Kilkenny woman appointed to lead Matheson’s Intellectual Property Disputes practice

A Kilkenny woman has been appointed as a partner in the Disputes and Investigations Group of Matheson LLP.

Charleen O’Keeffe, who is originally from Callan, Kilkenny, will lead its Intellectual Property (IP) Disputes practice, strengthening the firm’s market-leading disputes and investigations offering.

Charleen’s practice spans the full spectrum of IP law, including patents, trade marks, copyright, designs, and confidential information. She is a recognised leader in the life sciences sector, with a particular expertise in the intersection of regulatory law, competition law and patent litigation.

She works with a wide range of national and multinational clients from global life sciences and healthcare companies to leading consumer goods companies. A skilled litigator, Charleen has over 15 years’ experience as a litigator and has been involved in several landmark IP cases before the Irish Courts.

In addition, Charleen brings extensive experience in complex multi-jurisdictional IP disputes, regularly representing leading innovator pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies, in high stakes cross-border disputes. She has joined Matheson from another large Irish law firm.

A native of Callan, Charleen holds a BCL from University College Dublin. Charleen is a lecturer on the Law Society of Ireland’s IP Diploma and PPC courses and has been recognised for several years in the leading directories for her work in Life Sciences and Healthcare, and IP.

Matheson Managing Partner, Darren Maher said; “Ireland continues to attract significant investment in technology and life sciences, and that is driving a steady increase in complex intellectual property and regulatory disputes. Clients need advice that is both technically strong and commercially grounded.”

“Charleen is widely recognised as a leader in intellectual property litigation and brings deep experience of high-value, multi-jurisdictional matters. Her appointment strengthens our ability to support clients operating at the centre of innovation, particularly where intellectual property, regulation and competition intersect. I am very pleased to welcome her to the firm and look forward to the contribution she will make to our clients and to the continued growth of our intellectual property practice.”