Clíona Kimber SC

For the past 25 years Clíona has practiced as a Barrister at the Bar of Ireland, and for the last 9 of those years as a leading Senior Counsel. She is a specialist in workplace law, equality law, and in climate and environmental law, acting and advising in workplace injunctions, judicial review, administrative proceedings, tort and damages cases, as well as complex equality and discrimination claims. She practices before the Court of Justice of the European Union, Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, High Court, Labour Court and Workplace Relations Commission. 

She is an award-winning legal author, the book ‘Employment Equality Law: Bolger, Bruton and Kimber (Thomson Reuters:2022) winning the DSBA award in 2023. 

Prior to coming to the Bar, Clíona was a Lecturer in International Environmental Law at the University of Aberdeen, and Director of the Centre for Environmental Law and Policy. 

Clíona is fluent in Irish and German and has a working knowledge of French.  

Cleachteann Clíona trí Ghaeilge, agus ta taithí aici cásanna a dheanmah trí ghaeilge. 

Clíona is also currently chair of Comhshaol, the Climate Bar Association and formerly Chair of the Employment Bar Association. She is also a CEDR Accredited Mediator. 

Appointments

Clíona was appointed Chair of the Trinity College Dublin Disciplinary Council (Academic) in 2014 and remains Chair. 

In 2023, she was appointed by the Bar of Ireland to sit on the Council of the Bars of Europe (CCBE) Environmental Subcommittee. 

Clíona was appointed by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government as Chair of the Statutory Technical Assessment Board (Architects qualifications) from 2009 to 2013.  

She is regularly appointed to provide high level confidential reports into senior workplace misconduct. 

Experience

Clíona was appointed Chair of the Trinity College Dublin Disciplinary Council (Academic) in 2014 and remains Chair. 

In 2023, she was appointed by the Bar of Ireland to sit on the Council of the Bars of Europe (CCBE) Environmental Subcommittee. 

Clíona was appointed by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government as Chair of the Statutory Technical Assessment Board (Architects qualifications) from 2009 to 2013.  

She is regularly appointed to provide high level confidential reports into senior workplace misconduct. 

Mediation

Clíona is a relatable and effective mediator, accredited by CEDR in 2016 and currently acting in complex equality mediations for charity sectors and workplace mediations. 

Workplace Investigations

Clíona is extremely able in getting workplace investigations done in tricky situations, with difficult and sensitive complaints, with a process a client can rely on. She has completed sensitive sexual harassment investigations both nationally and internationally. 

Lecturing

Clíona is a Lecturer on the Diploma in Employment Law at King’s Inns, Dublin. 

Clíona lectured for a number of years in Labour law at Trinity College Dublin.  

Before coming to the Bar, Clíona was a tenured Lecturer at the University of Aberdeen teaching on the Masters Programme in International Environmental Law and Policy and to undergraduates in Public Law and Constitutional Law. 

As an inspiring and insightful speaker, she is in constant demand to speak at specialist legal conferences and international events. 

Skills

Clíona’s overriding strength is her ability to grapple with complicated and complex legal cases and reach a successful resolution for clients, through clear and persuasive oral advocacy. 

She brings a calmness and rationality to her client’s experience in stressful litigation. 

She is a creative thinker and can identify new pathways and novel approaches to problems. 

She is very practical and pragmatic, with a keen eye for her client’s best interests. 

Clíona is highly personable, relates well to clients and solicitors and inspires trust and confidence in them. 

Clíona is currently acting in: 

• Superior Court litigation in a multitude of cases including employment injunctions, wrongful dismissals, suspensions from employment.  

• High Court multi- party litigation in equality cases, in particular age and disability discrimination cases.  

• Multi-party Labour Court and WRC litigation. 

• Several age discrimination equality cases and Disability Reasonable Accommodation cases in relation to both the public and private sector employers and employees.  

• High Court Judicial Review of government action, including statutory compliance and enforcement of public sector obligations. 

