Barry Crushell is the Principal Solicitor and founder of Crushell & Co Solicitors, a specialist Irish law firm advising clients on workplace accidents, occupational injuries, employer liability, and health and safety disputes.

Barry assists employees who have suffered injuries at work, including claims arising from unsafe systems of work, inadequate training or supervision, defective equipment, manual handling incidents, slips, trips and falls, workplace transport accidents, and exposure to hazardous substances. He also advises where a workplace injury has resulted in related employment difficulties, including prolonged absence, disability discrimination, failures to provide reasonable accommodation, dismissal, penalisation, or disputes concerning an employee’s return to work.

Before qualifying as a solicitor, Barry served for 13 years as an Officer in the Irish Defence Forces. He subsequently trained with one of Ireland’s largest law firms before establishing the Dublin and London offices of a United States law firm. His experience in leadership, investigations, risk management, and dispute resolution provides a valuable perspective when advising clients on complex workplace accident and injury claims.

Barry’s approach is informed by the principle that employers must take reasonable and practicable steps to protect the health and safety of their employees. This may include carrying out appropriate risk assessments, identifying foreseeable hazards, providing suitable training and supervision, maintaining safe machinery and equipment, supplying necessary personal protective equipment, and implementing a safe system of work. At the same time, Barry recognises that the occurrence of an accident does not automatically establish employer liability. Each claim must be carefully investigated to determine how the accident occurred, whether the risk was reasonably foreseeable, and whether reasonable precautions could have prevented the injury.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Law from the University of Galway, a Master of Laws in International Business, Trade and Tax Law from University College London, a Master of Laws in International Dispute Resolution from University College London, a Master of Philosophy in Linguistics from Trinity College Dublin, and an Advanced Diploma in Employment Law from The Honorable Society of King’s Inns. Barry also completed a Doctorate in Law through the Law Society of Ireland. His doctoral thesis, Is the Workplace Relations Commission Working? Examining the Efficacy of the WRC, examines the effectiveness of Ireland’s employment rights adjudication system and proposes reforms aimed at improving access to justice and workplace dispute resolution.

Barry regularly contributes to legal journals, academic studies, professional publications, media commentary, and policy discussions concerning workplace rights, employer liability, health and safety obligations, workplace investigations, disability discrimination, and dispute resolution. His professional and academic work includes consideration of the duties placed on employers to identify foreseeable risks and to provide appropriate instruction, supervision, equipment, and systems of work.

Outside of his professional work, Barry is an avid sports fan and holds a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.