Quick Facts
Biography
Brian J. McGovern is an Irish judge who has served as a Judge of the Court of Appeal since June 2018. He previously served as a Judge of the High Court from 2007 to 2010.
McGovern attended Castleknock College and obtained a BCL from University College Dublin in 1971. He attended the King's Inns and was called to the Bar in 1972. He became a senior counsel in 1991. During his career as a barrister he frequently practiced in areas of both criminal and civil law. He served as President of the Irish Maritime Law Association. He represented Total S.A. in an inquiry into the Whiddy Island disaster.
He was appointed to the High Court in 2006. He acted as the designated arbitration judge for Ireland until his appointment to the Court of Appeal. He was also the presiding judge in the specialist Commercial Court. In the Commercial Court, he was the trial judge for high-profile disputes involving Rory McIlroy, Gay Byrne and Mick Wallace. McGovern was appointed to the Court of Appeal in June 2018.