About Johnston Law
Johnston Law is the successor firm to MacCarthy Johnston which was established in 2012 when Kieran Johnston joined MacCarthy & Co., a firm originally founded by the late Barry MacCarthy. MacCarthy & Co was known for its focus on corporate, property and banking law. Under Kieran’s leadership the newly formed MacCarthy Johnston broadened its expertise into commercial and civil litigation, alternative dispute resolution, employment law and intellectual property law, private client services, probate and landlord and tenant law.
Barry MacCarthy died after a short illness in late 2018. Today, under the new name of Johnston Law, the firm serves both domestic and international clients, offering a partner-led service delivered in a boutique setting. Each solicitor has previously held senior positions in some of Ireland’s leading law firms, ensuring clients receive top-level expertise without the high fees associated with larger practices. The firm emphasises clarity, practicality, and cost-effectiveness in its legal advice
A personalised boutique service
A central strength of Johnston Law lies in its commitment to personal client relationships. We pride ourselves on responsiveness, accessibility, and tailoring our services to individual needs. The Firm’s open, honest, and proactive approach has cultivated long-term client loyalty, with many new clients arriving through referrals. Our reputation for hard work, depth of knowledge, and client-focused service remains our strongest marketing tool, reflecting our dedication to achieving the results clients value most.
An open, honest and proactive approach
We aim to be a trusted advisor to our clients and help them navigate through the legal issues that they encounter. We will give them honest and independent advice. We care about results and we will fight to achieve them for our clients. Clients should trust us to handle their legal issues so that they can get on with running their business and their lives. We pride ourselves on delivering clear and concise legal advice in a commercial context.
We find it is the best way to achieve the results our clients want. We are proud of our reputation as being hard working, assessable to clients and fully aware of the relevant legal issues. To us, there is no better to way to obtain new business than by an existing client recommending us to another new client.
Meet the Team
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Kieran Johnston
Kieran is the Principal of the Firm and has practised as a solicitor since 2000, following earlier experience in international finance with the Bank of New York and Citi Group. In 2012, after serving as a partner in one of Ireland’s leading law firms, he co-founded MacCarthy Johnston with Barry MacCarthy. The Firm is now known as Johnston Law following the sad passing of Barry MacCarthy in late 2018 after a short illness.
Kieran advises on a wide range of legal matters, with particular expertise in civil and commercial litigation. He has extensive experience in personal injury and medical negligence claims, as well as acting for borrowers in disputes with banks and hedge funds.
He is a qualified specialist in employment law, representing both employers and employees before the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court. His expertise also extends to intellectual property, data protection, internet law, defamation, and drafting technology and IP-related contracts.
Kieran is highly experienced in residential and commercial property, including landlord and tenant matters, planning law, compulsory purchase, and judicial review. He also advises on company and shareholder disputes as well as directors’ duties.
Committed to providing a personal and tailored service which is client-focused, Kieran presents legal issues in a clear and practical way to support informed client decisions. His practical advice aims to achieve the best outcomes for his clients. He holds degrees and diplomas in business, law, employment law, and intellectual property, and is a member of the Law Society of Ireland and the Dublin Bar Association.
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William Christopher
William qualified as a solicitor in 2002 and previously headed up the Private Client Department of one of Dublin’s leading law firms which he left to join MacCarthy Johnston in 2016.
He is a member of the Dublin Solicitors Bar Association and holds a Diploma in Property Tax and a Diploma in Trusts and Estate Planning.
William advises executors, trustees and beneficiaries on legal issues relating to wills and the administration of estates and trusts and he specialises in advising individuals and families on the appropriate trust structures for estate planning and asset protection purposes. He also advises clients in relation to challenges and disputes to wills and the administration of estates under the provisions of the Succession Act. He has advised on numerous complex issues concerning the administration of estates including cross jurisdictional issues and assets.
He specialises in advising private clients on Wills, Probate Trusts and Estates, Enduring Powers of Attorney, Family Partnerships and the purchasing and selling of residential and commercial properties.
He also advises landlords and tenants on drafting, negotiating and settlement of commercial and residential leases and advises lenders and borrowers on facility arrangements and the putting in place of security pursuant to such arrangements.
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Carol Gough
Carol is a qualified Legal Executive in our Litigation department. She joined the practice in 2014 having previously worked for several years in a large Dublin law firm.
Carol has extensive experience in all areas of litigation to include, personal injury, employment law, contract disputes, debt collection & enforcement, property/landlord & tenant disputes and judicial review.
Specific knowledge and experience of general and commercial court litigation practices and procedures in all Court jurisdictions