• Environmental damage cases in negligence, tort, breach of statutory obligations and breach of EU law. 

• Workplace Investigations. 

• Mediation of Employment Disputes. 

Clíona is currently advising in: 

• Environmental and Climate law including achieving protection of habitats, obtaining and enforcement of air quality standards, legal obligations in flooding and damage, and litigating to obtain preservation of endangered native species. 

• Complex areas of employment and equality law members of the public, private companies and public, state and semi-state bodies. 

Previous cases and legal work include: 

• Amelia Mckeown v The Minister for Defence, Ireland and The Attorney General (Trial of a Preliminary Issue) [2025] IEHC 177
• Tom Ronan v Commissioner For An Garda Siochana, Ireland and The Attorney General (Interim Injunction in Equality Cases) [2025] IEHC 79
• Conor Durnin v Horse’s Mouth LTD Trading as Sportcaller (Employment Injunction)[2024] IEHC 532.
• An Bord Banistíochta, Gaelscoil Moshíológ v The Department of Education and Others (Appeal on a Point of Law, Unfair Dismissal of a School Principal, Remedies of Reinstatement and Reengagement, Jurisdiction of High Court on an Appeal on a Point of Law, Varying Remedy of Labour Court, Costs) [2024] IESC 38.
• Dr Solomon Asgedom v Health Service Executive, The Minister for Health, The Minister of Finance, The Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform (Multiparty Equal Pay Claim by Hospital Consultants Against the State for Age Discrimination) (WRC) (2023) (ADJ-00022715, ADJ-00022926, ADJ-00022298, ADJ-00022642, ADJ-00022201).
• Robert Cunningham v Irish Prison Service (Appeal on a Point of Law, Test for Reasonable Accommodation in the Workplace of Persons with Disabilities, EU law and Applicability to Irish Prison Service, Remittal to Labour Court) [2021] IECA 19,[2020] IEHC 282.
• Pat Keating v Shannon Foynes Port Company (Payment of CEO Bonus, Directors Duties, Breach of Fiduciary Duty, Breach of Contract) [2022] IEHC 505.
• Enda O’Rourke v Department of Education and Skills (Judicial Review of Department of Education Application of Public Service Pension Scheme to Teachers) [2019] IEHC 938.
• Marie Daly v Nano Nagle School (Disability Discrimination, Appeal on a Point of Law, Test for Reasonable Accommodation of Disabled Special Needs Teacher, Interpretation of Irish Law in Light of EU Directives and International Law on Persons with Disabilities) [2019] IESC 63.
• Tomás Horgan and Claire Keegan v Minister for Education and & Skills and Others (Multiparty Litigation of Equal Pay Case by Teachers Against State, Age Discrimination in Introducing Pay Scale During Economic Crisis) (Case C‑154/18, EDA 2121) 
• Advisory Opinions for Centre for Environmental Justice on Air Quality
• Advisory Opinion for Native Irish Honey Bee Society on Judicial Review

Clíona is the leading expert in employment equality law in Ireland and has authored a number of legal texts, including the authoritative text Employment Equality Law, which won the DSBA joint award for Irish Law Book of the Year in 2024. She has written many publications throughout her career as an academic, in a number of legal areas, including EU law, Employment law, Environmental Law Equality law and Public law. She has contributed significantly to legal scholarship through her publications.

