In Memory of Niamh Hall.

It is with deep sadness that APTMA has learnt of the passing of Niamh Hall. Her passing is a great loss to the profession in Ireland and overseas.

I can’t pay a better tribute to her than her friends and colleagues at FR Kelly, and they have kindly let me reproduce theirs:

“We are deeply saddened by the death of our colleague, partner and wonderful friend, Niamh Hall, following a short illness on Sunday, 20th November.

Niamh was a highly respected Trade Mark Attorney and solicitor who served the Irish and European IP profession in many different ways. She was the first woman to hold the office of President of the Irish Association of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys (APTMA), and co-authored the leading Irish IP law textbook, “Intellectual Property Law in Ireland” (Clark, Smyth & Hall). She also co-authored “Technology and Intellectual Property Law” (Law Society of Ireland) and “Concise European Trade Mark and Design Law” (Kluwer Law International). Niamh offered lectures in IP law at the Law Society of Ireland, and she represented the profession on the Trade Marks Examination Board. Niamh was also recognised by numerous independent publications over the years as an ‘International IP Star’, a ‘World IP Leader’, one of the ‘IAM Strategy 300 – The World’s Leading IP Strategists’, and was one of the ‘Top 250 Women in IP Worldwide’.

Niamh was a valued mentor and role model who brought immense energy and enthusiasm to everything that she did. She joined FRKelly in 2002 as a junior associate, moving up the ranks to partnership. Throughout her career she was renowned for her utmost levels of integrity, service and leadership, and was held in the highest regard by her colleagues, peers and clients both in Ireland and across the world.

Above all, Niamh will be missed as a very dear friend. Her kindness and positive influence will remain with us for years to come as we carry her memory. As a mark of respect to Niamh, our offices will be closed on Friday, 25th November.

Everyone at FRKelly would like to extend our condolences to Niamh’s family at this time. For further details, please see the notice from her family here.”

APTMA echos those sentiments - our thoughts are with her family.