Our People
William J. Brennan
Joint Managing Partner - BComm, DLS, Solicitor
William qualified as a solicitor in 2001 in Binchys Solicitors (later to merge with Maples and Calder) and worked there until 2007 before setting up his own firm in September 2007. William has excellent experience in commercial litigation, dispute resolution and property law. On qualifying, William spent the beginning of his legal career concentrating on commercial litigation matters, property and probate orientated litigation, personal injury and injunctive remedies.
William then spent a year working in Sydney, Australia in the legal department of National Australia Bank where he concentrated on Investment Intermediaries Contracts, Trusts, Commercial Law, Internal Re-Organisation and general operations.
On his return from Australia, William returned to Binchy’s Property department, where he combined general litigation work with all aspects of commercial property, including acting for developers in both residential, office and retail development. While William is concentrating his work now in other areas he continues to advise his clients on acquisitions, finance and disposals of commercial and residential property in addition to negotiating both commercial and residential leases and advising in all matters of planning and development law and related tax issues.
William now focuses mainly on Dispute Resolution, Commercial litigation and Corporate Restructuring and Insolvency while at the same time actively managing the business’s day to day operations. Having studied Commerce originally in UCD, William finds that he is now spending a portion of his day tapping into that original grounding and works hard at adapting and enhancing his business model as the market dictates with an emphasis on Business Development and Marketing.
Hugh McGroddy
University College, Dublin (BCL)
Joint Managing Partner, Solicitor (admitted: 1989)
Hugh is joint managing partner. He was formerly a partner in Binchys and Maples and Calder Solicitors where he was head of the property department.
Hugh has extensive experience in all areas of commercial property including acquisitions and disposals, property investment transactions, joint ventures, development agreements, property tax, planning and all aspects of property finance.
Hugh has acted for financial institutions, property developers, corporate and private clients.
Tanya Egan
Trainee Solicitor
Tanya has vast experience assisting clients on property matters. She advises on issues of contract, title, mortgage and re-finance, and in general on the purchase and sale of both residential and commercial property.
Tanya has a broad range of litigation experience, and specializes in property disputes such as landlord and tenant, adverse possession, rights of way, boundary disputes and disputed contracts both through litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (“ADR”), by way of conciliation, mediation and arbitration. Tanya also advises on contentious probate matters. Tanya is experienced in general litigation areas such as personal injury, defamation and disputed wills.
Mary Flynn
The College of Commerce, Dublin (Diploma in Legal Studies)
Legal Executive
Mary has more than 25 years’ Litigation experience, having worked with Binchys until the merger with Maples and Calder, and with Maples and Calder until December 2008, when she joined William J. Brennan and Company.
Mary’s Litigation experience includes Debt Recovery, Personal Injuries Claims (both Plaintiff and Defendant), Mortgage Suits, Material Damage Recovery Claims (Mary acts for an Insurance Company in this regard), collection of Statutory Levies (Mary acts for a Statutory Body) and General Litigation.
Mary holds a Diploma in Legal Studies, from The College of Commerce, Rathmines, Dublin.
Janet Lanigan
Janet has many years experience in property and litigation areas.
She advises on residential and commercial conveyancing, principally dealing with the purchasing and selling of residential properties, mortgages and refinance within the firm.
Janet assists our debt department on a regular basis together with her work in the area of professional negligence and family law.
Michael O’Hanrahan
Michael O’Hanrahan, Admitted as a Solicitor in Ireland , 1970.
Michael is a Consultant with the firm of William J. Brennan & Co. Solicitors and his experience spans over 40 years of practice.
He works in the firm’s residential property and private client units and advises private clients on all aspects of property transactions including the sale and purchase of new and second hand homes, leases and property investments and succession matters.
Anita Sothern
Anita recently joined William J Brennan & Company Solicitors from Maples and Calder and has experience in Corporate law, Conveyancing, Employment, Wills, Trusts, Probate and Administration of Estates.
Anita graduated from University College Dublin with a Bachelor of Civil Law in 2002. She was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in Ireland in 2006 and completed the Law Society of Ireland Diploma in Commercial Property in 2008.
Anita advises on all matters associated with the sale and purchase of property by auction or private treaty, mortgaging and re-mortgaging, the purchase of ground rents, the licensing of public houses and hotels and the development and sale of property in mixed use developments.
Anita also provides specialist advice on the rights and duties of employers and employees arising from equality legislation, including notice periods, holiday, maternity and parental entitlements. Anita can provide assistance in negotiating and reviewing Contracts of Employment and associated policies and procedures, namely, Disciplinary Policy and Procedures, Grievance Policy and Procedures, Anti-Bullying and Harassment Policy, Equal Opportunities Policy, Health and Safety Statement and Absence and Attendance Policy. Anita also provides guidance to employers on mergers and acquisitions and the transfer of undertakings directive and to employers and employees on termination, dismissal and redundancy procedures.
Anita further advises on many aspects of succession law from the preparation of wills to the administration of estates including all tax matters associated with such advice. She also offers advice on enduring powers of attorney and wardship matters from the instigation to conclusion of wardship proceedings.
Justin Nevin
Education: LLB (Hons)
Justin works primarily in the Debt Collection department of William J. Brennan & Co. Justin is familiar with the entire debt collection procedure from commencing proceedings to the enforcement of judgements. Justin acts for a varied and prominent set of clients and meets their demands in a timely and responsive manner.
In addition to debt collection, Justin assists the litigation group in its licensing work.
Margaret Zdun
Macquarie University, Sydney (MA), Elms College , USA (BA), Dublin Institute of Technology, Dublin (BA in Legal Studies), member of the ACCA and of the Institute of Bankers in Ireland.
Margaret has been employed as the Accounts and Office Manager of William J. Brennan & Co. since joining in January 2009. Previously Margaret was working in the well established international law firm of Maples and Calder. In addition to acting as the Office Manager for William J. Brennan & Co., Margaret provides the support for the firm’s marketing projects and activities.
Before coming to Ireland in 2005 Margaret studied and worked in both the United States of America and Australia.
Patricia Scanlon
Patricia Scanlon works in the accounts department and started with the firm in November ’07. Her previous positions in the accounts departments of Aer Lingus and also as a civil servant gives her a firm background in accounts.
Immediately prior to coming to work for William J. Brennan & Co. Solicitors Patricia worked for IFAC Accountants in Trim, Co. Meath. Patricia is mainly based in our Ashbourne office dealing with all aspects of accounts as such as invoicing, management accounts, reconciliation and general daily accounting duties. Patricia also spends part of her day managing the Ashbourne office.