Dermot McClean

Dermot McClean is a Partner in the Litigation & Dispute Resolution Team.

He advises on a wide variety of disputes, with a particular focus and specialist expertise in corporate restructuring work. Dermot has acted for many parties involved in high-profile corporate restructuring cases including the recent liquidations of Roadbridge Limited and PFS Card Services Ireland (Limited).

He has extensive experience in defamation actions, boundary disputes, insurance disputes, claims involving estates and professional negligence litigation. In addition, he also advises on the Small Company Administrative Rescue Process ("SCARP").

Dermot acts for a varied array of clients including both commercial and private clients, banks, financial institutions, liquidators, examiners and administrators of estates.

Key Areas of Expertise

Litigation & Dispute Resolution Restructuring & Insolvency

Acting for a former Director of a prominent Irish bank in an Inquiry under the Central Bank Act.
Acting for a number of process advisers in successful SCARPs ("Small Company Administrative Rescue Process".)
Acting for a number of unsecured creditors of Roadbridge Limited in petitioning the High Court to have Andrew O’Leary of Interpath Advisory appointed as liquidator of the company, which was already in receivership.
Acting for David Van Dessel, liquidator of Murray Walsh Limited in securing a restriction order against the directors of the company formerly behind the well-known O’Connell Street pub, Murrays.
Acting for a 50% shareholder in Thomas Laurance Management Limited in securing a Mareva injunction from the High Court (freezing order) against the other 50% shareholder, after that shareholder transferred a significant amount of company funds to his personal account.
Advising in a liquidation of a company, funded by the Revenue Commissioners, where substantial sums of money were recovered following the transfer of assets and debtors from an Irish company to a UK based company. The case resulted in one of the largest recoveries of unpaid taxes in recent years as a result of proceedings being taken personally against the directors and professional negligence proceedings brought against the auditors of the company.
Acting for St Mary’s Centre (Telford) in relation to applying to the High Court for the appointment of Provisional Liquidators and subsequently acting for the Company in relation to a winding up petition and examinership petition which were heard together.
Acting for Maximum Media Network Limited, in relation to its examinership and the appointment of an examiner over its media business.
Acting for individuals in plaintiff professional negligence cases against Solicitors, Accountants, Architects and Surveyors.
Acting for individuals in a variety of Plaintiff defamation actions including cases against Independent Newspapers, the Irish Mail on Sunday and Facebook.
Acting for Financial Institutions and Venture Capitalist Funds in Judgment proceedings, enforcement actions, appointment of receivers and defence litigation.
Acting in contentious probate disputes on behalf of both the Executors of Estates and beneficiaries, including actions under S.117 of the Succession Act, 1965 and S.194 of the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010.

What Our Clients Say

“Enthusiastic. Driven. Knowledgeable. Intuitive.”

IFLR1000, 2023

"Michael Lavelle has seen it all. Sees the wood from the trees. Advice is always bang on the money. Dermot McClean is hugely able. Always across the detail, but very practical".

Legal 500, 2025

"The Restructuring & Insolvency team have decades of experience in the area. On the ground knowledge. Extremely practical. Able to see the wood from the trees."