Meet the Team- Ireland
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Our Story
The firm was established by Ken Kennedy in January 2018.
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.
Michael Hastings - Head of Corporate and 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.
Michael also advises on corporate transactions including the purchase and sale of companies, as well as the restructuring of corporate groups. 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.
Michelle Collins - Head of Property
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. Michelle practised with O'Brien Redmond Solicitors from 2001 to 2024 before joining Ken Kennedy Law. Michelle advises on all aspects of Conveyancing, Landlord and Tenant issues, Wills and Probate.
Anthony Quinn – Head of Litigation
Anthony is our Head of Litigation. He brings a wealth of experience having worked in the Commercial Litigation department of another leading law firm prior to joining the team at Ken Kennedy Law. Anthony’s experience includes general civil litigation and advisory work, acting for private companies, private equity funds, individuals, charities and financial institutions in various matters to include contract law disputes, enforcement, recovery actions, and landlord and tenant disputes. He also has experience in planning and environmental law and a keen interest in Environmental and Social Governance.
Prior to being admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in Ireland, Anthony qualified as a barrister with the Honourable Society of King’s Inns and practiced for a number of years in civil litigation. Anthony is a member of the Dublin Solicitors Bar Association as well as the Commercial Litigation Association of Ireland.
Eibhlin Dowley – Head of Probate
Eibhlin leads our Probate Team, specialising in administration of estates, wills, succession, tax planning and enduring powers of attorney. 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 with 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
Mark worked with a number of leading commercial law firms before joining Ken Kennedy Law as Commercial Property Solicitor. Mark has experience in all types of property transactions and particularly in relation to the acquisition, disposal and leasing of commercial property. Mark has completed a Diploma in Finance Law and a Certificate in Conveyancing with the Law Society of Ireland.
Frances Kennedy - Property Consultant
Frances is a property consultant solicitor at Ken Kennedy Law. 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.
Aoife McMahon
Aoife is a qualified barrister-at-law working as our Litigation Legal Manager within the Litigation Team. Aoife’s experience includes General Litigation, Employment Law, Immigration Law and Media Law. She also has experience in Planning Law, contentious Probate and Property matters and has advised clients in dispute resolution acting for both Plaintiff and Defendant.
Margaret Doyle
Margaret works as a Legal Executive in the Property team at Ken Kennedy Law. She joined the firm in 2024, having previously worked with Kelly Kennedy & Co. Solicitors for over 25 years. She has vast experience in all types of property matters assisting the team in the purchase, sale, mortgaging and refinancing of both residential and commercial properties. She also works on commercial leasing matters.
Aoife Reynolds
Aoife is a Legal Executive in the Property team. Aoife joined Ken Kennedy Law in 2022 and 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.
Aoife is a graduate of NUIM, where she received an LLB Degree. During her time in NUIM, 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.
Karen Wong - Solicitor
Karen practices in our Litigation and Property Team. Karen was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in 2021. Karen holds a Degree in Irish Law from Griffith College Dublin and she also holds a Diploma in Legal Studies and Practice with the Irish Institute of Legal Executives.
Prior to joining Ken Kennedy Law, Karen practised with O'Brien Redmond Solicitors working in the areas of general civil litigation, property, landlord and tenant matters, probate and family law.
Thiago Ferreira – Office Manager
Thiago Fraga Ferreira is an experienced office administrator with a strong background in managing legal office processes and ensuring the smooth operation of administrative functions. He has expertise in overseeing workflow, organizing schedules, and handling various office tasks efficiently. With a history of coordinating hearing schedules and managing client communications, Thiago excels in ensuring deadlines are met and providing high-level support to legal teams. Thiago holds a Master’s degree in Dispute Resolution from Independent College Dublin and a Bachelor of Laws, along with certification as a lawyer in Brazil.
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.
Paul O Connor
Paul works within the finance department at Ken Kennedy Law, where he is responsible for day-to-day financial transactions and generally manages the financial affairs of the firm.
Paul joined Ken Kennedy Law in June 2023, having worked in legal accounting since 2022, and before this had spent several years in the craft brewing and software development industries.