Maria Fitzpatrick

Legal Director
Dublin
About

Maria is a Legal Director in DLA Piper’s Intellectual Property and Technology Group in Dublin. With over a decade of experience, she has extensive experience in advising on domestic and multi-jurisdictional matters. Her areas of focus include commercial contracts, technology (including digital transformation, AI, and other technological innovations), and strategic outsourcing transactions.

She is dual qualified, enabling her to practice in both England and Wales and the Republic of Ireland. Maria’s journey with DLA Piper started in the UK, where she trained and qualified, and she has since spent time on secondment in 2017 to DLA Piper’s Chicago office, and on secondment to Dublin in 2019 to help set up and establish the IPT practice, before transitioning to the Dublin office in October 2023.

Maria frequently leads large-scale commercial contracting projects. These include large-scale outsourcings, digital transformation projects, supply chain arrangements, and management of business resources, including IT capabilities and IP licensing requirements. Her work spans multiple sectors, with a primary emphasis on Technology where she co-leads our Dublin office Technology Sector practice, aligning closely with our global Technology Sector practice.

Areas of FocusConsumer Goods, Food and RetailEnergy and Natural Resources

EXPERIENCE

  • Currently leading a small team of more junior associates to assist a global luxury retailer with a range of commercial contracts and technology focussed agreements.
  • Maria in particular has been praised by the client for the quality of support and level of responsiveness received.
  • Currently leading on the procurement of a communications system by a large scale electricity systems operator, using the competitive dialogue procedure under the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016.
  • The communications system being procured is "critical national infrastructure" and builds upon Maria's past experience in advising the Home Office in relation to its well-publicised re-set of its Emergency Services Network (ESN), which was also "critical national infrastructure", in addition to her previous experience in advising utilities providers.
  • Maria is recognised by the client as a trusted advisor, having advised on the contracting strategy and led on negotiations with bidders throughout the dialogue phase of the procurement. She has received very positive feedback for her hard work and dedication in supporting the client through particularly busy periods on this project.
  • Building on the wealth of experience that Maria has gained in advising central and local government on large scale public sector outsourcings, she is also currently advising a central government department on its contracting arrangements for voice and data communications services.
  • Recently advised a global toy manufacturer with the procurement of facilities management services for numerous stores across multiple European jurisdictions.
  • This involved putting in place a facilities management framework agreement, pursuant to which local agreements in each of the relevant jurisdictions could be entered into.
  • Maria worked closely with the client's procurement lead, providing contractual solutions to address the areas of concern raised by the client, particularly those experienced as a result of the pandemic.
  • Recently advised a manufacturer and retailer of luxury appliances on franchising requirements across multiple European jurisdictions.
  • Also conducted a comparative analysis on various other routes to market and advised the client on the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Awards & Recognitions

"Huge thanks again for all the support you provided to our teams over the last weeks. I want to take this opportunity to reiterate how much we have appreciated your talent, attention to details, hard work and patience. I am still amazed when I think at the difficult transactions you have brought over the finish line. What a great sign of dedication and accountability! You are really a “PRO” and DLA is very lucky to have you."
- General Counsel of a Key DLA Piper Client

Education
  • University of Liverpool (LLB) (Hons), 2003 - 2006
  • Postgraduate: College of Law, Chester, Legal Practice Course (Distinction), 2008 – 2009

Memberships And Affiliations

British Franchise Association

My latest insights

Publication

EU Digital Decade

21 May 2025 .1 minute read

Podcast

Securing your supply chain

20 March 2025 .3 minute read

News

DLA Piper advises Greystar on Landmark Acquisition in Ireland

23 December 2024 .2 minute read

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Phone

+44 207 796 6101
(Work, Dublin)
+44 773 829 56 56
(Work)