Why Choose Us

Alastair began his early career with IBEC where he represented both indigenous and multinational companies in all areas of employment law. He has held senior positions in industry, most notably as HR Director (Manufacturing), with responsibility for Health Safety and Environmental, World Wide, for Analog Devices. He also lectured on strategic HR at the Irish Management Institute and Employment Law in the Law Society. After leaving industry Alastair started his own solicitors practice with the purpose of providing practical advice to employers. Today the practice has offices in Dublin and Galway providing expert advice to employers nationwide.

Alastair acts for clients with various employment claims such as unfair dismissals, equality/discrimination, occupational stress, health and safety, corporate governance, trade disputes, industrial relations and general litigation. Alastair also assists clients with restructuring and redundancy programmes and advises on corporate transactions such as mergers and acquisitions.
Alastair has extensive experience of advising clients across a range of contentious and non-contentious matters with an emphasis on employment litigation, commercial litigation and shareholders’ disputes. Alastair also advises on the law as it relates to, disputes and investigations concerning public and private bodies, judicial review and disputes particularly as they relate to the board and chief executives of companies and contentious issues as they impact on Health and Safety law. Alastair is vastly experienced in dealing with and defending cases where companies and directors are being prosecuted by the Health and Safety Authority for alleged breaches of Health and Safety matters including indictable prosecutions following fatalities on construction sites.

On the advisory side Alastair provides advice to local and multinational companies with a particular focus on high level contentious and board related disputes.

Alastair generally practices in the area of dispute resolution and has been involved in many mediations.

Alastair is widely published in the area of employment law. He published his first book on employment law in 2006 and a second edition of this book titled “Termination of Employment – A Practical Guide for Employers” was completed in 2012. He completed his third book titled “Equality Law in the Workplace” in 2015. He is widely recognised as one Ireland’s leading Practitioners in the area of employment law and HR.

Siobhan McGowan is a Partner with almost 20 years practice experience. Siobhan specialises in Employment Law and represents both employers and employees in a wide range of sectors on all aspects of both contentious and non contentious cases and issues arising in Industrial Relations and Human Resources.

Siobhan offers practical advice to parties on their legal obligations and has considerable experience in dealing with cases for employees and defending complex matters for employers before the Work Place Relations Commission, Labour Court and High Court.

In tandem with employment litigation, Siobhan also acts for clients in Plaintiff litigation to include road traffic accidents claims, workplace accidents, contractual disagreements and several other areas of contentious litigation.

Siobhan is a graduate of the National University of Ireland, Galway. She holds a B.A. (Hons) degree, LLB (Hons) post graduate degree and a diploma in Employment Law from the Law Society of Ireland.

Siobhan also placed 1st in the Law Society of Ireland’s Commercial Law exam.
Siobhan McGowan is a member of both the Law Society of Ireland and is registered to practice in England and Wales.

While dealing with large national and multi national clients as well as acting for individuals, Siobhan McGowan has been successfully involved in several seminal cases, including: 

• Mary Joyce-v-Board of Management of Colaiste Iognaid [2015] IEHC 809
• An employee –v-A Drug Company ADJ-00004808, a claim for penalisation under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, which at the time, resulted in one of the largest awards of the Workplace Relations Commission
• United Parcel Service Of Ireland Ltd v Mr Kevin Roberts EDA2136
• Cope Limited T/a Cope Galway v Ms Leigh Bell UDD2145

Don, a Tipperary native, obtained a BSc (Hons) degree in Environmental Science, and L.L.B (Hons) Degree from NUI Galway. He qualified as a Solicitor in 2010. He also holds a Diploma in both Environmental and Planning Law, and Employment Law.

Don has obtained extensive experience in litigation, dispute resolution and investigations, having practiced in a wide range of areas. He has litigated numerous actions, at all Court levels, including various Tribunals, representing Plaintiffs and Defendants.

Don commenced his career assisting the State Solicitor, in County Galway West, prosecuting cases on behalf of the DPP, various Government departments, the Revenue Commissioners and An Post. Don also litigated a number of complex injury cases for both the Plaintiff and the Defendant.

Thereafter, Don worked in the Private Client Department of one of the country’s largest firms, specialising in the area of Plaintiff litigation. Due to his diversity, and his advocacy skills, he also litigated the firm’s Criminal, Licensing and for a short period their Tusla files.

Since moving back to Galway, Don has specialised in Defence litigation, and Employment Law. Don has advised, and continues to advise a wide variety of Insurers, UK underwriters, self-insured business, involved in the Food Industry, Financial Sector, Construction Industry, Care Industry, Aviation Industry and Bar and Nightclub industry. Don has advised these clients’, in respect of road traffic incidents (including fraudulent claims), employers’ liability, product liability, Health and Safety law, and public liability at all court levels. In particular, Don advises on work place incidents, and bullying claims.

In conjunction with Alastair, and the rest of the AP & Co. team, Don participates in advising employers in respect of all areas of their employee relations. In particular, interactions with employees, from inception right through to Defending an Employment Law action in the WRC or Labour Court, and subsequent Bullying claim or Personal Injury Action in the Circuit or High Court.

Of particular note, Don and the team are actively advising businesses in relation to Data Protection and Protected Disclosures.

Robin Hyde is a Partner at Alastair Purdy LLP and a qualified solicitor since 2020. He advises a diverse client base ranging from multinational corporations to Irish SMEs across sectors including food production, logistics, manufacturing, finance, healthcare, technology, and professional services. His work also includes advising private equity-backed ventures and high-growth companies on employment and commercial legal matters.

