Fieldfisher Boosts Dublin Dispute Resolution as Planning Permission Challenges Grow
Dublin’s leading law teams gear up for surging local planning permission battles as one of the city’s top legal names strengthens its bench.
Leading international law firm Fieldfisher has expanded its dispute resolution capabilities in Dublin with the appointment of Dermot McEvoy as a partner. McEvoy brings deep expertise in planning, environmental, and major development disputes, joining at a critical moment for Ireland’s construction and property sector. The move signals Fieldfisher’s commitment to serving clients grappling with the complex, high-stakes disputes that increasingly follow Irish planning and development decisions, including flood-risk developments and material contravention applications.
McEvoy’s appointment directly addresses the growing wave of legal challenges facing Irish developers and planning authorities. Over the past year, appeals and judicial reviews—especially those targeting An Bord Pleanála decisions—have surged, causing delays and uncertainty for both private and public sector projects. McEvoy’s background includes high-profile cases involving environmental impact assessments, contested housing scheme approvals, and statutory interpretation, making him a key asset as legal risk intensifies in the sector.
The expansion of Fieldfisher’s dispute resolution team is timely, given new legislation designed to tackle planning bottlenecks. The Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2025 now ensures time spent in judicial review does not count against planning permission life, but developers and authorities still face a rising tide of procedural, environmental, and community-led legal challenges. Disputes related to flood-risk developments have been particularly contentious, while the ongoing shortage of housing—and persistent delays in apartment construction—has put additional pressure on the planning system.
Fieldfisher’s Dublin office aims to offer comprehensive support for clients facing these planning permission hurdles, from initial project conception through to appeals and enforcement. The firm’s focus on real-time adaptation to changing laws and regulatory environments positions it as a leading advisory partner for developers, local authorities, and investors navigating Ireland’s evolving planning landscape.
- Fieldfisher appoints Dermot McEvoy as a disputes partner in Dublin, strengthening its planning and environmental law offering.
- The move responds to increased legal scrutiny of An Bord Pleanála decisions, flood-risk developments, and contested scheme approvals.
- New legislation and heightened community opposition have made navigating material contravention and environmental impact requirements more complex.
- The firm’s expanded team is prepared to guide clients through rising planning permission disputes and Ireland’s changing regulatory environment.
- Legal challenges now play a critical role in shaping the future of Irish development, with ongoing implications for housing supply and infrastructure delivery.
Originally reported in on Sat, 11 Oct 2025 03:28:45 +0000. Full story
