Shelley Horan BL

I have over 19 years experience in complex commercial litigation and have represented companies and public bodies in a wide range of commercial, corporate and regulatory/public law disputes.

I am a CEDR Accredited Mediator since 2012.

COMMERCIAL, CHANCERY AND COMPANY LAW LITIGATION

For example:-

• People Center, Inc. D/B/A Rippling and Rippling Ireland Ltd v Keith O’Brien, Alexandre Bouaziz,, Andrea David Mieli, Deel, Inc. and Asif Malik (Commercial -Intellectual Property & Technology List) (High Court Record No. 2025 / 1289P)
• Commission for Communications Regulation v Virgin Media Ireland Ltd [2025] IEHC 66 (Commercial Court)
• Commission for Communications Regulation v Eircom Limited t/a eir (High Court Record No 2021/289 MCA, Commercial Court) 
• Re Independent News and Media Plc and in Re Section 748 of the Companies Act, 2014  [2019] 2 IR 363 (Kelly P) and [2020] IEHC 384 (Simons J).
• Re Sparantus Limited & Re Section 212 of the Companies Act 2014; Eustace v Eustace & Ors (High Court Record No. H.COS.2024.279) (shareholder dispute, Section 212 oppression)
• Occupli Limited v Mee, EHS International Ventures, Ferndale Lane Investments Ltd, Chris Mee Holdings Ltd (High Court Record No. 2024 /474P)
• Walsh v National Irish Bank Ltd [2013] 1 IR 294 (Supreme Court) (disclosure of banking information from the Isle of Man)
• Dermosciences Limited v Lucas Dikkers and Pure Suisse Laboratoire SA (High Court Record No. 2021/5513P)
• DFDS A/S v Lucey & Ors (High Court Record No. 2025/1540P) (breach of warranty claim)
• Susquehanna International Group Limited v Daniel Needham [2018] 1 ILRM 272
• Susquehanna International Group Ltd v Execuzen Ltd [2021] IEHC 551, [2022] IECA 209
• O’Dwyer Property Management Limited t/a O’Dwyer Real Estate Management v Home For Life Ltd (Commercial Court; Record No. 2022/4910P) (specific performance claim)
• Mascott v Beacon Hotel Sandyford Ltd (High Court Record No. 2015/8826P, breach of contract claim)
• Abbeytrill Partnership v The Minister For Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (Commercial Court, Record No. H.P. 2024/1194, breach of contract claim)
• HSE v Holly’s Pharmacy (Arklow) Ltd (High Court Record Number 2018 No 6068P, breach of contract claim)
• HSE v Devines Pharmacy Ltd (High Court Record Number 2018 No 6070P, breach of contract claim)
• OBME Nominees & Ors v Clearstream Technologies Limited (High Court Record No. 2024/2269, dispute about the exercise of call options in a share transfer agreement)
• Commission for Aviation Regulation v AIB plc [2016] IEHC 53 (suit on foot of a bond)
• Howley v Howard; Howley v McClean [2024] IEHC 15 (Commercial Court, debt collection, champerty defence); [2025] IECA 77
• Dairygold Food Ingredients Ltd and The Irish Dairy Board Co-Operative Limited v Andres & CIE, T/A Richard Laleu Diffusion and Toyo Ink Arets France SAS (High Court Record No. 2013/5149P; product liability)
• SportsDirect.Com Retail Limited v The Revenue Commissioners, Ireland and the Attorney General (High Court Record No. 2023/4034P)
• Runnel Limited v The Revenue Commissioners, Ireland and the Attorney General (High Court Record No. 2023/4033P)
• Studbook Development Ireland Ltd t/a Warmblood Studbook of Ireland v Horse Sport Ireland CLG, Irish Horse Board Co-Operative Society Ltd & Ors (High Court Record No. H.P. 2024/2143P, breach of competition law).
• Subalpine Ltd v Show Jumping Ireland & Anor (High Court Record No. 2015/6305P, breach of competition law)
• Recorded Artists Actors Performers Ltd v Phonographic Performance (Ireland) Ltd (Commercial List, Intellectual Property action) [2023] 1 IR 328.
• McMillan v Hulme and Advanced Nano Technologies Ltd and Advanced Nano Technologies Holdings Ltd (Intellectual Property action, High Court Record No. 2023, 1542P)
• Dooley v Florentine Properties Limited and Ballymore Ireland Group Limited (High Court Record No. 2013/2559P)
• Shannon Valley Plant Hire Limited v Larry Behan (High Court Record No. 2022/3278 P) (Commercial Court, breach of contract)
• Williams v Galway County Council and Uisce Éireann (High Court Record Number 2012/4999P)
• O’Driscoll v IBRC Limited (in special liquidation) and IBRC AC Limited (High Court Record Nos. 2012/6820P, 2012/12409P, 2012/13120P and 2013/6292P (Consolidated Misselling actions, Commercial Court)
• McLean v Nationwide Logistics Services Limited & Ors (High Court Record No. 2013/870P)
• First Line Ltd v O’Reilly, Multipart Automotive Ltd and Protec Autospares Ltd t/a First Line & Ors (High Court Record No. 2011/5042P, Commercial Court Intellectual Property case).
• Cullen v Maye, Corros Properties Ltd, Leitrim Council Council and Uisce Éireann (High Court Record No. HP.2024.2290)
• Ronan Rooney and Co. Ltd v Galway County Council (High Court Record No. 2016/7829P)
• Go Outdoors Ltd v McDonagh (High Court Record No. 2010/7217P, Intellectual Property Case)
• L Behan Aggregates and Recycling Ltd v Shannon Valley Plant Hire Ltd  (High Court Record No. 2022/376S)
• Irish Bank Resolution Corporation (In Special Liquidation) v Whelan (High Court Record No. 2017/1142S)
• Quinn & Ors v Central Bank of Ireland, Minister for Finance, Quilligan & Ors (High Court Record No. 2013/14106P)
• Meehan v Shannon Foynes Port Co, Ms Wes Melas Schiffahrts GMBH & Co, KG & Wessels Reederei GMBH & Co, Wilson Ship AS, Wilson Eurocarriers A/S, SIMEC Ports (UK) Ltd, European Supply Chain Services SLU (High Court Record No. 2022/122P)

