Fergus Doorly
Partner
Fergus is a Partner in William Fry’s Litigation & Investigations Department, specialising in restructuring, insolvency and commercial litigation.
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- Dublin - Head Office

Fergus’ restructuring and insolvency expertise is advising examiners, liquidators and receivers of companies, as well as creditors, directors and shareholders of companies that require restructuring or are insolvent. He has experience in all aspects of commercial litigation, with a particular emphasis on shareholder disputes, contractual disputes, financial services and tax litigation.
Recent significant work includes advising:
- two landlords in a successful application to dismiss a petition for the appointment of an examiner to New Look Retailers (Ireland) Limited
- Irish companies in the Skillsoft Group of companies on their restructuring through Chapter 11 in the US;
- a secured lender in the enforcement of a share pledge over shares in an aircraft leasing company;
- Michael McAteer of Grant Thornton as examiner of Weatherford International Limited;
- EY as the Joint Administrators of Nortel Networks (Ireland) Limited;
- Ken Fennell and James Anderson of Deloitte as Liquidators of Karen Millen Ireland Limited;
- Neil Hughes of Baker Tilly Hughes Blake as Examiner of Regan Development Limited;
- the directors of a company that operated a retail store in deferring disqualification / restriction proceedings;
- a number of retailers through successful examinership processes, including:
- Mothercare Ireland Limited;
- Debenhams Retail (Ireland) Limited;
- B&Q Ireland Limited;
- stakeholders in numerous retail insolvencies and restructurings, including:
- Bradley Pharmacy Group (acting for the investor);
- Monsoon Accessorize Ireland Limited (actin for the examiner);
- House of Fraser;
- the Respondents in a multi-million euro shareholder dispute heard by the Commercial Court and the Court of Appeal where the Petitioner issued proceedings alleging minority oppression; and
- ICDL GCC Foundation FZ-LLC in the Commercial Court and the Supreme Court in its successful claim against the European Computer Driving Licence Foundation Limited.
Ranking & Recommendations
2022 Chambers Europe
“Fergus Doorly is outstanding from start to finish. He is highly experienced and has an ability to see all the angles and find the right outcome for his clients. Fergus is exceptional under pressure and provides very well considered advice.”

2023 Legal 500 EMEA
Fergus is ranked as a Leading Individual in Insolvency & Corporate Restructuring for Legal 500.

2022 IFLR 1000
Fergus is ranked as Highly Regarded in IFLR 1000 for Insolvency & Corporate Restructuring.

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