Practice Areas
Personal Estate & Tax Planning
Charities & Not-For-Profit
Experience and Expertise
Susan studied at University College Dublin, trained in McCann FitzGerald and qualified as a solicitor in 1996. Susan became a partner in McCann FitzGerald in 2002, leading the Private Client department of the firm for the following ten years, until the establishment of O’Connell Brennan.
Susan specialises in personal estate and tax planning, wills and succession, trusts (both domestic and international), the administration of estates and contentious probate and trust issues. She has extensive experience in advising on multi-jurisdictional transactions. She advises individuals and families on asset protection, asset structuring and the transfer of assets by gift or inheritance. Susan also advises charities and non-profit organisations and donors in relation to philanthropic giving.
She has written and lectured extensively in both charity law and trust and estate planning, authored the Irish chapters of "Planning and Administration of Offshore and Onshore Trusts" and "International Trust Precedents" and co-authored the Irish chapter of "Offshore Service".
Susan is a former chairperson of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) Ireland. She is also an Associate of the Irish Taxation Institute, a Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) and a member of the International Academy of Trust and Estate Law.
What others say
“For complex tax questions, we could not recommend anyone more than Susan O'Connell.” “Susan is always open to have a conversation to find solutions. She's one of the leading in the field for Ireland.” Chambers High Net Worth Guide, 2023
Susan O'Connell is "an excellent lawyer. She has strong commercial judgement, excellent technical skills and remains calm at all times," states a source. O'Connell handles a variety of private client matters, including cross-border mandates. "Susan is not only first class in terms of her advice, she can translate some very difficult concepts to clients in clear terms that they understand whilst remaining empathetic," explains a commentator. Chambers High Net Worth Guide, 2022
Susan O'Connell "has excellent people skills and a huge range of experience," says a source, who adds: "She is very unflappable and gives excellent service." O'Connell works with her clients on estate and tax planning matters, as well as administration and contentious issues. Another interviewee states: "She is very intelligent, cool under pressure and gives solid advice." Chambers High Net Worth Guide, 2021
Susan O'Connell advises high net worth clients on a range of domestic and international wealth planning matters. One source observes that she has a "lovely way of dealing with the clients and is able to explain things in language that elderly clients in particular understand." This source highlights O'Connell's "excellent technical ability and good tax knowledge." Another interviewee adds: "She is rock-solid, has years of experience and her knowledge is second-to-none. Chambers High Net Worth Guide, 2020
The "very experienced" Susan O'Connell specialises in personal estate and tax planning for HNW individuals, with particular expertise in multi-jurisdictional transactions. She is known for advising individuals and families on asset protection, structuring and the transfer of assets by gift or inheritance, and is described by clients as "very practical and extremely approachable." One impressed client says: "She is excellent. She is technically proficient but also very practical. She can empathise with the needs that we have." Chambers High Net Worth Guide, 2019
Susan focuses her practice on estate planning and administration, wills and succession, international and domestic trusts and trust litigation. She also advises charities and donors on philanthropic giving. She is widely recognised for her experience in the market, with one client commenting: "She gets to grips very quickly with the issues and articulates them very clearly in a manner people understand." O'Connell also wins praise for her client-care skills and her technical ability."She is very clearsighted, solution-focused and sees the whole picture," says one source, adding: "She is a great communicator and lovely with clients; she has excellent skills in handling and managing them." Another interviewee also praises O'Connell's interactions with clients, reporting that "she exudes confidence and puts them at ease." Chambers High Net Worth Guide, 2018
Susan led the McCann FitzGerald private client team for ten years before founding O'Connell Brennan. Her practice centres around tax and estate planning, estate administration and trusts work. Sources highlight O'Connell's "broad private client expertise" and say they have "very good regard" for her practice. Chambers High Net Worth Guide, 2017
“Susan and her colleagues at O’Connell Brennan are widely recognised as Ireland’s leading experts in private client legal matters. Susan is a pleasure to deal with and one never hesitates in referring a valued private client to her.” Citywealth Powerwomen Top 200, 2017
Susan O'Connell of O'Connell Brennan Solicitors is a leading private client lawyer who focuses on complex personal estate and tax planning. Interviewees recognise her as "the gold standard in this area." Chambers, 2016
Susan was recently named"Lawyer of the Year" Trusts and Estates for Dublin. Best Lawyers 2017
Sources consider Susan O'Connell of O'Connell Brennan Solicitors "a good communicator, who listens and understands her brief very well. She's also flexible, and capable of thinking on her feet." Others add: "She is technically excellent, and capable of explaining complex legal matters in ways that clients can understand." Her private client practice includes advising on the tax aspects of establishing trusts and offshore vehicles, and estate planning. Chambers, 2015
Private client specialist Susan O'Connell is co-founder of O'Connell Brennan Solicitors, and receives high praise from both clients and peers. "She is very knowledgeable and really practical. She is au fait with everything involved and takes a holistic view," report sources. Chambers, 2014
Private client specialist Susan O'Connell is widely regarded as a leader in her field, with clients describing her as "commercial, practical, and succinct and clear in her advice". One interviewee adds: "It is comforting to deal with her as you know she is an expert." Chambers, 2013
“Super lawyer” Susan O'Connell recently left McCann FitzGerald to co-found O'Connell Brennan Solicitors. She wins a great deal of praise from market sources, who describe her as “practical, sensible and very bright – she is the type of person who gets us to where we need to be.” She specialises in private client work and has a broad practice covering many aspects of the area." Chambers, 2012
Susan is described as a "Leading Lawyer" on the Citywealth Leaders List.
She is also listed as an expert in The International Who's Who of Private Client Lawyers.
She is also described as a "Leading Lawyer" in the PLC Which Lawyer Cross Border Private Client Handbook.
Susan was awarded 'Best in Trust & Estates' at the inaugural Euromoney Legal Media Group - European Women in Business Law awards, June 2011.
She was also shortlisted for the Image magazine Professional Businesswoman of the Year Award 2011.
"Susan O'Connell is a leading figure for private client and capital taxes work, representing high net worth individuals." Chambers, 2011
Susan is "a leading authority in trusts and the taxation of trusts both in Ireland and internationally." Chambers, 2010