COMMERCIAL INJUNCTIONS / APPLICATIONS 

For example:- 

• Anton Piller applications: e.g., People Center, Inc. D/B/A Rippling and Rippling Ireland Ltd v Keith O’Brien, Alexandre Bouaziz,, Andrea David Mieli, Deel, Inc. And Asif Malik (Commercial -Intellectual Property & Technology List; High Court Record No. 2025/1289P)
• Mareva Injunctions: e.g., Howley v Paul Howard, Howley v Una McClean [2024] IEHC 15 and acting for notice parties to Mareva Orders, e.g., Ulster Bank Ireland DAC (affected bank).
• Norwich Pharmacal applications: e.g., People Center INC D/B/A Rippling and Rippling Ireland Ltd v Revolut Bank UAB; Record No. 2025/1716P.
• Springboard Injunctions: e.g., Occupli Limited v Mee, EHS International Ventures, Ferndale Lane Investments Ltd, Chris Mee Holdings Ltd (High Court Record No. 2024/474P))
• Mandatory Injunctions: e.g., Fermat Capital Management LLC v GAM International Management Ltd (management of hedge funds)
• Employment injunctions: e.g., Philip Nolan v Science Foundation Ireland [2024] IEHC 368; Galvin v Citco Bank Nederland B.V. (High Court Record No. 20145847P)
• Mandatory injunction for return of property and horses: Romagnoli, Ortega and Of Heritage Stud Ltd v Fitzgerald and Ballinasisla Stud Ltd (High Court, P. 2025/1469)
• Injunctions seeking to prevent removal as a director: Mee and Chris Mee Holdings Limited v Eribseg Holdings Limited (High Court Record Number 2022/5946P)
• Injunctions to restrain alleged defamations: e.g., Lobov v Conor McGregor [2022] IEHC 724
• In camera applications on behalf of the Revenue Commissioners to procure information from Irish companies to assist foreign tax investigations
• Application to set aside subpoena on behalf of the Governor of the Central Bank in Fennell & Ors v Coyle & Ors (High Court Record No. 2020/4505P)
• Application to confirm Inquiry decision and sanction before President of the High Court in Central Bank of Ireland v John Stanley Purcell (High Court Record No.H.MCA 2025/298)

