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Patrick J Dawson

Patrick Dawson qualified as a Solicitor in 1978. He studied commerce in University College Dublin and obtaining his B. Comm. degree in 1975.

Patrick provides legal advice on agricultural and commercial property transactions and acts for one of the largest financial institutions in the state. He advises clients when drafting wills as well as dealing with the administration of estates, Enduring Powers of Attorney and Wardship matters. He is also experienced in probate and inheritance matters and has acted for executors in estates where there have been disputes and claims against an estate.

He has experience in medical negligence cases. These include those where operations have gone wrong and where there have been difficulties in the birth of children with disastrous consequences.

He deals with family law disputes in the Circuit and High courts.

He assists with defence litigation files, attending court where necessary and in house advises on quantum in individual cases.

He lives just outside Athy in village of Ballitore where he is involved in various local voluntary bodies.


Deirdre O’ Connor
Deirdre O’Connor qualified as a Solicitor in 1977 having studied law in UCD, graduating with a Bachelor of Civil Law Degree in 1975.

Since then she has practiced in various areas of law but principally in General Litigation and Probate. She has extensive experience in personal injury litigation both plaintiff and defence and has practiced in all Courts up to Supreme Court level.

She advises clients in all areas of Probate Law to include drafting Wills, creating Enduring Powers of Attorney and Wardship matters.

She has extensive experience in administering estates and in inheritance disputes having been involved in many such contentious cases over the years.

Deirdre lives in Athy and is involved in various local voluntary bodies and sports clubs.


Nigel Young
Nigel Young practised for nine years as a solicitor in Newmarket in the field of general commercial law and litigation with a particular concentration on the thoroughbred bloodstock industry. He also ran a VAT and tax unit within his then firm. His work engaged him in insurance matters generally (for example claims arising from the theft of the Derby winner Shergar). The near collapse of the Lloyd’s of London insurance market further involved him in substantial and complex litigation on behalf of one action group against the auditors of a Lloyd’s Syndicate and also separately on behalf of individual Names.

In 1995 he moved to the USA to take up a retainer with a law-firm in Williamsburg Virginia which then had a particular focus on the Lloyd’s-related litigation in the USA and the UK. At the same time he attended the TC Williams School of Law in Richmond from 1995 - 1997, obtained his Juris Doctorate cum laude and was admitted to the Virginia State Bar in 1997.

At the end of 1997 he then returned to his home in Ireland, re-entered practice in the UK and qualified to practice as a solicitor in Ireland in 2006. In 2008 he assisted as consultant in the establishment of a boutique low-overhead internet-reliant litigation-only law-firm called Richard Slade & Company in Gray’s Inn. Subsequently he joined his grandfather’s former West End law firm Mackrell Turner Garrett as a consultant and he presently also consults to the Irish practice of HG Donnelly & Son in Athy, Co Kildare near his home.

Practice areas of especial interest include jurisdictional matters across the EU, conflicts of interest (cf Young v Robson Rhodes (a firm) [1999] 3 All ER 524) and attorney-client privilege.


Ross Phillips
Ross Phillips qualified as a Solicitor in 2008. He attended University College Cork where he obtained his B.C.L. degree in 2001 and a Masters Law degree (LLm) in 2002. He has also received a Diploma in E-commerce in 2006 and certificate in Credit Union Management 2010.

Ross deals with the Allianz property recovery files in the District Court and on appeal to the Circuit Court. He attends courts sitting in counties Kildare, Carlow, Laois, Meath and Offaly.

Apart from Allianz matters Ross acts in the sale and purchase of residential properties and deals with all the major lenders in this area.

Ross advises clients in the area of drafting wills and the extraction of Grants of Probate and Administration of estates.

He deals with family law disputes in the District and Circuit courts.

Ross lives in Ballylinan Co. Laois and is a keen amateur actor. He is also a director and former chairman of the Athy Credit Union.


Patrick B Dawson

Patrick B Dawson qualified as a Solicitor in 2012 having studied Commerce in UCD, graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce Degree in 2006. He has also received a Higher Diploma in Law from DIT in 2007.

After working as a solicitor in a general practice firm in Newbridge, Co. Kildare for three years, Patrick moved to Australia where he worked for a top tier law firm in Sydney and a major insurance company for several years. Patrick specialised in defendant medical negligence, public and product liability involving complex property damage issues, personal injury and cyber claims.

Since returning to Ireland he has practiced in various areas of law but principally in General Litigation, Family Law, Conveyancing and Probate.

He is a strategic thinker with a proven track record of working collaboratively with counsel, experts, colleagues and other service providers to achieve the best results for clients.

Patrick is a keen rugby player and active open water swimmer where he is involved in various local voluntary bodies and sports clubs.

Are you buying or selling a property? Get in contact with H.G. Donnelly & Son Solicitors today.