Team size: Ten

What are the most significant cases or transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in?

Our legal team takes a lead role in all key legal engagements across the Fexco’s multiple domestic and international businesses. This includes a significant volume of commercial contract advisory work, support to the various Fexco businesses on their customer and supplier contracts as well as supporting Fexco’s growth by acquisition strategy through M&A advisory work.

Recent commercial contracts advisory work includes advising Fexco on all aspects of the product design, launch and operation of PACE, a net zero carbon analysis Saas platform for the global aviation sector

Recent M&A highlights include acting for: Fexco in its acquisition of Ireland’s leading firm of loss assessors, OMC Claims; Fexco’s UK retail foreign exchange business, No 1 Currency in the acquisition of the business of Fair FX; and Fexco’s UK property management business, Fexco Property Services, in the acquisition of the Inspired Property Management group.

The team also advised: Fexco on the sale of subsidiary business, Fexco Tax Free, to Planet; Fexco Merchant Service on the design launch and implementation of its Open Connect business, including negotiating material customer contracts; and advising Fexco on a €10m investment in the sustainable loan initiative being overseen by the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland.

As a general counsel, how do you anticipate and prepare for potential legal and regulatory challenges that may arise, particularly in light of emerging technologies and evolving business landscapes?

Horizon scanning forms a core part of our engagement with Fexco business units, group innovation and our team’s L&D programme. As a financial services or fintech company with several businesses that are regulated or authorised in their operating companies, our legal team is continually working to ensure that we stay ahead of the curve in applicable regulatory developments.

We support our businesses to have the necessary frameworks in place to not only comply with the legislative changes arising from advances in technology and innovation in areas like financial regulation, AI, digital assets and climate tech, but also to identify and benefit from the opportunities presented by these advances. A core pillar of our legal team strategy is to ensure that our team members have the right mix of up-to-date technical expertise and professional development strategies, and that we adopt a proactive and innovative mindset in all engagements with our business stakeholders.

How do you see the general counsel role evolving in Ireland over the next five-ten years?

The in-house sector is growing significantly (currently representing 25% of solicitors in Ireland) and I expect this trend to continue as companies realise the benefit of having an integrated legal partner. The role of general counsel has already evolved from simply a legal advisor to the business to being a trusted strategic partner who has a deep understanding of the business and can add value beyond the provision of legal advice.

I anticipate that general counsel in Ireland will continue to undertake additional workstreams which align to their skillset; for instance, Chief ESG officer, Chief AI Officer, as these areas continue to grow. I also expect to see a rise in the concept of the “fractional GC”.

In-house lawyers are more frequently seeking variety and flexibility in their careers. Working with different companies (to support a specific project or strategy, or design the implementation of a new legal function) will be appealing to general counsel looking for a new challenge. It will also support businesses who need legal support, without having to commit to a full-time resource.