GDPR / DATA PROTECTION LITIGATION / STATUTORY APPEALS

For example:-

• Data Protection Commission v Twitter International Unlimited Company (High Record No. 2024/411 MCA)
• Meta Platforms Ireland Limited v Data Protection Commission, Ireland and the Attorney General (High Record No. H JR 2025 309)
• Meta Platforms Ireland Limited v Data Protection Commission (High Record No. H MCA 2025.7)
• Meta Platforms Ireland Limited v Data Protection Commission, Ireland and the Attorney General (High Record No. H JR 2025 310)
• Meta Platforms Ireland Limited v Data Protection Commission (High Record No. H MCA 2025.6)
• Meta Platforms Ireland Limited v Data Protection Commission (High Record No. MCA.2023.0000391)
• Meta Platforms Ireland Limited v Data Protection Commission, Ireland and the Attorney General (High Court Record No. H.JR.2023.0001331)
• Statutory appeals against enforcement notices: e.g., CCPC v Ticketline Unlimited Company t/a Ticketmaster (Record No. 1609/2025) (for the Respondent)

APPLICATIONS TO DISQUALIFY OR RESTRICT DIRECTORS  

For example:- 

• Office of Director of Corporate Enforcement v Aventine Resources plc [2014] IEHC 611
• Re DMG Energy Ltd (In Liquidation); George Maloney v McGleenan and McGleenan (2019/No.426 Cos) per Quinn J, 15 years for fraud (https://www.irishtimes.com/business/two-involved-in-fuel-laundering-disqualified-from-acting-as-company-directors-1.4724055)
• Re AGL Transport Limited (In Voluntary Liquidation): David Van Dessel v Lynch and Grufferty (2014/No. 365 Cos)

INSOLVENCY / EXAMINERSHIPS / LIQUIDATIONS 

For example:- 

• Re Bloxam (In Liquidation)
• Re Monsoon Accessorize Ireland Limited (In Examinership)
• Re Manline Power Ltd (In Examinership)
• Re Maximum Media Network Ltd (In Examinership)
• Re Metron Stores (Iceland Foods) (In Examinership)
• Re Passage Healthcare International Ltd (In Examinership)
• Re PBR Restaurants Ltd (In Examinership)
• Re Supreme Deliveries Ltd (In Examinership)
• Re I-Supply Ltd (In Examinership)
• Re Basta Parsons Ltd (in Examinership)
• Re KC Property Developments Ltd (In Examinership)
• Re Gardening Impulse Ltd (In Examinership)
• Winding Up Petitions

DEFAMATION / JURY TRIALS  

For example:- 

• Tweed v Georgetown University trading as Georgetown University Press (High Court Record No. 2023/3579 P)
• Hanff v Linkedin Ireland (High Court Record No. 2022/5977P)
• O’Mordha v Securitas Security Services (Ireland) Limited and Linkedin Ireland (High Court Record No. 2023/5104P)
• McGrenera v Frank McBrearty Junior (High Court Record No. 2023/474 P)
• Ní Laimhín v Conor McGregor (COA Record No. 2025/32)
• Lobov v Conor McGregor [2025] IEHC 398
• DPP v Sean FitzPatrick (Bill No. 250/13) -criminal case which involved the movement of c. €100m loan accounts by CEO/Chairman to INBS prior to financial year end each year.
• Acting for religious orders in “class action” type historical sex abuse cases / mother and baby home cases (e.g., Farrell v Forkan, Board of Management of St Augustines School and Aidan Clohessy (High Court Record No. 2020 / 946P)

