Email Michael | Download Michael's vCard | LinkedIn

Michael trained with LK Shields Solicitors, qualifying in 1996, and was made a Partner in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department in May 1999. Michael has served on the Litigation Committee of the Law Society of Ireland since 2003 and is the current Chairman of the Litigation Committee. He has extensive experience in all aspects of litigation and dispute resolution, in particular, commercial disputes; contract disputes; insurance law; property disputes; professional negligence claims – defending and bringing claims against – solicitors, architects and engineers; intellectual property related disputes; disputes relating to banking and financial services and products; and disputes involving commercial agents. Michael has acted in a number of matters before the Commercial Court. He is also Head of the Employment, Pensions and Employee Benefits Unit in LK Shields Solicitors and has acted in many employment-related disputes including disputes involving high level executives and pension and employee benefit related disputes. Michael has acted for a number of financial institutions in proceedings with customers, officers and professional advisers. Michael has been consistently recommended for his employment and litigation skills by leading publications.

• Commercial Litigation
• Employment
• Professional Negligence
• Banking and Financial Services Litigation
• Insurance Law
• Intellectual Property and Technology
  

• "Michael Kavanagh is very highly regarded by clients, who hail him
  as 'an outstanding litigator.'" Recommended for dispute resolution.
  Chambers Global 2011.
  
  
• “He is pragmatic and commercial, and you can rely on him to get results.”
  It is also noted that he "is particularly skilled when it comes to representing companies in cases involving senior executives". Recommended for
  employment and dispute resolution. Chambers Europe 2011.
  
  
• Michael Kavanagh is "pragmatic" and "widely recommended".
  The Legal 500, 2011 edition.
  
  
• Highly recommended for employment and intellectual property in
  Legal Experts Europe, Middle East & Africa 2011.
  
  
• Recommended in The International Who's Who of Management Labour & Employment Lawyers 2010 and The International Who's Who of Business
  Lawyers 2011.
  
  
• Recommended for employment in PLC's Labour and Employee Benefits: Which Lawyer? 2010 edition.
  
  
• Described as "extremely pragmatic" in Chambers Global 2010 where he is recommended for dispute resolution.
  
  
• “An experienced and commercial litigator” states Chambers Europe 2010 where he is recommended for dispute resolution and employment.
  
  
• A "good team player". The Legal 500, 2010 edition.
  
  
• Selected for inclusion in the second edition [2010] of the Best Lawyers® list for Ireland in the practice areas of Arbitration and Mediation and Litigation.
  
  
• Highly recommended for employment and intellectual property in
  European Legal Experts 2010.
  
  
• "Clients praise him as 'pragmatic and approachable'" notes Chambers Global 2009, where he is recommended for dispute resolution.
  
  
• "A litigator with a strong focus on employment issues; he has sound legal knowledge and a pragmatic approach." Chambers Europe 2009.
  
  
• Recommended for employment and dispute resolution in Chambers Europe 2009.
  
  
• Recommended for employment by PLC Which Lawyer? Yearbook in 2009.
  
  
• Highly recommended for intellectual property in The Legal 500, 2009 edition.
  
  
• Highly recommended for employment and intellectual property in
  European Legal Experts 2009.
  
  
• Listed as a leading dispute lawyer in Ireland in The 2009 Best Lawyers® Annual Guide to Litigation & ADR.
  
  
• Recommended in The International Who's Who of Management Labour & Employment Lawyers 2009 and The International Who's Who of Business
  Lawyers 2009.
  
  
• Highly recommended for employment and intellectual property in
  European Legal Experts 2008.
  
  
• Recommended for employment by PLC Which Lawyer? Yearbook in 2008.
  
  
• Michael "has very good judgement and can break a matter down so it is
  easily understood". He also "does a fantastic job on sensitive issues", states
  Chambers Global 2008 and Chambers Europe 2008, where he is recommended
  for dispute resolution.
  
  
• Recommended for employment in Chambers Europe 2008, where Michael is
  described as "commercial and responsive" and "was praised for his ability to
  handle sensitive issues".
  
  
• Recommended for intellectual property in Chambers Europe 2008, where it also states that "he does a fantastic job" and that he has been "commended for his
  skill at handling IP disputes".
  
  
• Selected for inclusion in the inaugural Best Lawyers® list for Ireland in the
  specialty of litigation, 2008.
  
  
• A "respected name" and recommended for dispute resolution, according
  to Chambers Global 2007.
  
  
• Described as "a good strategic thinker" in The Legal 500, 2007 edition.
  
  
• Michael is "highly regarded" for insurance law according to The Legal 500,
  2007 edition.
  
  
• Recommended by Chambers Global 2006 for dispute resolution.

• Admitted as a Solicitor in Ireland, 1996
• LL.B., University College Galway,1993
• B.A., University College Galway, 1991