About

‘The biggest challenge we face, and continue to face, is the speed with which the industry is changing’, Margaret Ahearn says. ‘Financial solutions fit for today may be archaic next year or even in six months’ time!  As such, we as lawyers must be comfortable to live in a constant state of change and must be open, flexible and innovative in the solutions we provide to our internal clients’. Covering a significant proportion of Hewlett Packard’s EMEA operations and leading global accounts’ legal support, Ahearn ‘thinks outside the box’. Her contribution has been felt both inside and outside the bank, and she is increasingly engaged in industry debate over best practice and legislative change. With her wide international remit, Ahearn has handled significant strategic transactions and played a central role in HPFS’s regional growth. For Ahearn, winning the trust of the business has been a personal professional highlight. This was illustrated when she was shortlisted for the bank’s Winner’s Circle list, recognising exceptional performance across the business. ‘Change is a constant within the HPFS legal department’, Ahearn says.  She has made it a focus to constantly update and optimise processes, and has led several training sessions for internal clients, empowering them to take greater ownership in routine matters. ‘This has allowed me to free up time so I can concentrate on more strategic matters’, she explains. When it comes to outside counsel, she values ‘reponsiveness’ to reflect the speed of the business she supports. Ahearn obtained first class honours in the Irish Management Institute’s Leadership diploma in 2014. She began her career in private practice, spending 10 years at Hanahoe & Hanahoe and reaching associate level, before joining HPFS in 2009.