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Martin Hayden

Martin Hayden

Martin Hayden SC is a leading English/Irish barrister with a distinguished career spanning over three decades, specialising in commercial litigation, aviation law, banking and finance, tax, public procurement, competition law, and judicial review. Called to the Irish Bar in 1987 and taking Silk in 2001, Martin is also a member of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple (2014), underscoring his standing across both Irish and international legal communities.

Recognised for his formidable courtroom presence and legal insight, Martin has acted in many of the most significant commercial and public law disputes in England/Ireland over the past 20 years. He has undertaken matters in England,Courts of Ireland, the European Court of Justice, and major public inquiries and tribunals, where his advocacy and strategic judgement continue to shape developments in Irish administrative and regulatory law.

Martin advises an extensive portfolio of clients, including financial institutions, major multinational corporations, public bodies, regulated entities, and Europe’s largest airline, bringing authoritative experience in high‑value, high‑stakes matters across multiple sectors.

  • Commercial Litigation & Financial Disputes Shareholder disputes, complex contracts, structured finance conflicts, enforcement of financial instruments, and litigation relating to electronic commerce and banking regulation.
  • Aviation Law (Leading Specialist) Regulatory frameworks, airport operations, competition issues, international air transport, e‑contracts, passenger rights, aviation‑related judicial reviews, and major disputes involving airlines and aviation authorities.
  • Competition & State Aid Law Abuse of dominance, merger control, regulatory investigations, and state aid challenges under Irish and EU law.
  • Public Law & Judicial Review Challenges involving planning, regulatory decisions, public procurement, airport development, environmental regulation, licensing and public authority decision‑making.
  • Public Procurement Acting in landmark procurement challenges, shaping jurisprudence on tender processes, transparency, and administrative review.
  • Tax Law Judicial reviews, appeals before the Tax Appeals Commission, revenue disputes, and contentious tax litigation.
  • Public Inquiries & Tribunals Representation at Ireland’s most significant tribunals of inquiry, with national impact on public policy and regulatory structures.
  • Intellectual Property & Digital Platforms IP issues in digital advertising, including trademark disputes arising from search‑engine ad platforms.
Leadership & Role

Martin’s role within Oracle Law Global includes:

  • Leading high‑value litigation strategy across commercial, aviation, regulatory, and public law
  • Acting as senior counsel on complex multi‑jurisdictional matters
  • Advising boards, general counsel, and senior executives on litigation risk and regulatory exposure
  • Providing strategic direction on Irish and EU regulatory developments
  • Supporting the firm’s aviation and competition practices with high‑level advocacy and advisory

His judgement is widely sought in cases of national importance and in proceedings with far‑reaching economic and regulatory implications.

Representative Achievements
Aviation & Airport Development
  • Acting regularly for airline client on litigation, regulatory matters, and judicial reviews.
  • Lead counsel in proceedings concerning the Northern Runway at Dublin Airport.
  • Acted in challenges relating to the construction of Terminal 2 at Dublin Airport.
  • Represented clients in cases involving aviation competition law and employment/recognition disputes.
  • Recently instructed for War Risk Insurers (TMK/HDI Global Specialty) in claims exceeding €2 billion concerning aircraft confiscated in Russia.
Landmark Litigation & Judicial Reviews
  • Nurendale (Panda Waste) v Dublin City Council – Led the case that invalidated the Dublin Waste Management Plan, halting a proposed €650m incinerator project.
  • Cantrell v AIB – Represented AIB in High Court and Supreme Court proceedings concerning losses exceeding €300 million.
  • Ryanair v Fórsa (2019) – Secured an injunction preventing strike action by pilots, a case of significant national industrial relations importance.
  • Michael O’Sullivan v Canada Life (2014) – Successful challenge regarding EU pension fund transfers.
  • Sherborough Securities v An Bord Pleanála & CIÉ – Lead counsel challenging major compulsory acquisition and railway development orders.
Environmental, Infrastructure & Procurement
  • CLM Properties v Greenstar & Bank of Ireland (2014) – Lead counsel in litigation concerning waste‑management regulation, landfill remediation obligations, and ring‑fenced environmental funds.
  • Acted in major public procurement disputes shaping Irish procurement law.
European Court of Justice
  • Ryanair v Revenue Commissioners (C‑249/17) – Acted on VAT recovery concerning takeover costs.
  • Numerous EU law matters involving state aid, procurement, aviation regulation, and fiscal interpretation.
Commercial, Banking & Financial Regulation
  • Frequent representation of leading Irish financial institutions in high‑value banking litigation.
  • Regularly instructed in matters involving enforceability of financial instruments and cross‑border finance disputes.
Public Inquiries & Tribunals
  • Lead counsel for the Irish Haemophilia Society in the Finlay and Lindsay Tribunals (Hepatitis C and HIV contamination cases).
  • Appeared at the Mahon Tribunal (planning corruption) and the Moriarty Tribunal (mobile phone licensing and payments to politicians).
Intellectual Property & Digital Platforms
  • Advising a major European airline in IP litigation against Google, involving pivotal questions about trademark use and search‑engine advertising (AdWords).
Approach

Martin is known for:

  • Exceptional courtroom advocacy
  • Strategic, commercially aligned advice
  • Deep command of EU regulatory landscapes
  • Ability to simplify complex legal and economic issues for clients and courts
  • A meticulous, analytical approach grounded in decades of high‑level litigation
  • Clear, authoritative communication with boards, regulators, and executives
Credentials
  • Senior Counsel (Ireland) – Called 1987; Took Silk 2001
  • Member, Honourable Society of the Middle Temple (2014)
  • 30+ years of experience before Ireland’s Superior Courts, EU courts, and national tribunals
  • One of Ireland’s foremost aviation, commercial, public law, and competition practitioners
  • Fluent in English and Spanish native
Counsel
  • 27 Avenue de l'opéra, 75001 Paris, France

Areas of Expertise

  • Commercial Litigation
  • Aviation Law
  • Competition & State Aid
  • Banking & Finance
  • Public Procurement
  • Judicial Review
  • Tax Litigation
  • Public Inquiries
  • Environmental & Regulatory Law
  • IP & Digital Advertising
  • EU Law
  • Employment & Industrial Relations (Aviation)

Education & Memberships

  • Called to the Bar of Ireland, 1987
  • Appointed Senior Counsel (SC), 2001
  • Member of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, 2014
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