Books

• Employment Equality Law (with M. Bolger and C Bruton), Round Hall/Thomson Reuters (2^nd Edition) 2022
• Cyberlaw and Employment (with P. Walley) Round Hall/Thomson Reuters, 2016
• Sex Equality Law (with M Bolger) Round Hall, 2000

Articles

• ‘The Law Concerning Social Media Posts as Grounds for Dismissal’ (With Michael O’Doherty BL) Thompson Reuters, 2025
• ‘Balancing Climate Action and Individual Rights: A Win for All Generations’ (with Cathy McFadden), Viewpoints Bar of Ireland, June 2024
• ‘Whoever Pays the Piper Calls the Tune? Cipher Directors and Fiduciary Duties under the Companies Acts—Can a Breach Be Enforced?’ Commercial Law Practitioner Journal, Round Hall/Thompson Reuters, 2024
• ‘Blueprint for an Environmental Code: proposals for enhanced Environmental Governance in Ireland’ (with O. Heatley, L. Beirne BL.) Environmental Liability – Law, Policy and Practice, Vol 28 Issue 3, Law Text Publishing Limited, 2023
• ‘Part V: Employment Equality’ in Employment Law (eds by M Regan) Tottel Publishing 2016 1^st Edition, Tottel Publishing, 2009
• ‘The Directive on Race Discrimination in Ireland’ (eds Cathryn Costello and Eilis Barry) Equality in Diversity, ICEL, 2003
• ‘Recent Development in EU Equality Law’ (eds Cathryn Costello and Eilis Barry) EU Law/ Round Hall Press, 2002
• ‘Race Discrimination and the New Article 13 Directives’ (ed. C Keville) The New EU Directives on Employment Equality Law, 2003
• ‘Redirecting Self-Regulation’ (with S Gaines) Oxford Journal of Environmental Law Vol 13(2), 157-184, 2001
• ‘Implementing European Environmental Policy and the Directive on Access to Environmental Information’ Alternative Policy Instruments in Lenschow, A., and Knill, C., (eds), Manchester University Press, 2000
• ‘Environmental Licensing and Permits in the UK’ Book Chapter in Deketelaere, K., and Faure, M., (eds.) Environmental Law in the United Kingdom and Belgium from a Comparative Perspective, Ius Commune European Series, 1999
• ‘Environmental Taxes, Subsidies and Policy Agreements in the UK’ Book Chapter in Deketelaere, K., and Faure, M., (eds.) Environmental Law in the United Kingdom and Belgium from a Comparative Perspective, Ius Commune European Series, 1999
• ‘Zugang zu Umweltinformationen in Grossbritannien und Deutschland’ (comparison of the implementation of the EU Directive on Access to Information in the UK and Germany) with F Eckardt, published in German, Vol 21(5) Natur und Recht 262, 1999
• ‘Understanding Access to Environmental Information: the European Experience’, Jowell T and Steele Jn (ed) Law in Environmental Decision Making, OUP, 1998
• ‘Access to Justice and Access to Environmental Information’ Vol 8, European Business law Review, 157-164, 1997
• ‘Access to Information on the Environment in Spain’ European Environmental Law Review (with Maria de la Torre), February 1997
• ‘Equality or Self-Determination‘ in Understanding Human Rights, Gearty, C and Tomkins, A eds. (Mansell, 1996) 266-293
• ‘A Comparison of Environmental Federalism in the US and the EU’ 54 (1995) Maryland Law Review 1658-1691
• ‘Criminal Justice Systems in Europe; Ireland (United Nations)’ Helsinki Institute for Crime Prevention and Control, 53, 1995
• ‘The Oil Industry and Mechanisms for Securing Environmental Protection’ (with J. Rowan-Robinson, Contemporary Issues in Law 1-16, 1995
• Commissioned report with Aberdeen University Centre for Environmental Law and Policy for AURIS Environmental Ltd on the Development of an Environmental Regulatory Regime for Azerbaijan, 1995
• Scottish Commentary on the Enforcement of Environmental Law, in Environmental Law Textbook for IBC Learning Courses, 1995
• Commissioned report from (United Nations) Helsinki Institute for Crime Prevention and Control on the Irish Criminal Justice System.
• Review of ‘Regulating the European Environment’ (Baker & McKenzie 2nd ed. 1993), Journal of the Law Society of Scotland, April 1994
• ‘Great Expectations: the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992’ 11, Irish Law Times (with E. Maguire) 196-200, 1993
• ‘Enforcing the Peace: Multinational Forces and the UN’ 3, Irish Student Law Review 48-66, 1993
• ‘The Significance of the 1992 Local Government’ (Planning and Development) Act 1992″ 11, Irish Law Times 17-24, 1993
• ‘Disability Discrimination Law in the United States, Australia and Canada’ (with Gerard Quinn and Maeve McDonough) Oak Tree Press, 1, 1993

Clíona lectures and speaks widely to Barristers, Solicitors, Professional Organisations, as well as government panels and public conferences.

