Team size:  130

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

We are a progressive multi-disciplinary legal team that advises across corporate, commercial, treasury, real estate, employment, data privacy, digitalisation, banking products and financial services. We also advise on litigation and dispute resolution, business and corporate lending, and on emerging areas like artificial intelligence, cyber and digital and operational resilience.

Our legal teams have advised on some of AIB’s most important strategic matters, with recent examples including closing out the acquisition of multi-billion euro commercial and mortgage loan books; the integration of large new customer bases; market leading treasury euro and dollar funding transactions, including green bond issuances which support our sustainability ambitions; significant litigation including the successful defence of a high profile multi-million pound claim against the bank in the UK High Court; and digital programmes that are transforming the way we deliver our products to our customers.

In general, what would you like to see change about the law firms you use?

Our relationships with our law firms work best when our external firms position themselves as our valued and strategic partners, as well as our trusted advisors.  As the legal market evolves, particularly with the onset of AI and enhanced legal operations, we want firms to be proactive in approaching us with innovative service offerings.  We would like firms to offer creative billing models and to see the benefit of technology reflected in fee levels. AIB leads and is highly visible on ESG.  We want to work with likeminded suppliers.

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?

Be proactive. Know what is on the horizon, not only for changing laws and regulations, but also industry trends, technology advancements and new business areas.  Assess the impact of these and any associated legal risk or challenge to your organisation and develop strategies to address it commercially, with your business and risk teams.

Be agile. The business landscape is constantly evolving, and rapid change is being brought with technology.  Legal has to be agile to adapt to these changes, adjust strategies, respond quickly to challenges and seize opportunities.

A good example of both of these skills is the fast-moving pace of AI. A general counsel must proactively prepare for this to ensure their business is ready to mitigate any legal risk posed and comply with the upcoming AI Act – but must also be agile to embrace it, as AI presents huge opportunities to legal functions to drive operational efficiency in the way we deliver our legal services.

How much influence do you, as a general counsel, have on the diversity and inclusion policies of your organisation?

AIB leads on inclusion and diversity matters as the first bank and the largest employer in Ireland to be awarded the ‘Investors in Diversity’ Gold accreditation by the Irish Centre for Diversity.

AIB’s general counsel is chairperson of the bank’s Inclusion and Diversity Council, a formal governance forum established to input, support and help lead the I&D strategy in collaboration with the bank’s I&D team. The effectiveness of the Council, driven by the general counsel, has supported milestone achievements in 2023 for AIB, including but not limited to:

3,000 People Leaders completed Inclusive Leadership training.

1,000+ hiring managers trained on inclusive recruitment.

New iLearn modules on Disability Inclusion and Bullying & Harassment.

Signed Women in Finance Charter (Ire).

27 apprentices joined AIB as part of the second intake of its Apprenticeship programme.

First internship with Trinity Centre for People with Intellectual Disabilities (TCPID).

Hosted a free Menopause Friendly Employer workshop for local businesses.