AC Audio

In this episode of our podcast, Jennifer Duffy and Aaron Tangney, Senior Associates in our Financial Regulation Group, discuss what firms need to know when seeking regulatory authorisation in Ireland. They explore why Ireland continues to attract a broad range of applicants seeking authorisation as payment institutions, e-money institutions, MiFID investment firms and crypto-asset service providers, and examine the role of the Central Bank of Ireland as a supervisory authority.Jennifer and Aaron outline the practical steps involved in the authorisation process, including the importance of establishing genuine local substance, strong governance frameworks, effective board oversight and appropriately resourced management teams.

In our latest podcast episode, Michael Egan, Senior Director in our Legal Technology Group and Governance and Consulting Services Group, is joined by Louise O’Byrne, Partner in our Employment Group and Head of the Commercial Group, to discuss how technology is shaping employment investigations and workplace relations. From scenarios such as data exfiltration to allegations of misconduct, the conversation explores the increasing complexity of modern investigations and the growing role of digital evidence across multiple platforms, as well as the evolving impact of AI tools in this space.

In this episode of our podcast, Sarah Thompson and Rob Cain, partners in our Financial Regulation Group, break down the major current talking points on Article 21c of CRD IV as amended by CRD VI, which will restrict third‑country institutions providing core banking services into the EU from January 2027. They discuss the current uncertainty around Irish implementation, the impact of the July 2026 grandfathering cut-off, and the practical steps firms are already taking to reassess booking models, decision‑making structures and cross‑border service delivery.  For more information on our Financial Regulation Group, please visit: https://www.arthurcox.com/services/financial-regulation/

In this podcast episode, Ciara McDermott and Declan MacQuillan, Senior Associates in our Employment Group explore the EU Platform Work Directive and the significant changes it will introduce for organisations operating in the platform economy. They examine the three core pillars of the Directive, including the rebuttable presumption of employment, increased regulation of the use of algorithms, and enhanced data protection obligations, and what these mean in practice for worker classification, transparency and governance.They also share practical, experience-driven guidance on preparing for implementation, from conducting worker classification audits and interrogating algorithmic systems to strengthening data governance and cross-functional training. With the December 2026 transposition deadline approaching, they highlight the importance of early compliance planning and taking proactive steps now. For more information on our Employment Group, visit: https://www.arthurcox.com/services/employment/

In this episode of our resilience series, Siobhán McBean, Partner in our Asset Management and Investment Funds Groupand Vivian Spies, Senior Associate in our Technology and Innovation Group, explore the evolving challenges facing regulated firms as they navigate increasing ICT complexity, heightened cyber threats, and rising regulatory expectations. They share practical, experience‑driven guidance on strengthening resilience, from eliminating legacy systems to improving patching discipline, enhancing employee awareness, and ensuring boards maintain meaningful oversight. They also discuss the Central Bank of Ireland’s expectations around local accountability, including the growing emphasis on CIO and DPO roles.For more information on our Technology and Innovation Group, visit: https://www.arthurcox.com/services/technology-and-innovation/

In our latest podcast episode, Colin Rooney, Partner and Head of Technology and Innovation, and Michael Egan, Senior Director in Legal Technology, Governance and Consulting Services, discuss the rise of GenAI in legal services and how it is accelerating document‑heavy legal work such as investigations, cyber incident response and DSARs.The conversation also highlights how GenAI is being applied to repeatable processes such as Data Protection Impact Assessments. By combining legal expertise, regulatory guidance and secure GenAI workflows, we have developed scalable solutions that significantly reduce time and cost, while preserving legal judgement and oversight. When embedded correctly, GenAI has the potential to transform how complex, data‑intensive legal work is delivered for clients. For more information, please visit arthurcox.com/legaltech

In our latest resilience episode, Ian Duffy, Partner in our Technology and Innovation Group, is joined by Denise Murray, Head of Financial Services, Compliance and Regulatory Relations, to explore how third‑party and intragroup arrangements are shaping operational resilience for regulated firms.With outsourcing deeply embedded across the financial services ecosystem, the conversation looks at:• Why third‑party and sub‑outsourcing arrangements can significantly impact a firm’s resilience profile• How regulators are increasing their focus on critical and important services under frameworks such as DORA and CBI guidance• The importance of robust risk assessments, due diligence and ongoing oversight• What firms should expect from vendors around resilience testing, business continuity and incident response• Why contracts, governance and clear communication are critical when disruptions occurThe discussion also considers concentration risk, chain outsourcing, and the often‑overlooked challenges of intragroup service arrangements, including autonomy, conflicts of interest and exit planning.

