Our Story
Your Trusted
Legal
Advisors
Experienced across all aspects of law, Orbitus Law LLP is the legal engine of the Orbitus group. Our blue-chip legal professionals believe that open engagement with our clients is key to fostering positive long-term professional relationships. With our priority always delivering on our clients’ expectations, Orbitus Law LLP prides itself on having a clear understanding of our client’s legal needs and addressing those needs on a constant basis, supported by upto- date digital technology. Orbitus Law LLP works collaboratively with its colleagues in Orbitus Tax and Orbitus Finance, when required, to help provide clients with a deeper pool of internal resources and expertise, that is more efficient and cost beneficial both in terms of process and outcome for the client.
Our Law Services
Commercial Law
Commercial/Business Law including Corporate, Shareholder, Partnership, Mergers & Acquisitions
Litigation
Litigation, Debt Recovery & High Court/Commercial Court actions for Clients as both Defendants/Plaintiffs
Private Client
Private Legal Services including Estate & Succession planning as part of a full-service office for Private Clients.
Our Law Experts
Your Industry
Leading Professionals
Our legal professionals here at Orbitus Law LLP are a talented group of law experts whose years of professional experience across a range of disciplines allow them to give the most wellinformed guidance and support possible to our clients.
Jennifer Downing
Managing Partner, Head of Property
Jennifer is the Managing Partner of Orbitus Law LLP and head of our Commercial Property Department. She has over 15 years experience advising a wide range of commercial clients in all aspects of sale, leasing, financing, development and tax-efficient property structures. Jennifer acts for a large number of clients in residential and commercial developments on all aspects of property life cycle matters taking a development from site acquisition to development to onward sale or leasing. Jennifer prioritises responsive, efficient and client-driven engagement to manage every aspect of the legal process for her clients. A graduate of the University of Limerick, Jennifer trained as a solicitor in A & L Goodbody Solicitors and qualified in 2007. She holds diplomas in Commercial Property and Trust and Estate Planning and has practised in Cork (and now Kerry) in commercial property and private client since qualification.Jennifer's Recent Work
Acquisition, letting and forward funding of €12 million multi-unit commercial development in Cork City Centre. Sale of IFSC multi-tenanted development for €15 million+. Site acquisition, financing, development and sale of 27-unit residential development in Killarney, Co. Kerry. Hotel acquisition through equity and subsequent refinance of a hotel in Lahinch, Co. Clare.
Jennifer Downing
Managing Partner, Head of Property
A native of Kenmare, Jennifer’s love for all things Kerry (and secretly Cork) is abundantly clear to all. The establishment of Orbitus as a cross-border Cork/Kerry enterprise may go down as Jennifer’s greatest achievement after her kids of course. When not spending her time in her car wishing for the opening of either the Macroom or Farranfore bypasses, Jennifer can be found on the sidelines cheering on her beloved Kenmare Shamrocks or supporting any of the other many teams to which her children have pledged her “spare” time.Darren Fitzgerald
Partner, Head of Private Clients
Darren is Head of Private Client in Orbitus Law LLP and advises on commercial and residential property matters as well as probate and family law. With over 15 years of legal experience, Darren prides himself on delivering professional, practical and concise advice on a relatable level to all Orbitus Law LLP clients. Darren’s goal is to represent all Orbitus Law LLP clients with unwavering professionalism and commitment and strives to deliver first-class service in every matter undertaken.A proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, Darren believes in ensuring equality for all in the workplace and sits on the Work With Pride committee as their legal advisor.
Darren’s Recent Work
Acting for a reputable developer in one of the most prestigious developments in Cork City.
Completion of a transaction with Cork County Council on behalf of a private client with regards to the new Macroom/Killarney bypass.
Keynote speaker at the Work With Pride event held in Cork City Hall in association with Cork Pride Week.
Darren Fitzgerald
Partner, Head of Private Clients
Being a dog-dad to his Maltese puppy Hugo, a typical workday in Orbitus is nothing in comparison to trying to appease Hugo and his daily demands. Darren loves to play tennis at a level in his head to the talent of Wimbledon finalists but in reality, is more akin to intermediate on a local level but alas, a glass of wine or two helps him cope with this stark reality. When not playing tennis and acceding to Hugo’s puppy dog eyes, Darren loves to catch up on all matters Star Trek, a fact he will deny if you ask him! Live long and prosper!Louise Lonergan
Partner, Head of Litigation
Louise is Head of Litigation and Dispute Resolution in Orbitus Law LLP where she advises on all aspects of commercial litigation, with a particular focus on areas of contractual disputes and financial services litigation. Qualifying as a barrister, and chartered tax advisor prior to qualifying as a solicitor, Louise’s invaluable experience and knowledge in these three fields allows Louise to deliver clear, pragmatic and commercial advice to clients so that they can achieve the best commercial outcome.Louise manages the prosecution and defence of proceedings across all levels of the Irish Court system, including the Commercial List and has extensive experience in alternative dispute resolution procedures. Louise also has a great interest in employment law and advises commercial clients and their HR departments on all aspects of employment law which can arise on a daily basis.
Louise’s Recent Work
Defence of Commercial Court action in respect of a shareholder dispute.
Prosecution of Commercial Court action seeking reinstatement of an insurance policy.
Defence of High Court Petition to wind up a company.
Defence of High Court actions in respect of Directors Restrictions and Disqualification. applications pursuant to the Companies Act 2014, and subsequent Court of Appeal.
Representing clients in summary actions in the High Court.
Appeal of High Court summary actions to the Court of Appeal.
Management of High Court and Commercial Court actions with strict deadlines/direction.
Defence of Employment Cases before the Workplace Relations Committee.
