AOC Solicitors
- Our Team

Anne O’Connell

Principal

Qualified as a Solicitor in 2001 and as a New York Attorney, Anne O’Connell, the Founder and Principal of the Firm, specializes in Employment Law. She holds an LLB Degree together with Diplomas in Employment Law and International Litigation and has practiced with the Chief State Solicitors Office and two top tier Irish Law Firms. Anne has acted in the largest international case taken by Ireland to date and also acted in a European case that led to the amendment to Ireland’s Constitution. Anne advises large multinational companies, semi-state companies, small businesses and employees in all areas of employment law, particularly issues that were likely to become contentious.

With over 19 years of employment law experience, Anne formed her own specialist boutique Employment Law Firm in 2017 and thus Anne O’Connell Solicitors was born.

Anne is very passionate about what she does  and becomes vested in finding solution to her client’s issues.

Anne O’Connell Profile

• Member of the Law Society of Ireland’s Employment Law Committee and the Employment Law Association of Ireland Committee.
• Lectures and tutors extensively on employment topics including assessing and advising clients on risk at the Law Society of Ireland Professional Course, the Diploma on Employment and the Certificate on Employment Law Advocacy.
• Recipient of the International Client Choice Award 2018 and again in 2019, Lawyer Monthly Women in Law Award – Employment Law, Ireland 2019 and the ‘ACQ Employment & Benefits Lawyer of the Year in Ireland’ for 2018, 2019 and 2020 and the numerous awards listed in the awards section of the Firm’s website.
• External examiner for the Law Society’s Diploma on Employment Law and Employment Law Advocacy Certificate.
• Lectured at the National College of Ireland, the Kildare County Enterprise Board course and at industry seminars nationwide.
• Co-author of the Law Society’s Professional Practice Employment Law Manual. Also published in the IBA Employment Industrial Relations Law Newsletter, Irish Employment Law Journal, Industrial Relations News, Sunday Business Post, Business Plus Magazine and the Construction Industry Magazine.
• Interviewed on RTE News, Ireland AM and Matt Cooper radio show on various employment law issues. Provides bespoke training to business clients.
• Featured media articles in The Irish Independent.
• Featured panel member of The Clare Byrne Show, RTE.

Ethna Dillon

Trainee Solicitor

Ethna graduated with a B.A. and LL.B from University College Cork and holds an LL.M (Hons) in European and Comparative Law from University of Limerick. She worked for a number of years with a general practice firm in Kerry. Prior to joining the firm, she spent three years as a Judicial Assistant with the Court’s Service.

Eva Lindsay

Legal Executive

Eva graduated with an LLB degree from Trinity College Dublin and joined the firm shortly after in August 2017. Eva is currently completing her FE1 examinations.

Jonathan Quinn

Legal Executive

Jonathan recently graduated with a BCL degree from Dublin City University. He joined the firm in October 2018.

Laura Reid

Senior Associate

Laura qualified as a solicitor in 2014 and has over six years post qualification specialist Employment Law experience.

Laura has worked with a broad range of Irish and international corporate clients, public bodies and private individuals.

Laura advises on all aspects of employment law both contentious and non-contentious. Her work includes advising employers in relation to day to day employment law queries, employment contracts/policies, internal processes including grievance and disciplinary processes, employment permits, restructuring/redundancies, severance agreements, employment mediations, the defence of all kinds of employment law claims and the employment law aspects of corporate transactions.

Laura has advised a large number of employer clients in both the private and the public sector.

Laura also advises employees and has acted for a number of senior executives in relation to the negotiation of favourable exit packages.

Laura trained in Callan Tansey Solicitors and practiced there for over two years following qualification. Laura moved to the employment law department of Beauchamps in 2016 where she practiced for over three years before joining AOC solicitors in June 2019.

Laura holds a Bachelor of Corporate Law, an LLB Degree and a Diploma in Employment law.

Chaitra Girish Mallya

Legal Executive

Chaitra graduated with a B.A. (Hons) and LL.B. from Bangalore University, India and was enrolled as a Lawyer with the Bar Association of Karnataka, India in 2008. She worked as a Corporate Associate at a law firm in Bangalore, India for several years before moving to Ireland. Chaitra holds an LL.M. from University College Dublin and joined the Firm in August 2019.

David Murphy

Solicitor

David joined AOC Solicitors in December 2020 having recently completed his traineeship. David began his training as a solicitor in a specialist defence litigation firm, Michael Houlihan and Partners, then joined the Employment Law team in Fieldfisher’s Dublin Office. He has worked with major insurers as well as both Irish and overseas based employers.

Before training as a solicitor David worked in Industrial Relations for 6 years, representing medical professionals and financial services employees. He has a wide array of experience in representing professionals and management level employees in disputes with their employers.

David holds a BA in International Relations from DCU and an Advanced Diploma in Employment Law from Kings Inns. He has trained and is certified as a mediator and has represented the Law Society at international legal mediation competitions.

Harvey

Wellness Manager

Harvey joined AOC Solicitors in November 2019 as the firm’s Wellness Manager, after illustrating his extensive qualifications and experience in stress management and well-being during the hiring process. He is a great addition to the team in assisting us to maintain a happy workplace and our sanity!