Known and respected as a dual-qualified litigator and a familiar face across courts throughout the entire island of Ireland, Ruaidhrí Austin has three main practice areas, acting for both Plaintiffs and Defendants: Insurance, Data Privacy Matters, and Healthcare.
A home-grown Partner at the firm, Ruaidhrí has risen through the ranks from trainee to associate to Partner, becoming the first new Partner since the firm’s founding over 20 years ago.
In Insurance, he primarily handles employers’ liability and motor liability claims. Ruaidhrí is recognised as a ‘go-to’ lawyer for Credit Hire Litigation across Ireland and Northern Ireland, acting on behalf of leading insurers including AIG, Zurich, LV, Allianz, and many other household names. He is accredited by the Insurance Institute of Ireland to provide Credit Hire training, which he delivers to both insurers and Accident Management Companies throughout Ireland.
In Data Privacy Matters, Ruaidhrí is an advocate for the fundamental rights of individuals. He champions the right to respect for private and family life as guaranteed under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), the Irish Constitution, and the Human Rights Act. He represents clients in a number of high-profile data privacy matters in Ireland and Northern Ireland, including the Cabot Financial Breach, the PSNI Data Breach, and the GP Capita Records Misuse.
In Healthcare, he has acted on a number of high-profile medical negligence and wrongful death claims, including:
- Representing patients sexually assaulted by two doctors at Naas General Hospital, Kildare, appearing on RTÉ Investigates – Abuse of Trust (RTÉ One). Read More
- Acting for the family of a patient who died following treatment at Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast. Read more
- Acting for the family of a patient who died after an ‘unnecessary’ surgery that was subsequently concealed by the hospital. Read More
Ruaidhrí is also deeply involved in professional development and legal innovation, having in the past held various positions including:
- Chair of the Northern Ireland Young Solicitors’ Association (NIYSA)
- Member of the Law Society’s Law Tech Committee
- Member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) and Ulster MedicoLegal Association (UMLA)
- Member of the Judicial Advisory Group ‘Vision 2030’, advising on the modernisation of the courts
Ruaidhrí is committed to providing expert, client-focused legal advice, with a responsive approach to all enquiries.
