Ireland: Contracts and Commercial Law

When a patent owner grants an exclusive license, does it automatically lose the right to sue infringers? The Federal Circuit addressed this critical question in two parallel cases, examining what retained rights are necessary to preserve constitutional standing. The court's analysis reveals how specific contractual provisions—including sublicense approval authority, royalty rights, and enforcement participation—can determine whether a patent owner maintains a meaningful legal stake in its patent

The Irish High Court has ruled for the first time that it has inherent jurisdiction to order parties in non-personal injury civil disputes to engage in mediation, even against their wishes. This landmark decision examines whether mandatory mediation breaches constitutional rights of access to courts, what factors courts should consider when exercising this discretion, and how this power aligns with Ireland's Mediation Act 2017 framework that emphasizes voluntary participation.

Matheson's quarterly construction bulletin examines recent developments in Ireland's construction and infrastructure sectors, including the introduction of a simplified Building Energy Rating scale, the practical implications of force majeure clauses amid global conflicts, and key court decisions on construction contract amendments.

As Irish football transfer values rise, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has tightened the rules for football agents operating in Ireland. Clubs, agents, players and their families now need to understand licensing, FAI registration, professional indemnity insurance, representation agreements and the uncertain status of FIFA agent fee caps. This guide explains the core rules and the transfer risk points that clubs, agents and players should review.

Warranty and indemnity insurance has evolved from a niche product to a standard feature in Irish M&A transactions, fundamentally changing how parties allocate risk in private deals. As insurers expand coverage into emerging areas like cyber risk and ESG disclosures, understanding how this insurance works and when to deploy it has become essential for both buyers and sellers navigating competitive deal processes.

The International Chamber of Commerce has unveiled its 2026 arbitration rules, marking the most significant procedural overhaul in years by eliminating mandatory Terms of Reference and introducing highly expedited procedures.

The EU Data Act introduces a comprehensive switching framework designed to eliminate vendor lock-in in cloud computing services. Providers of IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS must now facilitate customer transitions between providers, enable multi-provider usage, and support migration to on-premises infrastructure with minimal obstacles and reduced costs.

The High Court granted an application to enforce an adjudicator's decision in BMC Renovation Ltd ("contractor") v Gael Property Investments Ltd ("employer") [2026] IEHC 195.

The Irish High Court has confirmed its power to order parties to mediate disputes, marking a significant shift in commercial litigation.