PROFESSIONAL DISCIPLINARY CASES / REGULATORY PROCEEDINGS / INQUIRIES / INVESTIGATIONS 

• For example -acting for e.g., the LSRA, the Medial Council, the Veterinary Council, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, the NMBI and CORU in professional regulatory matters, including fitness to practice inquiries, High Court suspension applications and appeals (e.g. Fennelly v O’Doherty [2020] IECA 35).
• Counsel for Denis O’Brien, Island Capital Management Limited and Blaydon Limited in In Re Independent News and Media Plc and in Re Section 748 of the Companies Act, 2014 (In Re INM Plc [2019] 2 IR 363 (Kelly P) and Re INM Plc [2020] IEHC 384 (Simons J)).
• Acting for the Garda Commissioner and various members of An Garda Síochána in the Disclosures Tribunal.
• Appeals before the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority Determination Panel
• Central Bank Administrative Sanctioning Inquiries (i) Guinane (PTSB -tracker mortgage); (ii) Stanley Purcell (INBS lending); and (iii) Smith (RSA insurance)
• Central Bank High Court applications to confirm Prohibition Notices under the Fitness & Probity Regime / to confirm sanctions.
• Acting as investigator e.g. in employment disputes
• Acting in confidential regulatory investigations

DAWN RAIDS / “STEP PLANS” FOR SEARCHES  

For example:- 

• CCPC v Homesecure Ltd (High Court Record No. H.MCA.2024.0000140) (for the Respondent)
• CCPC v Phonewatch Ltd (High Court Record No. H.MCA.2024.0000139) (for the Respondent)
• CCPC v Boylesports (High Court Record No. H.MCA.2025.271) (for the Respondent)

INSPECTIONS / TRIBUNALS / ADR / INVESTIGATIONS

• ICC Arbitrations e.g., The International Court of Arbitration, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC Case No. 24084/TO), SoftCo Unlimited Company (Ireland) v CGI SUOMI OY (Finland)
• Mediations in e.g., confidential commercial / partnership / shareholder disputes and “class action” type disputes mediated in one mediation process.

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION APPEALS

For example:- 

• St Vincent’s Healthcare Group DAC v The Office of the Information Commissioner (High Court Record No: 2018 352 MCA) (for the applicant)
• Novartis v Information Commissioner (High Court Record No: 2023/164/MCA and 2023/188/MCA) (for the applicant)

JUDICIAL REVIEWS / CONSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGES 

For example:- 

• Kerry County Council v Health and Safety Authority [2013] 2 ILRM 122
• GH v Tusla, Ireland and the Attorney General [2025] IEHC 263 (constitutional challenge, for State Respondents)
• My Lovely Horse v Minister (XL Bully Regulations) [2025] IEHC 60 (constitutional challenge, for State Respondents)
• Hall v Minister for Finance, Ireland and the Attorney General (High Court Record No. 2017/11173P) (constitutional challenge to IBRC legislation)
• Flynn v Tax Appeals Commission v Revenue Commissioners (High Court Record No. 2024/308JR)
• Liscove Ltd v DLRCC, Uisce Eireann and Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (High Court Record Nos. 454/2025 JR & No. 455/2025 JR)
• Meta Platforms Ireland Limited v Data Protection Commission, Ireland and the Attorney General (Record No. H JR 2025 309)
• Meta Platforms Ireland Limited v Data Protection Commission, Ireland and the Attorney General (Record No. H JR 2025 310)
• Meta Platforms Ireland Limited v Data Protection Commission, Ireland and the Attorney General (H.JR.2023.0001331)
• SportsDirect.Com Retail Limited v The Revenue Commissioners, Ireland and the Attorney General (High Court Record No. 2023/4034P)
• Runnel Limited v The Revenue Commissioners, Ireland and the Attorney General (High Court Record No. 2023/4033P)
• St Margaret’s Recycling Ltd & Anor v An Bord Pleanála [2024] IEHC 94
• Shannon Valley Plant Hire v Environmental Protection Agency (High Court Record No. 2018/115 JR)
• Nicholas v Road Safety Authority & Ors (High Court Record No. H.P.2023.0005118)
• Chen v Road Safety Authority & Ors (High Court Record No. 2020/209JR)
• Zhang v Road Safety Authority & Ors (High Court Record No. 2020/208JR)
• Li v Road Safety Authority & Ors (High Court Record No. 2018/937JR)
• Mulvey v Road Safety Authority & Ors (High Court Record No. 2016/462JR)
• Kelly v Road Safety Authority & Ors (High Court Record No. 2016/428JR)
• Donoghue v Road Safety Authority & Ors (High Court Record No. 2015/41JR)
• Devine v Minister for Defence, Ireland and The Attorney General (High Court Record No. 2022/05347) (for the State Respondents)
• McKinney v Minister for Defence, Ireland and The Attorney General (High Court Record No. 2022/05348) (for the State Respondents)
• Manecksha v HSE (High Court Record No. 2025/JR593)
• Sweeney and Anor  v Minister for Justice Ireland and the Attorney General (High Court Record No. H.P. 2024.3658)
• Manning v HSE (High Court Record No. 2025/JR593)
• Brady v Prendergast, MIBI, Minister for Transport, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Ireland and the Attorney General (High Court Record No. 2004/11825P)
• Aquilla Distribution Ltd v Revenue Commissioners (High Court Record No. 2019/396JR)

