Meet the Team
Ciarán Mulholland | Principal Solicitor
LL.B (Hons), LL.M (Hons), PG Dip. (Law)
Biography
Ciarán Mulholland was educated at St Mary’s Christian Brothers’ Grammar School in Belfast and read law with Irish Language at Magee College of the Ulster University, graduating with Honours in 2008.
He obtained a Masters of Laws from Queens University, Belfast in 2010 focusing on Human Rights and Criminal Justice and later completed his solicitor’s vocational training course at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies (QUB), successfully graduating with a Post-Graduate Diploma in Professional Legal Studies in 2012.
Ciarán has worked with some of the UK and Ireland’s most prestigious Human Rights practices to include a Chambers and Partners ‘Ranked Number 1’ law firm. Our Principal is dual-qualified and has been called to the Roll of Solicitors in both jurisdictions on the Island of Ireland. Ciarán has extensive experience in Criminal Defence, Civil Litigation, Extradition and Regulatory matters. He frequently represents clients at Police Stations and headed up the superior courts and trial section of a leading Dublin city law firm as a partner for several years before embarking on his pursuit of Mulholland Law, recognising a gap in the legal market for a fresh outward-looking practice.
Ciarán was one of the first Irish solicitors to participate in the ‘SUPRALAT Project’, dealing with strengthening suspects rights in Garda interviews, delivered by the Law Society of Ireland in conjunction with Maastricht’s University. He has continued with his professional development and has acquired further qualifications with a Professional Certificate in Data Protection Practice and a Certificate in Mediation.
Ciarán has assisted the Law Society of Ireland to integrate regulatory crime into their criminal litigation Professional Practice Course (PPC) for apprentice Solicitors and continues to serve the Law Society as a Tutor. Ciarán has published several academic articles dealing with miscarriages of justice, police use of force and draconian legislation dealing with the covert interception of citizens data.
Our Principal is one of the few Irish lawyers to hold membership of the prestigious European Criminal Bar Association and the European Fraud and Compliance Lawyers. Ciarán has had the great privileged of representing Clients’ before the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg and the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg which ultimately contributed to his nomination for Criminal Lawyer of the Year at the Annual Irish Law Awards and more recently winner of the LAWYER Monthly Legal Awards 2022 in the Category of Human Rights (Ireland).
Away from the office Ciarán, being a Gaeilgeoir, is an Irish language advocate and a GAA enthusiast.
Michelle Lynch | Office Manager
NVQ, P. Dip., Dip. (ICT)
Biography
Michelle Lynch is a native of Dundalk Co. Louth.
Michelle was educated at St Mary’s College in Dundalk town and is a graduate of the Belfast Metropolitan College having successfully completed her National Vocational Qualification, a diploma in Travel Commerce and Services in 2000. Michelle was also awarded a third level qualification in Web Design having studied with the O’Fiach Institute of Further Education, Dundalk, in 2012 .
Michelle has extensive experience spanning 10 years in the commercial service industry, ranging from administrative support at the Dundalk Chamber of Commerce, customer service agent at eBay and most recently a financial collections consultant with PayPal.
In 2020 Michelle joined Mulholland Law as a legal assistant to the principal and has considerably assisted with the growth and expansion of the firm. In 2022 Michelle was elevated to office manager and now oversees the daily administration of the practice. Michelle is held in high esteem by her colleagues in the legal profession, but is also much respected and admired by our clientele given her eagerness to assist. This strong work positive work ethic contributed to Michelle being nominated and winning the Dundalk Chamber of Commerce ‘Employee of the Year’ Award at the 2022 formal gala.
Leon Hughes | Financial Controller
N. Dip
Biography
Leon is originally from the County Tyrone village of Coalisland where she attended St. Joseph’s College. Leon graduated with a National Diploma in Computer Software and Programme Engineering from the Belfast Metropolitan College in 1995.
Leon has extensive experience in the management and financial running of businesses, having initially held the role of office and production manager of a high profile multinational distribution company.
Leon is an experienced practitioner in legal book-keeping with over 20 year’s experience in this field. She has completed multiple courses accredited by the Law Society in Northern Ireland to esnure book-keeping and money laundering compliance.
