About
“We have been providing cost efficient and effective legal services for over 30 years.”
West Lex Solicitors LLP, is an award winning legal firm, with offices based in Swinford, Co. Mayo & Athlone, Co. Westmeath. Previously known as FG Phelan & Company, it provides a comprehensive range of legal services to individuals and businesses throughout Ireland and across Europe.
FG Phelan & Company was founded in 1980 by Mr. Fintan Phelan, Solicitor to provide legal services to the people of Swinford and the surrounding area. The firm was acquired in 2008 by Michael Smyth & Brendan Donnnelly. In 2018, it was rebranded as West Lex Solicitors LLP.
The firm has continued to grow and thrive. Today, it remains a proudly independent, owner-managed practice, representing numerous local enterprises and thousands of clients both nationally and internationally.
Our Solicitors
Michael Smyth B.A., L.L.B, L.L.M.
Partner & Solicitor
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Michael Smyth is the Managing Partner of West Lex Solicitors LLP. A qualified solicitor since 2006, Michael brings a diverse background to the firm . He is a former Army Officer and has also served as a County Councillor with Mayo County Council, including a term as Chairman.
Michael has extensive experience in both commercial and civil litigation and
provides strategic and practical litigation advice to clients involved in Insurance claims and banking disputes. He advises a broad range of commercial and corporate clients providing Company Law and Company Secretarial advice relating to Acquisitions and Banking. He has experience in providing insurance advice on BI claims for a wide variety of commercial clients. Recent transactions include providing legal support for a corporate client in relation to a city centre hotel development in Dublin.
Michael’s expertise spans Commercial Property, Securities, Business Finance, Company
Acquisitions and Corporate Restructurings. A skilled and strategic negotiator, Michael draws on both his legal background and military experience to provide practical insights into risk management.
Throughout his career, Michael has demonstrated strong knowledge, professionalism and integrity. He holds a a masters’ degree in Corporate Finance and a Diploma in Insurance Law. He acts as a chairperson in Mental Health Tribunals and remains involved in GAA and local community development.
Brendan Donnelly B.A., L.L.B.
Partner & Solicitor
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Brendan holds BA (Hons) & LLB (Hons) Degrees and qualified as a solicitor in 1996. He leads our Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department.
With nearly 30 years of experience Brendan has represented clients across all courts , including District Court, Circuit Court, High Court, Central Criminal Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.
Brendan manages a diverse and demanding caseload involving various aspects of Litigation such as Personal Injury, Medical Negligence, Criminal Law and General Litigation.
Brendan has served as a Legal Representative on the Mental Health Tribunals since their inception in 2006.
He also represents Guardians Ad Litem in the District and Circuit Courts and has been appointed by the High Court to act as and Independent Solicitor/Guardian Ad Litem for vulnerable individuals.
Patricia Smyth B.A., L.L.B.
Solicitor
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Patricia qualified as a Solicitor in 2010 and is a senior solicitor in the firm’s Property & Private Client Department. Patricia provides expert legal advice in the areas of Conveyancing, Landlord and Tenant Law, Agricultural Law, and Probate.
Before joining West Lex Solicitors in 2012, Patricia gained valuable experience in two prominent Dublin law firms where she specialised in Property and Banking Law before returning to her native Mayo .
Patricia is dedicated to offering clients clear, efficient and high quality legal services delivered with professionalism and care.
Patricia tutors in Conveyancing and Landlord and Tenant on The Law Society of Ireland PPC 1 course.
Julie Doyle BCL, Dip. Comm Prop., PME
Solicitor
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Julie was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in Ireland in 2001. She holds a Diploma in Commercial Property Law from the Law Society of Ireland and a Professional Masters in Education. In 2025 she was named Regional Winner (Connaught/Ulster) Property Lawyer of the Year at the LEAP Irish Law Awards.
Julie brings a wealth of experience in Residential and Commercial Property Law, Landlord and Tenant Law, Probate Law and Banking Law to the firm. With over 20 years of legal practice in Dublin, including working in 3 of Ireland’s largest law firms in Private Client & Commercial Property Departments, Julie has advised on complex, large- scale multi property acquisitions and disposals of development land. She has acted for developers in site development, estate setup of privately managed residential and mixed-use schemes, the development and construction of social housing sites and forward funding.
She has advised landlords and tenants of large retail shopping centres/industrial/office units and advised on residential tenancy matters. She has wide experience in Banking and Secured Lending having worked in-house with two of Ireland’s leading banks where she advised on the acquisition and disposal of high-volume loan portfolios, providing specialist advice on NAMA, receiverships, restructuring and insolvency matters. She represented another of Ireland’s leading banks on a large regulatory remediation project.
Julie’s particular expertise straddles Corporate Governance and Charity Law. As a former Head of Legal Services for one of Irelands largest social housing charities, she advised on governance, regulatory compliance, data protection. With a PME in primary education she has a particular interest in Education Law & has lectured on Education Law in the Law Society where she has also lectured & tutored on Property Law & for the Dublin Solicitor’s Bar Association (DSBA). A GAA enthusiast she has a keen interest in Sports Law.
Julie served for 8 years as an elected member of the DSBA including 2 terms as Honorary Secretary. She is a former chair of the DSBA Conveyancing Committee and currently serves on the editorial committee of its award-winning publication ‘The Parchment’. She is a former member of the Law Society’s Conveyancing Committee & a past chairperson of Mayo Association Dublin. She is a member of the Institute of Bankers, the Sports Law Association of Ireland & the DSBA.
We provide practical and prompt solutions to your legal challenges using a client-centred approach. These are some of the areas of law we deal with: