvency, Irish Immigration Law and Intellectual Property Law.
Mu's understanding of the legal systems in both China and Ireland, makes her unique in advising on foreign investment into China and Chinese investment into Ireland, especially for high net-worth individuals and high-tech start-up companies.