About

Jennifer Adams began her career in private practise at LK Shields Solicitors soon after qualifying in 2003, having trained at another commercial firm in Dublin, Eugene F. Collins. After a spell in private practice, she moved in-house and joined Dalkia, part of the broader Veolia group, as legal counsel in 2011. Following Dalkia’s absorption within the Veolia business she took over the role of Veolia’s head of legal for Ireland in 2015. Her current role covers Veolia’s entire business portfolio of water, waste and energy services in Ireland. Adams has worked to establish a legal function within the business in Ireland. She identifies that, ‘developing strong relationships with key stakeholders and colleagues in the business has enabled me to progressively build the impact and influence that the legal department has within the business, to its position today as an integral part of how Veolia is managed in Ireland’. In recognition of her achievements and management, Adams was promoted to head of legal, Ireland in 2015. Adams highlights that it has ‘been a challenge both in terms of the variety and complexity of work involved as it covers the full breadth of the business’ services (energy, waste and water), dealing with issues ranging from customer contracts to M&A, infrastructural projects, and various funding and business models’. Veolia is now working in partnership with Irish Water to develop and operate a new 75 million litres per day water treatment plant at Vartry, Co Wicklow. Designed to meet the growing and future needs of the population of Dublin, the new plant will secure the existing supply and forms part of Irish Water’s €200m investment plan in the Vartry Water Supply Scheme and will supply safe and sustainable drinking water to around 200,000 people in the Greater Dublin region. Veolia is also currently working with Irish Water on an €80m and 400,000 population equivalent upgrade to the Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is the largest wastewater treatment plant in Ireland. Adams have also been working with Veolia’s specialist energy performance team on the recent 15 year Energy Infrastructure Project Agreement for Dublin’s Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, which will reduce the hospital’s carbon footprint by approximately 81,000 tonnes, cut imported electricity from the national grid by 77%, and deliver €26m in guaranteed energy and operational savings. This was the first Carbon Energy Fund Ireland (CEFI) contract awarded for a hospital in Ireland. Adams highlights that ‘through these experiences I have gained a greater appreciation for the impact that a strong and adaptable legal function can have to influence and support sustainable growth and the importance of having open dialogue within the team as to what we want to achieve and the best way to get there. Having strong relationships and supporters throughout the business, who understand what my role and motivations are, has helped me to develop and influence others both as an adviser and business partner’.