Our Practice Areas

Commercial Transactions

Advising businesses on the deals that define their future.

Commercial transactions are among the most consequential decisions a business will make. Whether you are acquiring a company, disposing of assets, entering a joint venture, or negotiating a complex commercial agreement, the quality of your legal advice shapes the outcome.

At Shields Solicitors, we advise owner-managed businesses, family enterprises, and private investors on the full range of commercial transactions. We bring careful due diligence, clear drafting, and a commercial understanding that goes beyond the purely legal.

We work closely with our clients throughout the transaction process — from initial heads of terms through to completion — ensuring that every agreement reflects their interests and that every risk is understood before it is accepted.

Succession Planning

Ensuring your legacy passes to the right hands, in the right way.

Succession planning is not simply about writing a will. It is about understanding your family, your business, and your wishes — and putting in place a structure that will endure long after the decisions are made.

We advise families and business owners on the orderly transfer of wealth, property, and enterprise to the next generation. Our approach is thorough, personal, and built around your specific circumstances — not a standard template.

We take the time to understand the full picture: family dynamics, business structures, tax implications, and long-term objectives. The result is a succession plan that is robust, tax-efficient, and aligned with your intentions.

Wealth Transfer

Protecting what you have built, for those who come after.

The transfer of accumulated wealth — whether business assets, property, investments, or a combination — demands careful planning, specialist tax knowledge, and a clear understanding of family objectives.

We advise clients on the most effective structures for transferring wealth to the next generation, minimising tax exposure while ensuring that assets pass in accordance with their wishes. Our advice integrates legal and tax considerations from the outset.

We work with clients over the long term — reviewing and updating structures as circumstances change, and ensuring that the plan remains fit for purpose as families and businesses evolve.

Agricultural Law

Specialist advice for those who work the land.

Agricultural law requires a particular depth of understanding — of land, of farming families, and of the unique legal and financial pressures that come with managing land across generations. It is a specialism, not an add-on.

We advise farming families, landowners, and rural businesses on the full range of agricultural legal matters. From land transactions and tenancy agreements to farm partnership structures and planning issues, we bring specialist knowledge and genuine experience of the agricultural sector.

We understand that land is not simply an asset — it is a livelihood, a heritage, and a responsibility. Our advice reflects that understanding.

Commercial Litigation

Resolute representation when disputes demand it.

Commercial disputes can arise without warning and escalate quickly. When they do, you need a solicitor who combines a thorough understanding of the law with the judgment to know when to negotiate, when to mediate, and when to fight.

We represent businesses, landowners, and private clients in a wide range of commercial disputes — from contract disagreements and partnership breakdowns to property conflicts and debt recovery. Our approach is strategic from the outset: we assess the merits clearly, advise honestly, and pursue the outcome that best serves your interests.

We are experienced in both negotiated resolution and court proceedings, and we will guide you through every stage of the process with clarity and purpose. Where litigation is necessary, we pursue it with rigour. Where a commercial settlement is the better outcome, we will tell you so.

Commercial Conveyancing

Expert guidance through every commercial property transaction.

Commercial property transactions are complex, high-value, and time-sensitive. Whether you are acquiring business premises, disposing of a commercial investment, or negotiating a commercial lease, the quality of your legal advice determines the outcome.

Vincent Shields leads our commercial conveyancing practice, advising businesses, investors, and developers on the full range of commercial property transactions. We carry out thorough due diligence, identify title issues early, and ensure that every transaction is structured to protect your interests.

We act for buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants across all sectors — from retail and office premises to industrial units and development land. Our approach is practical and commercial: we move transactions forward efficiently while ensuring that nothing is overlooked.

Residential Conveyancing

Clear, careful guidance through every step of your property transaction.

Buying or selling a home is one of the most significant transactions most people will ever undertake. Our residential conveyancing team combines legal precision with a personal approach, ensuring that your transaction proceeds smoothly and that you are fully informed at every stage.

Brendan Hyland and Remmie Feehan lead our residential conveyancing practice, bringing together expertise in property law and estate planning to provide a comprehensive service for buyers, sellers, and those transferring property within families. We handle everything from first-time purchases to complex title issues and probate-related property transfers.

We understand that property transactions can be stressful. Our team communicates clearly, moves matters forward without unnecessary delay, and ensures that you understand exactly what you are signing before you sign it. Where a transaction involves estate planning or succession considerations, Remmie's expertise in probate and wills means we can advise on the full picture in one place.

Dispute Resolution & Mediation

Resolving disputes with skill, discretion, and purpose.

Not every dispute needs to end in court. Mediation and structured negotiation can resolve even the most entrenched commercial and family disputes more quickly, more privately, and at significantly less cost than litigation — while preserving relationships that matter.

Vincent Shields leads our dispute resolution and mediation practice, bringing the authority and experience of a principal solicitor to even the most complex and sensitive disputes. Vincent's focus is always on getting the deal done — finding the workable resolution that protects his client's interests without the cost, delay, and uncertainty of contested litigation. Whether the matter involves business partners, commercial counterparties, or family members, his measured and strategic approach is built around achieving durable, practical outcomes.

Brendan Hyland supports Vincent across commercial and employment dispute resolution matters, drawing on his extensive litigation experience to assess risk, advise on strategy, and represent clients in structured negotiation and mediation processes. Remmie Feehan brings her expertise in probate and estate planning to inter-family and inheritance disputes, ensuring that matters involving wills, succession, or estate administration are handled with both legal precision and personal sensitivity.

Our Barrack Street, Cahir office is purpose-built to facilitate dispute resolution. We provide dedicated meeting rooms for joint sessions, private breakout rooms so each party can consult confidentially with their legal team throughout the process, and a fully equipped canteen with barista coffee facilities. This environment is designed to keep all parties comfortable, focused, and productive — giving every mediation the best possible conditions to reach agreement. Full-day and half-day sessions are accommodated.

Personal Injury

Standing with you when it matters most.

A serious injury changes everything. When you or a family member has been hurt through no fault of your own, you deserve clear advice, honest guidance, and a solicitor who will pursue the compensation you are entitled to — without delay and without compromise.

Brendan Hyland leads our personal injury practice, bringing direct experience of claims arising from road traffic accidents, workplace incidents, public liability, and medical negligence. He advises clients from the outset — assessing the merits of a claim, gathering evidence, and managing the process so that you can focus on your recovery.

We deal with insurers, defendants, and the Personal Injuries Assessment Board on your behalf. Where a fair settlement cannot be reached, we are fully prepared to bring your case before the courts. Our approach is straightforward: we tell you what your claim is worth, and we pursue it.

Employment Litigation

Protecting your rights in the workplace.

Employment disputes — whether you are an employee facing unfair treatment or an employer defending a claim — require swift, clear-headed advice and a solicitor who understands both the law and the practical realities of the workplace.

Brendan Hyland leads our employment litigation practice, advising employees and employers on the full range of workplace disputes. From unfair dismissal and constructive dismissal claims to discrimination, wrongful termination, and breach of contract, we provide direct, honest advice on the strength of your position and the best path forward.

We represent clients before the Workplace Relations Commission, the Labour Court, and the civil courts. Our approach is pragmatic: we assess your case honestly, pursue the most effective route to resolution, and keep you informed at every stage.