Catherine Needham

Catherine Needham BL holds a MSc Business and Finance, the Barrister at Law Degree (The Honourable Society in Kings Inns), a Certificate in Commercial Contracts (The Law Society of Ireland), a Post Graduate Diploma in Construction Law and Contract Law (Trinity College Dublin), a Professional Diploma in Arbitration Law (UCD) and is a PhD (Law) Candidate.  

Catherine is a Junior Counsel practising in Commercial and Public Law, Media Law and Property Law and Construction Law. She has appeared before the Irish Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal and the High Court.  She is a member of the Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Committee of the Bar of Ireland, the Construction Bar of Ireland, the Negotiation Committee of the Bar of Ireland, the Finance Committee of the Bar of Ireland and Co- Editor of The Bar Review. She is a committee member of The Society of Construction Law (SCL) Astra and Co-Regional Co-ordinator of The Society of Construction Law. She was the Honorary Treasurer of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) (Irish branch) for the last two years and is now the Vice Chair of CIArb (Irish Branch). 

In addition, she is a Tutor in the Post Graduate Diploma in Construction Law and Contract Law (Trinity College Dublin) since 2022. She is an Accredited Commercial Mediator (CEDR), Family Law Mediator (ARC) and Accredited Fellow Arbitrator (FCIArb).  

Catherine is a member of the National Committee Nomination Commission with the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). Finally, she has been nominated by The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD to be a member of the RIAI Professional Conduct Committee (The Board of the RIAI is the registration body for Architects) pursuant to section 23 of the Building Control Act 2007.