The Fifth Court - DSBA Legal Podcast of the Year

• E133 The Fifth Court - Josepha Madigan — solicitor, former cabinet minister, family-law mediator — why mediation is gaining ground,

  The Fifth Court — Episode 133 Presented by barristers Mark Tottenham and Peter Leonard.This episode opens with Josepha Madigan — solicitor, former cabinet minister and family-law mediator — on why mediation is gaining ground, what makes it work, and how practice culture is changing for clients and lawyers alike.Then Mark and Peter review three recent Decisis cases (case-note segment sponsored by Charltons Solicitors & Collaborative Practitioners):A Court of Appeal judgment on alleged ineffective legal representation.A High Court ruling that quashed a same-day trial conviction on fair-trial grounds.A further decision testing procedural fairness and preparation time in summary proceedings.Clear takeaways — and the practical implications for practitioners and clients. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• E132 The Fifth Court - Dame Siobhán Keegan, Lady Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, evaluating expert evidence in an age of AI

  LCJ Keegan on the modern courtroom — AI, experts and leadershipOn Episode 132, The Fifth Court hosts Peter Leonard and Mark Tottenham have rare access to Dame Siobhán Keegan, the Lady Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, to discuss evaluating expert evidence in an age of AI and complex fact-finding, leadership on the bench, and the realities of administering justice in Belfast’s Royal Courts. The episode is recorded with her in the Royal Courts of Justice, LCJ Keegan flags her Macfadyen Lecture on evaluating the expert witness in the modern legal landscape—a timely frame for how courts should approach AI-assisted and technical testimony (provenance, transparency, methodology, limits).Her cultural choice 'Is a River Alive?' by Robert Macfarlane, published by Hamish HamiltonPlus, our case-law segment, drawn from the Decisis.ie casebook, covers a failed attempt to register a New York multi-billion judgment against Argentina in Ireland without locating Irish-sited assets, and the Court of Appeal’s approach to frivolous and vexatious challenges to demolition orders.Sponsored by Charltons Solicitors and Collaborative Practitioners of Dublin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• E131 The Fifth Court - Kirk Offel, Mission-critical infrastructure expert; US Navy vet turned AI-ready datacentre CEO

  E131 The Fifth CourtCo-host of the Fifth Court, Peter Leonard, BL, met with Kirk Offel at the Dublin Tech Summit, promoter of the 5th Industrial Revolution.'Data centres are the most important things to be manufactured in the world'. That's Kirk's view and that's just the beginning of this terrific chat about all things AI and Data Centres.Kirk is not your typical tech CEO. From a military family, a former US Navy submariner, nuclear-trained engineer, cancer survivor, and now founder of Overwatch Mission Critical, he brings a mix of discipline, resilience, and purpose to the fast-changing world of digital infrastructure. His company designs and delivers the data centres that make the cloud, AI, and mission-critical systems possible — what he likes to call “the sky for the cloud.”You'll also learn everything you ever wondered about life in a submarine under the ocean...though some of what he's done he can't talk about.Before that, Peter and Mark Tottenham, BL, examine notable recent court decisions featured on Decisis.ie including:A 'Proceeds of Crime' case and whether it should be reopened with new material comes to light?A case full of energy, including a windfarm, a hydrogen plant and turf-cutting.Another planning case, this one regarding an old paint factory that was being used to house migrants. It turned out to be a moot case.Whether you're in practice or just passionate about the law, this episode is a must-listen for its clarity, depth, and practical relevance.Sponsored by Charltons Solicitors and Collaborative Practitioners – family law with a collaborative approach. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• E130 The Fifth Court - Ukrainian Anna Mysyshyn, a leading expert in AI ethics, regulation, cybersecurity

  Episode 130 – The Fifth CourtRecorded at the Dublin Tech Summit, Peter Leonard BL speaks with Ukrainian Dr. Anna Mysyshyn, a leading expert in AI ethics, regulation, cybersecurity, and digital governance. Anna holds a PhD in Law and an LL.M. in Innovation and Technology, bringing both academic depth and practical insight to one of the most pressing issues facing courts, regulators, and governments worldwide: how to balance innovation with accountability in the age of AI.Before that, they examine notable recent court decisions featured on Decisis.ie including:A claim of 'adverse possession'...and fabricated documents. Judge Nolan declared it a fraud.A case involving an illegal adoption. A claim was made against the religious order that arranged the adoption, as well as against the State.A case where the court was asked to order the Minister for Defence to tell if there had been any side effects from the use of anti-malaria drug, Lariam.Whether you're in practice or just passionate about the law, this episode is a must-listen for its clarity, depth, and practical relevance.Sponsored by Charltons Solicitors and Collaborative Practitioners – family law with a collaborative approach. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• E129 The Fifth Court - Elizabeth Winkler - was Shakespeare sole author of all 'his' works? Plenty of legals around this one.

  Episode 129 The Fifth CourtElizabeth Winkler is an acclaimed literary critic and investigative journalist whose work spans some of the world’s most respected publications. She chats to Mark Tottenham BL on this episode of the Law Society of Ireland Award Winning Podcast.A graduate of Princeton with a master’s in English literature from Stanford, Elizabeth has built a reputation for fearless, insightful storytelling that challenges received wisdom.In her book Shakespeare Was a Woman and Other Heresies she dives into one of literature’s most incendiary debates—the authorship of Shakespeare—and explores how the controversy reflects wider questions about authority, identity, and who gets to shape history. It's a subject that has intrigued judges and lawyers for centuries. With wit and intellectual rigour, Winkler invites you to question long-held assumptions, making her a captivating guest for any conversation about literature, law, and the power of ideas.Her cultural recommendation is 'The Third Reich of Dreams: The Nightmares of a Nation' written by Charlotte BeradtBefore that, they examine notable recent court decisions featured on Decisis.ie including:A case about wills and probate...two wills followed by a codicil that refers to an earlier will. Legal arguments followed.A medical negligence case. A claim that a maternity hospital was negligent in the treatment of a patient.A party to a settlement wasn't happy with her legal team.Whether you're in practice or just passionate about the law, this episode is a must-listen for its clarity, depth, and practical relevance.Sponsored by Charltons Solicitors and Collaborative Practitioners – family law with a collaborative approach. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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