Robin leads the firm’s corporate and commercial law practice, with a particular focus on transactional support. He has extensive experience advising on a wide range of M&A, investment, and restructuring deals, particularly across the technology, security, food, manufacturing, and logistics sectors. His role typically includes coordinating and conducting commercial and legal due diligence, as well as drafting and negotiating core transaction documentation such as share purchase agreements, asset transfer agreements, and shareholder agreements. Robin frequently advises on warranty and indemnity protection, transitional arrangements, and employment and data protection risks within corporate transactions.

In the employment sphere, Robin acts for employers and senior executives in both contentious and non-contentious matters. He represents clients before the Workplace Relations Commission, Labour Court, and civil courts in complex workplace disputes and statutory claims. His advisory work spans the full spectrum of Irish employment legislation, including unfair dismissal, protected disclosures, equality, working time, redundancy, TUPE, and health and safety law.

Robin also has deep expertise in workplace data protection compliance, including managing data subject access requests (DSARs), drafting data processing agreements and joint controller arrangements, conducting data protection impact assessments (DPIAs), and advising on the processing of medical and sensitive data in employment contexts.

A regular speaker at seminars and training events, Robin provides bespoke employment law training to HR teams, in-house legal departments, and boards.

Qualifications

• Solicitor, Law Society of Ireland (2020)
• Bachelor of Corporate Law, NUIG (2012–2015)
• Bachelor of Laws, NUIG (2015–2016)
• Certificate in Data Protection, Law Society of Ireland (2021)

Éinde qualified as a solicitor in December 2012 having completed his apprenticeship with Alastair Purdy LLP Solicitors. Éinde worked for two large corporate law firms in Dublin between 2019 and 2024 before returning to Alastair Purdy LLP as a partner in March 2024.

Éinde has acted as a trusted advisor for many leading domestic and international clients in a wide range of sectors. Éinde has significant experience advising both employees and employers on all aspects of contentious and non-contentious employment law and industrial relations matters. Éinde has considerable litigation experience and regularly represents employers and employees on employment claims before the Workplace Relations Commission, Labour Court, High Court and Circuit Court.

Éinde also has significant experience in advising on the employment aspects of mergers and acquisitions, including on the due diligence process, TUPE and on drafting appropriate warranties and indemnities.

Éinde has extensive experience in advising on data protection related issues and health and safety at work. Éinde regularly advises on the conduct of workplace investigations and shareholder disputes.

Éinde regularly speaks at seminars and webinars on employment related topics and he has published a numerous articles on various aspects of employment law.

Gloria joined our team in September 2023. Gloria has a Bachelor of Arts (Law and Political Studies) from the University of Galway followed by a First-Class Honours Master of Laws L.L.M.
Gloria worked a number of months in a Top 5 Dublin Law Firm and gained experience in the area of banking and finance. She has successfully completed the Law Society of Ireland’s entrance examinations and is currently undertaking the Hybrid Professional Practice Course at Blackhall Place.

To date Gloria has been gaining valuable experiences in difference areas such as employment law, dispute resolution, corporate law, and data protection.

Gloria has been involved in a diverse range of projects collaborating closely with the partners and legal staff, aiding with their caseload while also independently managing her own workload. Her experience includes drafting legal submissions, court pleadings, coordinating with Counsel, attending hearings before the WRC, Labour Court, District Court, Circuit Court, and High Court.

Gloria has a particular interest in immigration law, with a strong focus on the area of employment permits system. She is passionate about supporting both employers and employees in navigating the complex legal and regulatory framework surrounding work authorisations in Ireland. She is committed to developing her expertise in this field and intends to specialise in this area following her qualification as a solicitor.

Stephen is originally from County Louth and is a graduate of the University of Galway, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Law and English in 2023, followed by a postgraduate Bachelor of Laws degree in 2024. He joined the firm in June 2024 and is currently undertaking the entrance exams to The Law Society of Ireland. Upon completion, he will commence his solicitor traineeship.

Stephen’s practice to date has been largely concentrated within the firm’s employment department, where he works closely with clients across a broad range of employment law matters. He assists both employers and employees in cases before the WRC, Labour Court, District Court, Circuit Court, and High Court, including the drafting of legal submissions. He supports employers by drafting company policies and employment contracts, ensuring compliance with legal obligations and best practice standards. Stephen also provides legal guidance during internal workplace investigations and has experience acting as part of third-party investigation teams into workplace disputes. His practice includes advising on both contentious and non-contentious employment law issues, contributing to client meetings, and maintaining ongoing correspondence. He regularly contributes articles on emerging employment law trends and developments. In addition, Stephen advises on data protection matters, including assisting clients in making and responding to Data Subject Access Requests.

Alongside his employment law work, Stephen contributes to the firm’s corporate department, supporting a range of commercial matters.

University of Galway (BA Law and English)
University of Galway (LLB)

Caitriona joined the firm’s employment law team in May 2025 having qualified as a solicitor in a corporate law firm in Dublin earlier in the year.

Caitriona has experience working with both Irish and multi-national companies on contentious and non-contentious employment law matters. Caitriona also has a diverse background in dispute resolution and has advised clients on a range of contentious matters before the Workplace Relations Commission, Labour Court, Circuit Court, High Court and Commercial Court.

Caitriona is originally from Belfast and moved to Galway to obtain a Bachelor of Civil Law from the National University of Ireland, Galway and later achieved a first-class honour in International Law and Business from the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School.