CASES STATED ON A POINT OF LAW TO THE HIGH COURT 

For example:- 

• Browne v Revenue Commissioners [2024] IEHC 258
• Falkenthal v Revenue Commissioners [2025] IEHC 122
• Arlum v Revenue Commissioners [2024] IEHC 402
• Morretino Ltd v Revenue Commissioners (High Court Record No. H.R.2023.0000376)
• Omaha Ltd v Revenue Commissioners (High Court Record No. 2023/81R)
• Avaya v Revenue Commissioners (High Court Record No. H.R.2024.0000186)
• Bell Transport Ltd v Revenue Commissioners (High Court Record No. 2023.0000376)

FREEZING ORDERS

For example:- 

• Mareva Injunctions: e.g., in Howley v Paul Howard, Howley v Una McClean [2024] IEHC 15; Morrissey Oil Ltd v Cahill & Anor (High Court Record No. 2013/4709P) and acting for notice parties to Mareva Orders, e.g., Ulster Bank Ireland DAC (affected bank).
• DPP v Cassidy (application to release frozen funds by Bismarck Pension Trustees Ltd) (High Court Record Number: 2020/210MCA)
• Criminal Assets Bureau v Michael Murphy Junior and Michael Murphy Senior and Amy Forrest (Notice Party) [2014] IEHC 583; [2016] IECA 40; [2018] 2 ILRM 18 (Supreme Court)
• Criminal Assets Bureau v Cash [2024] IECA 13; [2025] IECA 36
• Criminal Assets Bureau v Kinahan & Ors (High Court Record No. 2021 No. 23 CAB)
• Criminal Assets Bureau v Routeback Media t/a Local Mart and Zeman [2024] IECA 112, [2025] IESC 34 (Supreme Court)
• Criminal Assets Bureau v PacNet Holdings Ltd & Ors (High Court Record No. 2019 No. 19) and Criminal Assets Bureau v PacNet Services Ltd and Ors (High Court Record No. 2018 No. 22)
• Criminal Assets Bureau v Kelly & TT [2012] IESC 6 (Supreme Court)
• Criminal Assets Bureau v Keane & Flanagan (High Court Record No. 2023/20/CAB)

• Corporate Crime (Bloomsbury Professional, 2011).
• Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (Kluwer, 2012) (two chapters on the EU Regulation of hedge funds)
• Several legal articles, including “Agreements to agree: Do restitutionary concepts provide a remedy?”2009, 16(5) Commercial Law Practitioner, 95-102; “Ireland to review regulation of white-collar crime” (2012) Comp. Law. 33(11), 329-330; and Anti-Money Laundering -Risk Compliance and Governance (Publication Review) (2014) 52, Irish Jurist, 167-168, among others.

I have presented on a large range of topics (in Ireland, Liechtenstein and London) on areas such as financial services law, commercial litigation, injunctions, company law and the law of directors, competition law, corporate insolvency, the proceeds of crime, the law of funds, expert witnesses, civil fraud claims and corporate and financial crime. I have been invited to and have addressed bodies such as the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Attorney General’s Office, the Criminal Assets Bureau (including to its specialised T.A.C.T.I.C. course each year), ComReg, GSOC, the Environmental Protection Agency, various solicitors firms (including Arthur Cox, McCann FitzGerald, Matheson, Mason Hayes & Curran, William Fry and Beale & Company), the Irish Centre for European Law, the Society of Young Solicitors, Restructuring & Insolvency Ireland, the Institute of Directors, the International Association of Defence Counsel, Free Legal Aid Centres, various third-level institutions (such as Trinity College Dublin, King’s Inns, Maynooth University, NUI Galway and the University of Liechtenstein), the Bar of Ireland, the Financial Services Bar Association, the Professional and Disciplinary Bar Association, the Department of Justice and Law Reform, the Dublin Solicitors Bar Association, the Local Authority Solicitors Bar Association, the Irish Women Lawyers Association, the British and Irish Commercial Bar Association, Transparency International and the Association for Criminal Justice Research and Development, among others. Recent speeches include:-

