Irish employment law
Employment is a central focus of our business, with over 150 lawyers in our team. Our practice is ‘the most highly nominated European firm in research conducted by Who’s Who Legal. We have also received global recognition from Who's Who Legal who this year have named us "Law Firm of the Year for Labour, Employment & Pensions".
Underpinning the success of any business is its people. Meeting the competitive challenges of today’s rapidly changing world can require a radical re-think of the employer/employee relationship, and co-ordinating globally mobile talent can present significant challenges. Nurturing diversity, incentivising key staff and protecting against team defections are all essential to business success.
With so many issues to contend with, our award-winning specialist employment team covers the full range of work – from day-to-day HR support through to advising on the most complex or contentious of disputes. Going far beyond just legal advice, we also support clients with a range of innovative, value-adding services including consultancy, training and flexible legal resourcing to provide senior lawyers in-house to organisations.
Awards & Recognition
- A pleased client describes our Irish team as ‘very knowledgeable and pragmatic’ (Chambers 2018)
- The head of the Irish team, Siobhra Rush, has been described as ‘responsive, proactive and pragmatic’ as well as ‘solution oriented’
Related items

Ireland: Making Remote Work – the Government’s National Remote Work Strategy
19 January 2021Siobhra and Audrey explore the Government’s new “Making Remote Work” National Remote Work Strategy which is aimed at ensuring that remote working “is a permanent feature in the Irish workplace that maximises economic, social and environmental benefits”.

Síobhra Rush talks about the government’s plans to promote remote working
18 January 2021Síobhra Rush was on RTÉ TV News talking about the government’s plans to promote remote working during the pandemic.

Ireland: How society will tech it to the next level in 2021: Síobhra Rush comments for The Times
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Ireland: Update on what is considered an essential worker under the latest Level 5 public health restrictions
08 January 2021Under the latest Level 5 restrictions which came into force on 24 December, employees in Ireland must work from home unless they are classified as essential workers and their work cannot be done at home.

Ireland: Vaccination for Covid-19 – can employers require their employees to be vaccinated?
15 December 2020With a vaccination against coronavirus in sight, many employers in Ireland will understandably be eager to have their employees vaccinated in the hope of their workplace returning to some form of normality. This article explores some of the legal issues.

Lewis Silkin Ireland signs up to the Law Society Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Charter
04 December 2020We are delighted to be one of the first signatories of the Law Society Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Charter. By signing the GEDI Charter we have committed to support diversity and inclusion and treat all individuals fairly and equally.

Lewis Silkin Ireland signs up to the Law Society Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Charter
04 December 2020We are delighted to be one of the first signatories of the Law Society Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Charter. By signing the GEDI Charter we have committed to support diversity and inclusion and treat all individuals fairly and equally.

Switching off: Do workers have a 'right to disconnect'? Linda Hynes comments for RTÉ in Ireland
26 November 2020Turning your home environment into an office can make it harder to switch off at the end of the day. Many are finding it impossible to avoid responding to late-night messages. In this article for RTÉ, Linda Hynes comments on whether Ireland needs new legislation for introducing a legal 'right to disconnect' or does the current legislation already provide for this?