Louise Lonergan
Partner, Head of Litigation
When Louise is not problem-solving, she can be seen driving her Mini Bradley Cooper around the streets of Cork searching for the newest piece of furniture for her house. With a keen eye for design, Louise is like a rolodex of information knowing whom to follow and where to go to get the latest design trend (but she doesn’t follow trends). In keeping her house beautiful, Louise also loves to potter around her garden ensuring that outside and in marries in an infusion of colour.Ross Jackson
Solicitor
Ross is part of the commercial department in Orbitus Law LLP. He has extensive experience advising in mergers and acquisitions, and corporate and commercial matters but has also advised clients in the areas of corporate finance, venture capital and private equity, joint ventures, corporate restructuring, corporate governance and compliance, shareholder arrangements and general commercial matters. Ross advises growing and mature businesses with their corporate and commercial requirements. He also frequently advises on private equity investments and other investment projects, and handled investments for various private, and venture capital, type investors.Ross has sat on the board of directors of a number of companies, most recently Synergy Credit Union, being responsible for the general control direction and management of the Credit Union and he has also served on a number of committees within that organisation including Strategic Planning Committee and the Risk Committee.
Throughout his career, Ross has worked for clients across a wide range of industries including finance, construction, engineering, transport, technology, commodities, utilities, logistics and shipping, oil and gas, and commercial property.
Ross has practised primarily in private practice, but has also advised clients as “in house counsel” in both the UK and Australia, including more recently acting as Legal Counsel for both LSE and ASX listed companies, which gives him a unique insight into, and understanding of, the day-to-day operations and commercial requirements of his clients to enable him to deliver practical and client focused advices.
A graduate of UCC, and in addition to being a qualified solicitor (2010), Ross is also a qualified financial adviser (Aus). Ross is admitted as a solicitor in both Ireland and England and Wales, and presently holds a practising certificate in both jurisdictions.
Ross Jackson
Solicitor
When not at work Ross spends most of his time with his two young sons and when given the opportunity he can be found in the ocean, surfing. When not at work Ross spends most of his time with his family, which mainly entails picking up toys and perpetually mediating relations between his two young sons. Ross’ greatest question in life is trying to figure out what he did with all that time before having children. When the stars align, he can be found in the Atlantic Ocean engaged in his passion, surfing. Or, if there are no waves, Ross, can be found fly fishing on some remote lakePaula O’Halloran
Solicitor, Graduate Manager
Paula is a solicitor on the Commercial Property Team in Orbitus Law LLP and advises corporate and private clients on all aspects of commercial property transactions with a particular focus on acquisitions and disposals, development schemes, secured finance and commercial leasing. A graduate of the University of Limerick, Paula qualified as a solicitor in 2020, she is skilled at coordinating and solving complex conveyancing issues. She strives to deliver no-nonsense plain-language legal advice to clients. Paula continues to expand her legal knowledge, achieving a Diploma in Commercial Property in July 2022.In 2019, she travelled to Zambia in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity to build housing in the community of Chipulukusu. Paula received the individual prize for the highest mark in the PPCII Insolvency exam and was awarded first place at the International Academy of Dispute Resolution Mediation Tournament 2020 representing the Law Society of Ireland.
Paula O’Halloran
Solicitor, Graduate Manager
Paula is a property nerd who genuinely enjoys trawling through archaic title documents. Rumour has it she keeps Wylie’s “Irish Conveyancing Law” on her bedside locker. If she is not awake mulling over a title issue at 4am, Paula is up by 5am to get those gym endorphins before work - an annoyingly early morning person. She is a die-hard Taylor Swift fan (which for some reason surprises everyone) and spends her free time outdoors: at matches, in the open water or enjoying a beer garden – she’s generally not fussed provided she can avoid babysitting her nieces and nephews.Ben Hardy
Solicitor
Ben recently moved from the sunshine of Australia to join us here at Orbitus Law LLP. A welcomed addition to the team, Ben began his career in private practice in Sydney, initially with a full-service Sydney-based commercial law firm, before joining a national firm with offices across Australia, working in commercial litigation and dispute resolution for large corporations, SMEs, public agencies and councils, and high net worth individuals.More recently, Ben was in-house with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, working primarily on media law, defamation and intellectual property disputes, along with the myriad of other fires that in-house lawyers are often called on to put out. Since joining Orbitus Law LLP in October 2022, Ben has re-directed his commercial experience to transactional work as a member of the Corporate & Commercial team.
Ben holds dual degrees in Law and Arts from the University of Western Sydney, as well as a Master of Laws from the University of Sydney, with a focus on corporate law.
Ben Hardy
Solicitor
Ben spent a year in Cork as part of a university exchange program, and has returned after a 10 year stint back in Sydney with his Cork-native partner. Having grown up in Australia, Ben has faced some difficulty in adjusting to the lack of beach-friendly weather in this country. However, he has been known to avail himself of the pub-friendly weather, which goes some way to ameliorating the sun deficit he faces these days.Mike Stack
Solicitor
Mike is a Director of Client Services for Orbitus with a key focus on commercial development and retail clients. Qualifying as a Solicitor in Ireland and an Attorney at Law in New York and with over 20 years of experience in conveyancing and commercial law, Mike brings a unique skill set to the table for and on behalf of his clients ensuring that they receive the best advice and services that are tailored to their ongoing needs and progression. Mike also has qualifications in Trusts and Estate Planning and Finance. Mike prides himself on his ability to deliver the best outcome for his clients irrespective of the challenges and barriers that face them. He is practical, imaginative, and dogmatic in how he deals with problems.Mike’s Recent Work
Completion of €48.7m refinance of the Arresico Group with Nord LB.
Completion of €38m sale of a large multi-site retailer to Corrib Group.
Completion of €90m facility with a large UK-based finance house for delivery of Social Housing Units in Ireland.
CORK 