• • “White Collar Crime, Money Laundering and Taxation: The AIFMD and Hedge Funds -An International and Irish Perspective”. This speech was delivered to the Funds Day Conference Series on “The AIFM Directive -Implications and Implementation”. The event was held at the Institute for Financial Services, Propter Homines Chair of Banking and Securities Law in Liechtenstein and was run in conjunction with the University of Liechtenstein.
  • “Enhancing Criminalisation of Corporate Conduct”. This speech was delivered to the International Corporate Counsel College of the International Association of Defence Counsel at the Royal Horseguards and One Whitehall Place, London, England at the Conference “Crisis Management- Anticipating the Future in a Global World”. A summary of my speech was published in the Irish Times on 3 December 2012 and can be found here: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/enhancing-criminalisation-of-corporate-conduct-1.613.
  • “Expert Witnesses: Recent Developments and Legal Principles on Admissibility”. This speech was delivered to the Professional, Regulatory and Disciplinary Bar Association (PRDBA) in an event organised in conjunction with Mason Hayes & Curran LLP.
  • “Enforcing accountability”. This speech was delivered to the Financial Services Bar Association seminar, in conjunction with A&L Goodbody LLP: ‘Enforcing the Individual Accountability Framework – Developments and Challenges’. I spoke about the conduct of Central Bank (CBI) inquiries and compared the old Administrative Sanctioning Procedures (ASP) with the new procedures under the the Central Bank (Individual Accountability Framework) Act, 2023.

• Director on the board of Projects Arts Centre (2011-2013). This voluntary role was to assist with corporate governance, legal compliance and human resources/employment issues for this charity.
• Member of the Expert Advisory Group for National Integrity Systems Study (Ireland) (Transparency International) (2011-2012). This report was part of a pan-European anti-corruption initiative supported by the Directorate-General Home Affairs of the European Commission. The initiative looked to assess the National Integrity Systems of 25 European States and to advocate for sustainable and effective reform in different countries.
• Member of the Bar Council (2012-2013) -co-opted as a member of the Bar Council by the then Chair and worked on various committees, including the Young Bar Committee, which assisted in setting up and teaching on the first advocacy course run by the Bar Council for junior barristers. Subsequently appointed to the Women at the Bar Working Group (now the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee) and  currently on the Public Affairs Committee. Acted as a member of the faculty of the Bar of Ireland’s Advanced Negotiation Course.
• Member of the Company Law Review Group (CLRG) (2018-2022) -appointed by the Government on nomination by the Bar Council to be a member of the Company Law Review Group, the work of which concerned debating and making recommendations about amendments to the Companies Act, 2014 (and related legislation).
• Women’s White Collar Defense Association (Ireland Chapter) (2019 – Present) -member of the Ireland Chapter of this international organsiation.
• The Bar of Ireland’s Kyle-Deverell Mentoring Programme (2020-Present) -mentor to female barristers.
• Nominated in 2016 by the Charities Regulator to act as a trustee of the board of the beleaguered charity Console prior to its liquidation.

• Adjunct Assistant Professor of Law, Trinity College (2011-2016).
• Member of the Disciplinary Committee of CPA Ireland (now Chartered Accountants Ireland) 2012-2018
• Course Director & Lecturer on the “Advanced Diploma on Corporate, White-Collar and Regulatory Crime” in King’s Inns (2011-2014)
• External Examiner, Institute of Bankers in Ireland (2012-2015) for the course: “Financial Crime Prevention”.
• Chair of the Appeals Committee of CPA Ireland (now Chartered Accountants Ireland) (2018-present). This role involves chairing the Appeals Committee and hearing appeals.
• Legal Researcher for Senior Counsel (2004-2009)