Michael Doherty

Professor Michael Doherty is a Full Professor of Law at Maynooth University's School of Law and Criminology, where he has been a faculty member since 2013 and served as Head of School from 2013-2022. His academic career spans over two decades with previous positions at Dublin City University from 2004-2013.

His educational background includes:

• LL.B from Trinity College Dublin
• LL.M from Queens' College Cambridge
• PhD (on Irish Trade Union Membership) from Trinity College Dublin
• Called to the Irish Bar in 2002 (Honorable Society of King's Inns)

Professor Doherty's research focuses on employment and labour law, industrial relations, and EU labor policy, with particular expertise in collective employment rights, employee representation, trade union roles, and social pacts in socio-economic governance. His work bridges theoretical scholarship with practical policy applications, as evidenced by his numerous collaborations with European institutions and Irish government bodies. His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on contemporary labor challenges including platform work, minimum wage regulation, worker classification, and collective bargaining in the digital economy.

Professor Doherty has received significant recognition for his expertise:

• Appointed by the Irish Government in 2021 as Chair of a High Level Group reviewing industrial relations and collective bargaining in Ireland
• Past President of the Irish Association of Law Teachers
• Member of several European research networks examining labor law in the EU
• Serves on editorial boards including Employee Relations, Journal of Law and Politics, and Irish Employment Law Journal

As an academic leader and researcher, Professor Doherty has supervised multiple PhD students working on employment rights, public procurement, and human rights implementation. His research projects include significant EU-funded work on public procurement, cross-border working conditions, and platform work. He is also a frequent media contributor on labor relations issues and has worked extensively with the European Commission and European Parliament on labor policy matters.