In the latest episode from our Resilience series, Ciaran Flynn, Head of Governance and Consulting Services, is joined by Sarah Thompson, Partner and Head of our Financial Regulation Group, as they explore how increased regulatory scrutiny is reshaping financial resilience across the Irish market.From stress testing and liquidity buffers to capital planning and ICAAP/ILAAP integration, the conversation covers need-to-know topics relating to financial resilience, including :How ECB and CBI expectations are changing firm behaviourThe real-world impact on smaller and mid-sized firmsWhy early detection, clear communication and regulator engagement are criticalHow firms can better integrate resilience planning into day‑to‑day risk management

In this episode of our Resilience series, “How to respond to an ICT-related incident,” Denise Murray, Head of Financial Services Compliance and Regulatory Relations, is joined by Ian Duffy, Partner in our Technology and Innovation Group. They share practical insights on identifying and managing ICT incidents, from phishing attacks and supply chain compromises to large-scale cyber breaches. The discussion covers activating response plans, engaging stakeholders, and meeting relevant regulatory obligations including under DORA and GDPR. They also highlight why documenting decisions during fast-moving disruptions and conducting lessons-learned reviews are essential for an effective and compliant response to incidents. For more insights and to access our resilience playbook, visit arthurcox.com/resilience.

In this episode of our Resilience series, “Mapping interconnections and interdependencies,” Denise Murray, Head of Financial Services Compliance and Regulatory Relations, and Ciaran Flynn, Head of Governance and Consulting Services, discuss how firms can strengthen resilience by mapping the critical connections between people, processes, technology, and third‑party providers. They explain how combining a top‑down view of licensed activities with a bottom‑up perspective from business continuity planning enables organisations to identify vulnerabilities and build a more robust resilience framework.

Siobhán McBean, Partner in our Asset Management and Investment Funds Group and Ciaran Flynn, Head of Governance and Consulting Services, discuss the latest changes in operational and digital resilience, focusing on recent updates from the Central Bank of Ireland. These updates bring local regulatory guidance into closer alignment with the EU’s Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), encouraging firms to adopt DORA’s standards as best practice. They explain why organisations now need to maintain separate but aligned frameworks for operational risk and operational resilience, and stress the importance of addressing both internal and external critical business functions to ensure robust protection against disruption.

In this episode of our podcast series, Louise O’Byrne, Partner, and Hannah O’Farrell, Senior Associate, in our Employment Group discuss the incoming EU Pay Transparency Directive, in particular its implementation, key changes that will be brought about by the Directive, and in particular, the practical impact of new employee information rights.  The discussion focuses on how employers can prepare for the Directive, and what impact the Directive will have in practice .

The Corporate Graduate Programme is a two-year programme designed to help graduates decide which area of legal services is the right fit for them. The programme is for graduates of law, or those who have had exposure to law or corporate governance within their degree. In our latest video podcast, some of our corporate graduates discuss their experiences with the programme, give an overview of what they have learned and share some advice for anyone considering applying before the deadline of 22 May 2025.

The Data Act, effective from January 11, 2024, is reshaping the digital landscape, driving competition, and innovation through enhanced data sharing. Recognising the vast potential of data generated by connected products, this legislation is set to standardise access to both personal and non-personal data from IoT devices. We’ve amalgamated our Data Act Video Series into a comprehensive podcast episode, bringing you expert insights from our Technology and Innovation Group on data access, sharing obligations and cloud switching provisions.

In our latest podcast, Deirdre Cummins, Of Counsel in our Pensions Group, is joined by colleagues Daniel Watters and Sarah McCague to delve into key updates in Irish pensions law. From "DORA Day" to the upcoming implementation of auto-enrolment and key case law on retirement age, this conversation unpacks the challenges trustees and employers face, offering practical advice to stay compliant in this evolving regulatory landscape. Full video of podcast available here: https://youtu.be/wvNZ7PhlARk

The NIS 2 Directive, represents a significant advancement in the European Union’s approach to cybersecurity. Building on the foundations of the original NIS Directive, NIS 2 expands its scope to cover a broader range of sectors and entities, ensuring that critical infrastructure across the EU is better protected against cyber threats. The directive introduces stricter cybersecurity requirements, including enhanced measures for securing supply chains and detailed reporting obligations. Last year, our Technology and Innovation Group created a 3 part series, led by Vivian Spies, which has been collated into this podcast episode. This podcast will focus on new requirements, cybersecurity risk management and reporting, and liability and governance under NIS2.

The long-awaited Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Act 2024 was signed into law by the President on 9 July 2024. This Act will impact every business in the country which has employees. In this podcast episode, Sarah McCague, Partner, Deirdre Cummins, Of Counsel and Daniel Watters, Senior Associate in our Pensions Group discuss the main changes to the final form legislation when compared to the draft Bill as initially published, and give practical tips on what employers should do next to get ready for AE.

