40 Under 40: a spotlight on the commercial law sector's young talent
Business Plus has selected 40 brilliant young minds in the commercial law industry as part of the 40 Under 40 series
Jennifer Darcy - partner, dispute resolution and litigation, Philip Lee
Jennifer Darcy is a partner in the dispute resolution and litigation department with Philip Lee.
Darcy specialises in advising on a broad range of contentious matters, with a particular focus on banking and corporate disputes, civil fraud and insolvency matters before the High Court, Commercial Court and Court of Appeal.
She brings a wealth of experience and expertise in complex litigation matters and dispute resolution and has acted in many large-scale, multi-jurisdictional disputes.
Prior to joining Philip Lee, Darcy gained invaluable international experience having previously worked in a US firm in London where she represented a global investment bank in relation to a multi-jurisdictional regulatory investigation of the foreign exchange trading market.
Jennifer Darcy, partner at Hayes Solicitors.
Hobbies: Pilates, travelling, reading and live music
Best piece of advice ever received: Education is no weight to carry, from my dad. This refers to education in the traditional and non-traditional sense and has become an important lesson in navigating an ever-changing legal profession.
Why you love your job: No two cases are the same, which means that different skills and strategy need to be adapted and employed depending on the facts at hand. I enjoy that my day could consist of a mix of advisory and contentious work in both Commercial Litigation and Insolvency and that both traditional court processes and ADR are used equally. I have been lucky so far to have been involved in some novel Commercial Court hearings, Appeals, and successful mediations and settlements.
Motto for life: Small steps exert great change.
Hugo Grattirola - partner, corporate and commercial, Philip Lee
Hugo Grattirola is a partner in the corporate/commercial and the data, privacy and technology teams at Philip Lee LLP.
He is involved in a significant number of advisory and transactional matters in which he provides assistance on a broad range of Irish and French law matters.
Grattirola is a fully qualified lawyer both in France and Ireland. He is one of the few lawyers in Ireland with a dual French and Irish qualification. He is therefore fully conversant with both legal systems.
He is a member of the firm’s French Desk and works with French speaking clients looking to set up in Ireland, and he is actively involved in the Franco-Irish community in Ireland. He is also a member of the France Ireland Chamber of Commerce in Dublin.
In 2024, Grattirola was appointed by the French government as a French Foreign Trade Advisor. He is the only lawyer on the committee in Ireland and will work with a team of senior managers, business leaders and entrepreneurs.
Hugo Grattirola, partner at Philip Lee.
Hobbies: Hiking, rugby, boxing and reading.
Best piece of advice received: To move to Ireland and qualify as a solicitor.
Why they love their job: Every day is different and you always get to learn new things.
Their motto for life: Hard work, humility and humour.
Nikita Kelly - employment solicitor, Lavelle Partners
Nikita Kelly is a solicitor in the employment team at Lavelle Partners LLP, where she advises on all aspects of employment law, covering both disputes and day-to-day employment matters.
She studied law at the University of Galway before joining the firm in 2016, gaining valuable experience working across Lavelle Partners’ employment, litigation & dispute resolution and corporate & commercial teams, before qualifying as a solicitor in 2020.
Kelly supports employers and employees at all stages of the employment relationship, offering clear and practical advice.
She works with both commercial and private clients, helping draft, review and negotiate contracts of employment and severance agreements, as well as assisting with workplace policies and procedures.
Kelly advises on bullying and harassment, grievances, discrimination, disciplinary matters, investigations, redundancies and whistleblowing and protected disclosures.
She represents clients before the Workplace Relations Commission and the Civil Courts across a broad range of employment matters.
Kelly is adept at advising clients in mediation, helping to resolve complex workplace disputes in a constructive way and has a strong background in handling contractual claims and risk management.
Apart from her legal know-how, it is her utmost professionalism, exceptional commitment and empathetic client-centric approach that sets Kelly apart.
Clients praise Kelly for her “attention to detail, strategic approach, and clear, concise communication skills” describing her as “compassionate and dedicated”, “incredibly approachable”, and “with a strong working knowledge of Employment law”.
One grateful client noted that “Nikita’s professionalism, thoroughness, lucidity, candidness and trustworthiness were truly remarkable”.
Kelly also provides employment law advice and support on a range of Corporate & Commercial transactions.
Nikita Kelly, employment solicitor at Lavelle Partners.
Hobbies: To switch off, I enjoy going hiking. One of my favourite places to hike is Ravensdale Forest in Co. Louth. I live very close to it, and the views are outstanding. When I’m not outdoors, I also enjoy baking.
Best piece of advice ever received: “There is no such thing as a silly question”. This is something that was said to me during my training contract that stuck with me. Asking questions is a fundamental part of learning and understanding, curiosity should be encouraged rather than judged.
Why you love your job: People spend a large part of their day at work, so it’s natural for them to become deeply invested in what they do. I enjoy meeting new clients, understanding their jobs, and helping them navigate workplace challenges, whether it’s handling an unexpected job change or resolving a difficult situation at work.
Motto for life: "You get out what you put in”.
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