Michael Finn

My practice focuses on complex contentious intellectual property and technology matters, and domestic and international commercial disputes. I also have extensive experience in regulatory disputes and investigations, product liability, and judicial review. I have a particular focus on the life sciences and technology sectors. I have acted in some of the leading intellectual property, technology and commercial disputes in Ireland and have extensive experience advising on Irish Commercial Court litigation, and ADR.

I advise on a wide range of litigation and regulatory matters involving patents, trade marks, copyright, designs, trade secrets and confidential information, often involving additional issues such as intermediary liability, data protection, competition and consumer law claims. I have also advised on leading Commercial Court cases and alternative dispute resolution processes in many sectors, in particular life sciences and technology. I thrive on helping clients to navigate the Irish Courts, particularly in the context of a complex multi-jurisdictional mandate, and to collaborate with others and find the right solution for matter in question.

I also have extensive experience analysing clients' obligations and determining actions to be taken under product laws, both in the context of bringing products to market, and addressing unforeseen circumstances such as defects and recalls. I regularly advise clients in relation to the regulation of medicinal products and medical devices in Ireland and have built up a strong expertise in navigating clients through interactions with regulators, as well as the regulatory impacts of commercial transactions.

• I advise many major life sciences clients on pricing & reimbursement and market access in Ireland. I led the team that advised one of the world's largest biotech companies on an innovative pricing and reimbursement deal for its medicines in Ireland. This was the largest private medicines contract and the first ever portfolio deal negotiated with the Irish Health Service Executive.
• I am the lead Irish advisor to major global life sciences, biotech, pharmaceutical and medtech companies. I advise on all aspects of the regulation of medicinal products and medical devices, from early stage conception, through to product launch, market access and post-marketing surveillance.
• I regularly advice technology companies on the convergence of tech, life sciences and medical device laws in the context of the development of new products, wearables and other offerings.
• I advised three global life sciences and biotechnology companies on the Irish aspects of pan-European strategies to challenge regulatory decisions to grant marketing authorisations to competitor products.
• I have advised many major retail clients and platforms on compliance with product regulatory laws in light of supply chain changes due to issues such as Brexit, the MSR and other legislative changes and proposal at EU level.

• I advised Aviareto, managers of the International Registry of Mobile Assets under the Cape Town Convention, on a High Court action challenging the infringement of its EU trade mark, Closing Room™. I led the team that secured a pan-EU injunction, invoking the Irish High Court as an EUTM Court. This ruling received significant attention in IP circles, as it was the first pan-EU injunction granted by the Irish High Court post-Brexit, and won the award for MIP Impact Case of the Year in 2022.
• I am advising Ypsilon, an integrated IT and payment solutions provider for the travel sector, headquartered in Germany, on defending screen scraping litigation initiated by Ryanair.
• I advised a major biotech company on the Irish aspects of its pre-action patent litigation strategy in respect of one of its leading products, where the infringing product is manufactured in Ireland.
• I advised a cutting-edge Irish tech company on patent litigation in which it was alleged that the client infringed a technical patent relating to aeronautics.
• I have advised some of the world's leading technology, platform and social media companies on commercial disputes in Ireland, including cases dealing with IP, content, platform liability, breach of contract and complex competition issues. I have also acted for technology companies in procurement litigation involving public sector contracts.