Team size: 24

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

My team recently ran a strategic acquisition of a niche tax business and has been heavily involved in the post-acquisition integration plan. We have also recently closed several material client MSA negotiations, providing our business with a multi-year platform through which to engage quickly and efficiently with some of our largest clients. Finally, we have very recently settled – on favourable terms – a significant, long-running multi-jurisdictional contentious matter.

How have you attempted to bring the legal department closer to your business colleagues?

I introduced the concept of the ‘legal business partner’ three years ago. Each of Deloitte’s key business units now has a dedicated senior lawyer as its legal business partner – this allows the lawyer in question to build deeper knowledge and understanding of the business unit, the legal challenges and opportunities it faces, and the personalities in leadership roles. It also plays a powerful role in helping our client-facing colleagues view the legal team as part of their wider team, and rapidly builds deep trust, which enables more open and earlier conversations with the legal team, particularly on potentially challenged negotiations or client projects.

How does the in-house legal function contribute to the overall dispute resolution strategy of the organisation?

The legal team owns the dispute resolution strategy for Deloitte Ireland. Deloitte is consistently ranked as the world’s most valuable professional services brand, and the organisation acknowledges and supports the critical role the legal team plays in protecting and enhancing the strength of Deloitte’s reputation. The firm’s executive leadership places a great deal of trust in the advice the general counsel and the legal team provide around legal strategy, litigation priorities, and resolution of disputes.