Sarah Murphy is a partner and co-Head of A&L Goodbody’s Disputes & Investigations group. Sarah advises leading domestic and international corporate and regulated clients on a wide range of complex and cross-border commercial litigation and arbitral proceedings with particular expertise in corporate disputes, financial services disputes and contentious mass claims, pensions and insurance disputes and product liability. Sarah has extensive experience in handling high profile and large-scale litigation in the Commercial Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court as well as regularly advising clients involved in commercial arbitrations, mediations and negotiations.
Areas of Expertise
Financial Services Litigation/Arbitration - International & Domestic/Pensions Disputes & Investigations/Corporate Crises /Disputes/Investigations
Experience Advising:
- Permanent tsb Plc in advising and assisting with its response to regulators and dealing with litigation arising from a regulatory investigation into mortgage lending
- Element Six in its successful defence of claims in excess of €100 million brought in the Commercial Court in relation to the wind-up of a defined benefit pension scheme
- IBRC (SL) and other financial institutions in the defence of Commercial Court claims relating to allegations of mis-selling of investments, derivatives and other financial instruments
- AIB in defending Commercial Court litigation against defaulting borrowers
- Irish retail banks and investment services firms in the defence of complaints made to the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO)
- Tesco in defending Commercial Court proceedings in relation to a breach of contract dispute
- Motor vehicle company in advising on a range of alleged defective product and personal injury claims
Market Recommendations
'Next Generation Partner' (Legal 500 2022-2025)
'European Litigator of the Year' (Women in Business Law Awards 2024)
‘Sarah Murphy is very knowledgeable, responsive and well attuned to her clients' needs and the wider environment in which they operate. She is really one of the preeminent litigators for FSR disputes.’ (Chambers 2025)
'An exceptional leader and mentor' (Legal 500 2023)
Professional activities
Sarah is a CEDR Accredited Mediator and has a professional diploma qualification in arbitration.
Sarah is a director of the Incorporated Council of Law Reporting for Ireland.
Sarah is a member of the Steering Committee for Dublin International Disputes Week, and a committee member of the Irish Commercial Mediation Association.
Education
- Professional Diploma, Arbitration, University College Dublin, 2015
- Solicitor, Law Society of Ireland, 2010
- Solicitor, England & Wales, 2010
- CEDR Accredited Mediator, 2009
- Diploma, Commercial Litigation, Law Society of Ireland, 2009
- BCL, University College Dublin, 2005
Sarah Murphy
Partner,
Disputes & Investigations
Dublin