Michael Doyle is a partner and Head of A&L Goodbody's Employment Law group. He advises domestic and international employers across a wide range of sectors on all aspects of contentious and non-contentious employment law and industrial relations matters. He provides employers with prompt and pragmatic advice on compliance with their legal obligations, the conduct of internal HR processes and the termination of employment.
Michael has considerable experience of defending employers in complex employment litigation before the WRC, Labour Court and High Court. He also regularly advises employers on business protection related matters, including the enforcement of restrictive covenants.
He has particular expertise in advising on the employment aspects of corporate transactions and has led the employment workstreams on some of the most material transactions in the Irish market in recent years involving PLCs, private companies and PE funds. Michael also has significant experience advising on, and project managing, material post-acquisition benefit change programmes, workforce harmonisations and senior management restructurings.
Michael is known for his strategic thinking, solutions focussed advice and client service delivery.
Areas of Expertise
Pensions and Incentives/Employment/Privacy & Data Security/Health & Safety/Corporate and M&A/Disputes/Investigations/Corporate Immigration
Experience Advising:
- A multinational employer in the successful defence of the first right to request remote working claim under the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023
- An insurer on its response to a team move which culminated in the institution of High Court proceedings against a number of former employees
- A Bank on the employment aspects of its acquisition of Ireland’s largest stockbroker
- One of the world’s largest PE firms on its acquisition of a pharmaceutical business
- Multinational tech companies on the Irish aspects of global headcount restructuring exercises
- A number of pharmaceutical companies, manufacturing companies and construction/building materials companies on day-to-day employment issues including the conduct of HR processes, termination of employment and defence of employment related litigation before the WRC and Labour Court
Market Recommendations
"My key contact is Michael Doyle - I would describe him as a long term and trusted partner to me and my team. He is exceptionally commercial and solutions focused and gets to the nub of our challenges quickly. He is always impressive with senior leaders in our business and his counsel is always valued." (Legal 500 2025)
"Michael is an excellent lawyer. He is personable, collaborative, highly knowledgeable and adept with clients." (Chambers Europe 2025)
"Michael provides an excellent client service, he demonstrates an extensive knowledge of employment law and he provides pragmatic and expert advice promptly." (Chambers Europe 2024)
"Michael is incredibly responsive and brings a commercial lens to all of the people issues we have managed with him." (Chambers Europe 2022)
Professional activities
Michael is a member of the Employment Law Association of Ireland, the Employment Lawyers Association (UK) and the European Employment Lawyers Association. Michael is also an active member of the Law Society of Ireland’s Employment and Equality Law Committee.
Education
- Solicitor, Law Society of Ireland
- BBLS, University College Dublin
- Postgraduate Diploma in Finance Law, Law Society of Ireland
- Postgraduate Diploma in Employment Law, University College Dublin
Michael Doyle
Partner,
Employment
Dublin