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
Joint Managing Partner, Solicitor (admitted: 1989)
University College, Dublin (BCL)
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
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
Legal Executive
The College of Commerce, Dublin (Diploma in Legal Studies)
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
Legal Executive
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
Solicitor
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 Brosnan
Solicitor
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.
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.
Damien Browne
Solicitor
Damien recently joined our firm and works within the litigation department. Damien qualified as a barrister in 2004 and worked in general civil practice for 4 years before qualifying as a solicitor. He holds a Bachelor of Business and Law Degree, a Diploma in Arbitration, a Diploma in Legal Studies and he is currently completing a part time Masters in Commercial Law. He has also worked on various commercial law projects, technology related law and property related matters. Damien has considerable experience both as an advocate and as a solicitor in general civil litigation. He has experience in contractual disputes, personal injury law, property and construction disputes and debt related actions.
Sharon Monahan
Solicitor
Sharon recently joined the team at William J Brennan & Company Solicitors and is managing the Company’s newly opened Dundalk Office in the centre of the Town’s legal quarter.
Sharon holds an honours degree in Law and graduated from Queens University as a Solicitor in 2004. Her entry to the Irish Roll of Solicitors was in same year. In 2009, Sharon graduated from the University of Ulster with a Master of Laws in Human Rights and Criminal Justice.
The areas of Conveyancing, Licensing, Civil Litigation, Wills, Trusts, Probate and Administration of Estates is of particular interest to Sharon.
Since qualifying, Sharon has taken an active roll in training the next generation of Solicitors by tutoring trainee Solicitors in the areas of Probate, Will Drafting, Client Negotiation, Conveyancing, Licensing and Client Care in Queens University, Belfast and Civil Litigation at the Law Society of Ireland in Dublin.
Linda Kavanagh
Linda joined our firm in May 2011. She has many years experience working in Denis I. Finn Solicitors in the areas of Conveyancing, Litigation and debt collection. Linda now works mainly in our debt collection department.
Linda is familiar with the entire process of debt collection from the issue of proceedings to enforcement of Judgement and deals with this process in a timely and cost effective manner.
Conor Canavan
Solicitor
LLB (Hons), Dip Corp Gov
Conor qualified as a Solicitor in 2007 and was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in Ireland that same year. He was also admitted as a Solicitor in England and Wales in 2010.
Conor has an Honour’s Degree in Law and a Diploma in Corporate Law and Governance. He advises in all aspects of Commercial Law from company start-ups, to advising Directors and shareholders in relation to Corporate Governance, to drafting Shareholders Agreements, Partnership Agreements, Mergers and Acquisitions to eventually the winding up of a company. Conor works very closely with William Brennan in the Corporate Department.
Marie-Clare Morrissey
Solicitor
Marie-Clare was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors at Easter 2007. In 2009, she received a Diploma in Commercial Litigation administered by the Law Society.
Marie-Clare joined the Litigation Department of William J. Brennan & Company in April 2011 and has brought with her an excellent range of specialties. Her Commercial Litigation experience includes the prosecution and defence of various claims on foot of construction agreements (to include building agreements, collateral warranties and guarantees) on behalf of a number of Landlords and Property Developers either through the Courts System or by Arbitration.
She also has comprehensive experience in the area of Debt Recovery which extends to the defence and prosecution of complex High Court Claims. Her experience in this field also incorporates advice on Insolvency and the Realisation of Assets.
Marie-Clare has also been responsible for the successful recovery arrears of rent and service charge on behalf of a number of Landlords and Management Companies on foot of Commercial Leases and Guarantees.
Along with the above, Marie-Clare has been responsible for the defence and prosecution of Personal Injury Claims (to include Road Traffic Accidents, Employers Liability and Occupiers Liability), Professional Indemnity Claims, Medical Negligence and Risk Management Claims. Infringement and Enforcement of Property Rights to include Adverse Possession together with Infringement and Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights to Include Copyright and Information Technology.
Marie-Clare’s also specialises in the area of Family Law to include advising on Clients on entering into a Separation by way of Separation Agreement, Judicial Separation, Divorce, Maintenance, Enforcement of Rights by Civil Partners and Co-Habitants, Rights of Natural Fathers and Guardianship.
Sabrina Meehan
Legal Executive
Sabrina has been employed with William J Brennan since March 2009. She joined our firm as a Legal Secretary dealing mainly with Litigation including Debt Recovery and Personal Injuries Claims. She worked in our Dublin office for her first two years with our Firm.
She then has moved on to be a Legal Executive in our Ashbourne office working primarily in the Debt Collection department. Sabrina will always meet with clients requirements and works in a good personal style and manner.