• Speaker at launch of new report, “Constitutionalising environmental rights: practical insights into the Irish context” by Dr. Orla Kelleher and Dr. Mary Dobbs, Dublin, 10^th June 2025
• Chair of ‘Climate Litigation Lessons from Ireland’ Webinar with Cornerstone Chambers, 5^th June 2025
• ‘James Joyce, Environmentalism and Litigation in Ulysses’ Keynote Speech at Launch of Environmental Litigation Costs Handbook, Environmental Justice Network Ireland, James Joyce Museum, Dublin, December 2024
• ‘Beyond Delay and Disruption – looking at climate and environmental disputes’, Society of Construction Law, 21^st November 2024
• ‘Professional Duty of Lawyers and Bar Associations in actions on Climate’ Climate Law & Governance Day 2024 during COP 29 in Azerbaijan. Session convened by the International Bar Association; Law Society of England and Wales; Federal Council of the Brazilian Bar Association; American Bar Association; and Net Zero Lawyers Alliance, 15th November 2024
• Breakfast Briefing on ‘Supreme Court Judgment in Mallon: Age Discrimination Mandatory Retirement and Reasonable Accommodation’, Employment Bar Association, 18^th July 2024
• Panel Discussion, ‘Costing Litigation’, Demystifying the Costs of Environmental Litigation on the Island of Ireland,’ Belfast, 21^st June 2024
• Lecture on ‘Environment and Social Governance’, Law Society, 29^th May 2024
• ‘Protection of nature and the environment in constitutions and treaties around the world’, Comhshaol the Climate Bar Association, the Southeastern Circuit Bar, Waterford City and County Council and Waterford Chamber of Commerce, Waterford, 9^th May 2024
• Keynote Speaker ‘Addressing biodiversity loss in Ireland’, Policy Forum for Ireland, 25^th January 2024
• Keynote Speaker ‘Meeting the challenges posed by climate change – Next steps for climate policy and action in Ireland’, PolicyForum for Ireland, 17th August 2023
• Podcast with Dr Andrew Jackson, ‘Climate Law, Rights and Accountability Do we have a right to a healthy environment?’ Bar of Ireland Podcast, November 2022
• ‘Strategy in Equal Pay Cases’, Legal Island, October 2022
• Climate Bar Association Symposium ‘Environmental Courts and Tribunals”, 21st January 2022

As a leading Senior Counsel, Clíona uses law to help clients to defend themselves and their legal rights and interests. She excels at litigation in difficult and complex areas of law. She is also dedicated to helping her clients to use law and litigation to advance social and environmental justice.

Clíona is a lecturer at Kings Inns on the Advanced Diploma in Employment Law.

Through her role as Chair of Comhshaol of the Climate Bar Association, Clíona has led critical discussions in a number of environmental and climate change related areas, such as barriers to environmental justice, including financial costs and procedural access. She led an independent task force on Environmental Law Reform during 2021/2022.  The Task Force results were presented at the ‘Climate Bar Symposium – Towards a Model Environmental Law’ event in 2022, which was introduced by An Taoiseach Michéal Martin.

She is currently a member of Cumann Barra na Gaeilge and a CEDR Qualified Mediator.

Clíona is a former Chair of the Employment Bar Association. She was Editor of the Employment Law Reports from 2001 to 2011 and the Irish Employment Law Journal from 2003 to 2011.