About

Heading up global leader Western Union’s Irish legal and compliance functions, Feidhlimidh Wrafter stands apart in his exceptional regulatory knowledge and cross-border experience. Sources particularly note his development of European-wide controls in consumer and data protection. ‘My dual role as head of legal and compliance is particularly relevant in the current regulated financial services environment’, he says. ‘I’ve moved beyond a strategic advisory role to a deep understanding of how to implement compliance and manage legal and regulatory risk at an operational level’. During his time as Irish Bank Resolution Corporation’s legacy claims head, he provided crucial support during its nationalisation, handling several high profile civil and criminal proceedings. Managing a growing team, Wrafter established Western Union’s Irish compliance program from scratch and has led a number of initiatives, in efforts to strengthen ties with the business function. ‘Working in a global company like Western Union provides a fantastic opportunity to develop one’s understanding of how legal advice and the implementation of compliance practice are best adapted to meet the needs of the group’, Wrafter says. In his view, law firms should focus on really understanding client objectives. ‘The primary challenge for outside counsel working with in-house colleagues is to ensure that they understand their clients’ business models and tailor their advice to meet their clients’ external advisory requirements’.