Cathy Smith SC is a senior counsel and independent barrister with over 21 years’ experience in litigation, arbitration and mediation. She was granted a patent of precedence by the Government of Ireland in 2022 and admitted as a Senior Counsel to the Inner Bar of Ireland. Her practice spans commercial, employment, equality, and public law, acting for individuals, corporate clients and State bodies.
She was elected to the Council of the Bar of Ireland in 2023 and previously served as Vice-Chair of the Council (2024) and Chair of its Arbitration and ADR Committee (2023-2024).
A qualified mediator (CEDR) and arbitrator (Chartered Institute of Arbitrators), she is a former director of the Dublin Dispute Resolution Centre and a member of the Executive Committee of Arbitration Ireland and former member of the Irish National Committee for the ICC Court of Arbitration.
Ms Smith has held significant State-appointed adjudicative roles. She was Independent Chair of the Central Bank of Ireland’s bank appeals panels established under the Central Bank’s tracker mortgage examination, determining complex appeals involving financial loss and serious personal consequences.
In 2023 she was appointed, on nomination of the Attorney General, to a statutory Determination Panel under EU fisheries regulations.
In 2024 she was appointed Chair of the Apple Pay (NFC) Appeals Panel.
Her commercial practice includes membership of the Department of Enterprise, Tourism & Employment’s Company Law Review Group.
She is a leading practitioner in employment, equality and whistleblowing law, appearing before the superior courts and the CJEU, advising public bodies including GSOC and An Garda Síochána, and drafting national Codes of Practice for the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. She is a member of membership of the Department of Enterprise, Tourism & Employment’s, Employment Law Review Group.
She is widely recognised for extensive pro bono work. She received a University of Limerick Alumni Award in 2023. She is Adjunct Professor of Law and Practice in the University of Limerick.