Leon joined Mulholland Law in 2020 and has been a dedicated and invaluable part of the team since.
Fiona Rafferty | Business Administrator
P. Cert.
Biography
Fiona was educated at St. Louis Secondary School Carrickmacross and Dundalk Institute of Technology where she gained her certificate in Graphic Design in 2012.
She is a Certified Adobe Expert and a holds a Professional Certificates in Data Analytics for business and Digital Marketing. Fiona has almost 10 years experience in Marketing, Graphic Design and Printing.
Clodagh Roe | Legal Executive
BCL (Hons)
Biography
Clodagh attended St. Vincent’s Secondary School in Dundalk, Co.Louth.
Clodagh read law at Maynooth University in County Kildare and graduated with a Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL Hons) degree in 2021. During her undergraduate studies Clodagh predominately focused on criminology and social justice matters, areas in which she has a keen interest.
Having successfully complete her academical grounding in Law, Clodagh relocated for a period to Sweden where she worked as an intern and researcher with a prestigious commercial law firm in Helsingborg. Clodagh had responsibility for researching the impact of EU Regulation No. 1215/2012 on the jurisdiction and carrying out the relevant due diligence for business clients. This particular EU Regulation dealt with the enforcement of cross-border judgments and this invaluable experience assists with our very own Brexit consultancy services.
Clodagh returned to Ireland and in recent years worked as a legal assistant to the principal solicitor of a busy solicitors practice in Drogheda where she focused on the preparation of criminal trials and matrimonial hearings. Clodagh joined Mulholland Law in 2023 and is assisting the office manager with civil and criminal litigation matters.
Clodagh has a flare for fitness and is a member of her local GAA club. She has also competed in several runs for charities.
Emmet Duffy | Military & Aviation Consultant
BA (Hons), PG Dip., Dip. (HR)
Biography
Emmet received his formal education at St. Marys’ Christian Brothers’ Grammar School in Belfast where he progressed to the Cadet School at the Military College of the Irish Defence Force (DFHQ), successfully passing out as an officer and commissioned a lieutenant within the Irish Air Corp in 2005.
In 2006 Emmet graduated from Maynooth University with a Bachelors of Arts in Leadership, Management and Defence Studies followed by a further honours degree with the National College of Ireland in Human Resource Management in 2010.
For several years within the Air Corp Emmet held the position of Data Protection Manager which involved direct responsibility for the Air Corps Data Management Team thus ensuring the accurate creation, storage and management of all records pertaining to Air Corps personnel and sensitive information in line with Military Regulation, Freedom of Information Act and Data Protection Acts, to include GDPR.
Emmet served with distinction for the United Nations in Syria (UNDOF) as a Military Police Captain in 2018 having been promoted through the commissioned officer ranks of Óglaigh na hÉireann. During this overseas tour Emmet reported directly to the mission’s Chief of Staff for all military police operations within the designated area while also dealing with matters of a highly confidential manner for 1100 serving personnel in a highly volatile environment. This role also tasked Emmett with overseeing the secure movement of a high priority convoy from Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, through Lebanon to Syria during a time of intense political pressure which necessitated a high level of negotiating ability.
Emmet has always strived to be best he can be in each role he serves and has continuously improved his own academic experience with further qualifications, having successfully completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Adult Guidance Counselling with Dublin City University in 2017 and a Diploma in Learning and Development with the University of Galway in 2020.
Since leaving the Defence Forces in 2019, Emmet has continued to work in the area of Human Resources in a leadership capacity across a number of industries including Aviation, Logistics and Healthcare. Emmet now assists with Mulholland Law’s expansion; bringing his vast experience to our Brexit, Data Protection and Aviation consultancy services. Emmet has also proven invaluable with the advice and guidance he offers for serving and retired members of the Defence Forces, whether that be for Tribunal hearings or personal injury related matters.
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Mulholland Law solicitors are a vibrant boutique litigation law firm offering progressive and robust legal representation to those we serve. We provide leading and diverse experience with an innovative approach ensuring optimal results.