

Related Sectors
Related Services
Memberships
- Law Society of Ireland
- Engineers Ireland
- Registered Trade Mark Agent
Education
- Solicitor, Law Society of Ireland, 2008
- Electronic Engineering (B.A., B.A.I.), Trinity College Dublin, 2001
- Registered Trade Mark Agent, 2012
Hugh is a partner and has considerable experience in a broad range of practice areas including projects and construction, energy and natural resources, energy performance contracting, local energy supply contracts, district heating, renewable energy, procurement and alternative dispute resolution.
In addition to being a qualified solicitor since 2008, Hugh holds an honours degree in Electronic Engineering and Mathematics from Trinity College Dublin. Prior to joining Philip Lee in 2012 Hugh worked in the projects and construction department of a large Dublin commercial law firm.
Hugh has advised clients on the drafting, settling and procuring of the required contractual documentation on a wide range of complex, large-scale mixed-use projects in Ireland both in the public and private sectors. Hugh is heavily involved in the areas of energy performance contracts, renewable energy and district heating contracts and regularly advises clients on the procurement, negotiation, drafting and settlement of such contracts.
Hugh has experience of advising a broad range of clients across both public and private sectors in areas such as infrastructure, utilities, education, healthcare, facilities management, hospitality and project management to name but a few.
Hugh regularly contributes articles on construction and energy related issues to publications such as the Engineers Journal, Modern Builder Magazine and other industry publications.
He speaks regularly at conferences, seminars and workshops hosted by organisations such as CMG, Engineers Ireland, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and the Construction Industry Federation.
Recent Work
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- Advising McGarrell Reilly on numerous large-scale developments including the Charlemont Street Regeneration Project, Hansfield residential development and the Sharp Building – a high value commercial office development at Hogan Place, Dublin 2
- Advised South Dublin County Council on Ireland’s first large-scale district heating scheme. This project saw the construction of a district heating network in Tallaght servicing, amongst other things, council offices, a hospital and university campus from waste heat produced by a nearby data centre.
- Advised the O’Flynn Group on its recent residential development projects in Kinsealy and Cabinteely.
- Advised the Port of Cork on all construction aspects of the redevelopment of Ringaskiddy Port (both contentious and non-contentious).
- Advised Kimpton Vale on the development of a large scale social housing development in Porterstown, County Dublin under a high value design and build contract.
- Legal advisor in consortium led by Dublin’s energy agency Codema on €1.2m project to test mass-scale retrofits across Dublin.
- Social Housing PPP – Bundle 2: Hugh advised the PPP Co. on all aspects of the works contract for the construction of multiple social housing units across multiple sites around Ireland.
- Schools PPPs – Hugh advised the NDFA on the Schools Bundle 4 and Bundle 5 PPP projects as well as advising Works Co. on the Schools Bundle 3 Project. Hugh has also advised on subsequent updates to those projects, including the updates to the Schools Bundle 5 Project
- Advised Park Plant Hire Limited on all aspects of its construction contract with Circle K to carry out the construction of two motorway service areas (in Athlone and Kilcullen on the M6 and M9 routes respectively) under the NRA’s Motorways PPP Programme.
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Hugh is a partner and has considerable experience in a broad range of practice areas including projects and construction, energy and natural resources, energy performance contracting, local energy supply contracts, district heating, renewable energy, procurement and alternative dispute resolution.
In addition to being a qualified solicitor since 2008, Hugh holds an honours degree in Electronic Engineering and Mathematics from Trinity College Dublin. Prior to joining Philip Lee in 2012 Hugh worked in the projects and construction department of a large Dublin commercial law firm.
Hugh has advised clients on the drafting, settling and procuring of the required contractual documentation on a wide range of complex, large-scale mixed-use projects in Ireland both in the public and private sectors. Hugh is heavily involved in the areas of energy performance contracts, renewable energy and district heating contracts and regularly advises clients on the procurement, negotiation, drafting and settlement of such contracts.
Hugh has experience of advising a broad range of clients across both public and private sectors in areas such as infrastructure, utilities, education, healthcare, facilities management, hospitality and project management to name but a few.
Hugh regularly contributes articles on construction and energy related issues to publications such as the Engineers Journal, Modern Builder Magazine and other industry publications.
He speaks regularly at conferences, seminars and workshops hosted by organisations such as CMG, Engineers Ireland, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and the Construction Industry Federation.
Recent Work
-
-
- Advising McGarrell Reilly on numerous large-scale developments including the Charlemont Street Regeneration Project, Hansfield residential development and the Sharp Building – a high value commercial office development at Hogan Place, Dublin 2
- Advised South Dublin County Council on Ireland’s first large-scale district heating scheme. This project saw the construction of a district heating network in Tallaght servicing, amongst other things, council offices, a hospital and university campus from waste heat produced by a nearby data centre.
- Advised the O’Flynn Group on its recent residential development projects in Kinsealy and Cabinteely.
- Advised the Port of Cork on all construction aspects of the redevelopment of Ringaskiddy Port (both contentious and non-contentious).
- Advised Kimpton Vale on the development of a large scale social housing development in Porterstown, County Dublin under a high value design and build contract.
- Legal advisor in consortium led by Dublin’s energy agency Codema on €1.2m project to test mass-scale retrofits across Dublin.
- Social Housing PPP – Bundle 2: Hugh advised the PPP Co. on all aspects of the works contract for the construction of multiple social housing units across multiple sites around Ireland.
- Schools PPPs – Hugh advised the NDFA on the Schools Bundle 4 and Bundle 5 PPP projects as well as advising Works Co. on the Schools Bundle 3 Project. Hugh has also advised on subsequent updates to those projects, including the updates to the Schools Bundle 5 Project
- Advised Park Plant Hire Limited on all aspects of its construction contract with Circle K to carry out the construction of two motorway service areas (in Athlone and Kilcullen on the M6 and M9 routes respectively) under the NRA’s Motorways PPP Programme.
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Related Sectors
Related Services
Memberships
- Law Society of Ireland
- Engineers Ireland
- Registered Trade Mark Agent
Education
- Solicitor, Law Society of Ireland, 2008
- Electronic Engineering (B.A., B.A.I.), Trinity College Dublin, 2001
- Registered Trade Mark Agent, 2012
News and insights

“Too hot to handle” – Barriers to district heating in Ireland
Key Contacts: Hugh Cummins - Partner In our previous article, we considered the major decarbonisation challenges currently facing the Irish heating sector as it works towards meeting its 2030 target of halving C02 emissions. The roll out of district heating...

Long awaited reforms to the Public Works Contract – what you need to know
Key Contacts: Hugh Cummins - Partner | Patrick Kane - Senior Associate On 3 July 2023 the Irish Government announced significant changes to the forms of Public Works Contract to address a number of issues faced by contractors in recent years, including materials...

Priority actions identified to enhance project delivery under the National Development Plan
Key Contacts: Angelyn Rowan - Partner | Keri Crossen - Partner | Hugh Cummins - Partner | Laura Mullen - Senior Associate On 29 March 2023, the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform (the “Minister”) announced a package of...