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Gavin Woods

Gavin Woods

Partner
Gavin Woods is practical and savvy, providing sound direction both in preliminary advice and in litigious matters. I can pick up the phone to Gavin, who is readily available to assist with queries big and small, which I find extremely helpful and which makes him a go-to for me as I trust his approach. Gavin advises private clients and multinationals, making him well placed to assist on complex matters.
Legal 500
About

Gavin Woods has extensive experience advising on contentious matters with a particular focus on clients with technology and content related issues including intellectual property, data protection, privacy and defamation. He also advises clients on communications strategy, regulatory issues, investigations and public policy. 

Gavin works with key decision makers, corporate counsel and lawyers in other jurisdictions on multi-jurisdictional and complex legal issues. He appears before the Irish Courts and international arbitral tribunals. He also advises on a broad range of commercial and civil disputes including in the area of retail, financial services, commercial fraud and property disputes.

Professional QualificationsSolicitor regulated by the Law Society of Ireland

EXPERIENCE

  • Acting for online platforms in defending Irish High Court actions related to user generated and advertising content including defamation actions, alleged copyright and trademark infringement, alleged breach of data protection rights and competition law.
  • Advising corporates and other organisations dealing with potential reputational issues both through the Irish Courts and on a confidential basis.
  • Acting for a pharmaceutical company defending patent revocation proceedings before the Irish Commercial Court as part of multi-jurisdictional proceedings.
  • Advising a pharmaceutical company on injunctive relief in a patent infringement matter.
  • Advising organisations on defending damages claims for alleged data breaches and/or misuse of confidential data.
  • Advising a UK news and media organisation in defending an injunction application by a competitor for alleged trademark infringement to prevent the launch of an Irish publication.
  • Acting as Counsel in international arbitrations for Irish based corporates including before the ICC and LCIA.
  • Acting for technology companies in defending Irish Commercial Court claims for alleged failure to properly implement IT system.
  • Advising a major Irish retailer on comparative advertising in disputes with competitors.
  • Acting for investment banks in defending multiple Irish Commercial Court proceedings for the alleged miss-selling of structured products.
  • Advising clients on dealing with issues of alleged fraud including seeking the recovery of monies through civil action.
  • Advising on regulatory issues both for and against regulators in the areas of data protection, telecommunications, healthcare and sport through judicial review, acting as prosecuting authority, defending prosecutions for breaches of data protection law and advising on the conduct of investigations and publication of reports.
*Experience above is prior to DLA Piper
Languages
  • English
Education
  • Diploma in Judicial Skills and Decision-making – Law Society of Ireland - 2022

  • Diploma in Intellectual Property and Technology Law – Law Society of Ireland – 2013

  • Trinity College Dublin, Ireland – LLB – 1995

     

    Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium – Erasmus (European Law) – 1994

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Gavin is named as a leading individual for Media and Entertainment in Ireland by Legal 500 in its 2022 rankings.
According to clients in the Legal 500:

Gavin Woods gives really practical advice around disputes and has good expertise in IP, in particular copyright and trade marks. He is conscious of the need to balance litigation costs against business objectives and required outcomes."

Gavin Woods is practical and savvy, providing sound direction both in preliminary advice and in litigious matters. I can pick up the phone to Gavin, who is readily available to assist with queries big and small, which I find extremely helpful and which makes him a go-to for me as I trust his approach. Gavin advises private clients and multinationals, making him well placed to assist on complex matters”.

 

Publications and media

  • Arbitration key elements (lawsociety.ie)
  • Ireland and international arbitration (lawsociety.ie)

Prior Experience

  • Partner, Irish law firm, 2011 – 2022
  • Associate, Irish law firm, 2003 – 2011
  • Associate, Hong Kong law firm, 2001 – 2003
  • Trainee and associate, Irish law firm, 1996 – 2000

Additional News

  • Involved in a number of pro bono projects for the Public Interest Law Alliance, the Free Legal Advice Centre and the Ballymun Community Law Centre.

Memberships and Affiliations

  • Admitted as a solicitor in Hong Kong SAR.
  • Member of the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR in Paris.  
  • Executive Committee member and former President of Arbitration Ireland.

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