

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

“The heat is on” – District heating in Ireland
Key Contact: Hugh Cummins - Partner Ireland’s heating sector currently faces major decarbonisation challenges given its reliance on fossil fuels. Swift and decisive action is required if the sector is to meet its share of reductions to achieve the target of halving...

General Scheme of the Land Value Sharing and Urban Development Zones Bill 2021
Key Contacts: Angelyn Rowan - Partner | Hugh Cummins - Partner | Laura Mullen - Senior Associate What is coming down the tracks on land value sharing and new ‘Urban Development Zones’ in 2022? Our construction team take a closer look. In December 2021 the Minister...

Mandatory CIRI registration for contractors to be put on statutory footing
Key Contracts: Hugh Cummins - Partner | Michael Cahill - Senior Associate On 12 January 2022, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (the “Department”) announced the publication of the Regulation of Providers of Building Works Bill 2022 (the...