Ireland: Contracts and Commercial Law

When Ubisoft shut down servers for its 2014 racing game The Crew, players lost access to content they had purchased. This sparked a European Citizens' Initiative gathering 1.3 million signatures demanding publishers keep games playable after commercial support ends. The European Commission's response and its implications for digital content sellers across all sectors reveal critical obligations under existing EU consumer protection law.

The EU's new withdrawal button requirement will fundamentally reshape how online traders interact with consumers across member states. From June 2026, businesses offering digital contracts must implement a two-step withdrawal function that allows consumers to exercise their 14-day cooling-off period with unprecedented ease. What technical, operational, and legal changes must traders implement to meet these obligations, and what are the consequences of non-compliance?

Construction adjudication is evolving rapidly in Ireland and England, with landmark Irish High Court decisions reshaping the landscape by closing off smash-and-grab tactics and defining the boundaries of the Construction Contracts Act 2013.

While most provisions of CICA were commenced in phases during 2020 and 2021 (see our earlier briefings on CICA commencement here and here), section 18(4) remained uncommenced and was subsequently...

Dr Barry Scannell and tech entrepreneur Sean Blanchfield explore the transformative shift from AI copilots to autonomous agentic AI systems that are already functioning as digital workers within organisations. The discussion delves into how these AI agents are reviewing contracts, monitoring compliance, managing projects, and writing software, while examining the critical implications for governance, security, data protection, and the future of professional work.

UEFA's February 2026 amendment to its Statutes designates Dublin as a potential seat for Court of Arbitration for Sport proceedings, marking a significant shift from the exclusive Lausanne jurisdiction. This development, influenced by recent CJEU rulings on EU competition law and arbitration mechanisms, could position Dublin as a major center for international sports arbitration while ensuring EU law compliance through Irish High Court oversight.

The EU Data Act, which became applicable on 12 September 2025, fundamentally reshapes how businesses handle data generated by connected devices and related services. With Ireland's General Scheme published in February 2026 designating ComReg and CCPC as enforcement authorities, companies must now assess their compliance obligations across data sharing frameworks, contractual terms, and user access rights or face significant fines.

The Central Bank of Ireland has published a revised Alternative Investment Fund Rulebook, replacing the March 2024 version and implementing significant changes following AIFMD II transposition into Irish legislation. These amendments represent a substantial enhancement to Ireland's regulatory framework for Alternative Investment Funds, particularly affecting Qualifying Investor AIFs.

In today's increasingly complex regulatory and operating environment, clarity around the roles and responsibilities of those leading the organisation are essential. Yet the terminology used in legislation and regulations...