In the latest episode of 'Company Law: Back to Basics', Dr Tom Courtney, Partner and Suzanne Kearney, Of Counsel, discuss the Supreme Court decision in McCool v Honeywell and its ramifications for company law. They explore the legal landscape of asset transactions by directors and shareholders. This marks Tom Courtney’s final episode in the series. After three years and nearly 12,000 plays his expert analysis has been invaluable, and this episode is a fitting finale to the wealth of knowledge he has shared over the years. The "Back to Basics" series will continue in the autumn, so stayed tuned for more insights with Suzanne Kearney and Aisling Carey.  Disclaimer: The contents of this podcast are to assist access to information and do not constitute legal or other advice. Specific advice should be sought in relation to specific cases. If you would like more information on this topic, please contact a member of our team or your usual Arthur Cox contact.

In the third episode of “Conversations in Competition”, Ronan Scanlan, Of Counsel at Arthur Cox has a wide-ranging discussion with Alba Ribera Martínez, University Lecturer and Editor of Journal of European Competition Law covering the Digital Markets Act, including the gatekeeper designation process, the compliance reports, workshops, current investigations and next steps; how the DMA will interact with national enforcement; the Commission’s new Article 102 Guidance; and how Advocate General Emiliou’s Opinion in Illumina / Grail might impact on the DMA requirement on gatekeepers to notify below-threshold mergers via Article 22 EUMR. Disclaimer: The contents of this podcast are to assist access to information and do not constitute legal or other advice. Specific advice should be sought in relation to specific cases. If you would like more information on this topic, please contact a member of our team or your usual Arthur Cox contact.

In this episode of Back to Basics, Suzanne Kearney, Of Counsel and Tom Courtney, Partner discuss dividends, focusing on the requirements to be satisfied in order to pay a dividend, who dividends are paid to, and the consequences of paying an unlawful dividend. Disclaimer: The contents of this podcast are to assist access to information and do not constitute legal or other advice. Specific advice should be sought in relation to specific cases. If you would like more information on this topic, please contact a member of our team or your usual Arthur Cox contact.

In this second episode of AC Audio’s "Conversations in Competition", Ronan Scanlan, Of Counsel at Arthur Cox speaks to Dr. Lara Stoimenova, Managing Director at Sigma Economics, about how recent developments in EU Telecoms Regulation, the Revised Market Definition notice, and the EC White Paper will impact the Tech Sector and the recent DMA Gatekeeper Designations. Episode Structure: Minutes 0 – 2: Introduction Minutes 2 – 7: Overview of EU Telecoms Regulation – Market Definition, SMP, Remedies and the 3 criteria-test Minutes 7 – 11: Recent Developments in Telecoms – Still retail competition vs. investment Minutes 11 – 18: Revised Market Definition Notice – SSNDQ and beyond Minutes 18 – 24: EC White Paper – An attempt to answer the challenges for 5G rollout and investments, and completing the telecoms single market, a convergence with telecoms players and the digital market Minutes 26 – 32: Cross-application of Telecoms Regulation and lessons for the DMA – Be clear about your objectives, difficulties of prescribing behaviour, and lack of specificity Minutes 32 – 34: Closing Disclaimer: The contents of this podcast are to assist access to information and do not constitute legal or other advice. Specific advice should be sought in relation to specific cases. If you would like more information on this topic, please contact a member of our team or your usual Arthur Cox contact.

In this episode of AC Audio "Conversations in Competition", Ronan Scanlan, Of Counsel at Arthur Cox and Dave Foster, Director of Frontier Economics, speak about developments in the world of competition law in 2023/2024, including the shifting role of competition regulators in a polycrisis, the developing approach to big tech and firms with market power, and new ways of assessing harm and benefit in reviewing acquisitions in this space. Disclaimer: The contents of this podcast are to assist access to information and do not constitute legal or other advice. Specific advice should be sought in relation to specific cases. If you would like more information on this topic, please contact a member of our team or your usual Arthur Cox contact.

In this panel discussion from our Digital Reform: Insights and Regulators’ Perspectives seminar which took place in May 2023, Aoife Mac Ardle, Senior Associate in our Technology and Innovation Group, moderates a discussion on “Online Content: New Areas of Regulation”, focusing on the GDPR and the Digital Services Act. The topics discussed include children’s data, harmful content, online advertising and sponsored content, dark patterns, and operational compliance under the Digital Services Act. Disclaimer: The contents of this podcast are to assist access to information and do not constitute legal or other advice. Specific advice should be sought in relation to specific cases. If you would like more information on this topic, please contact a member of our team or your usual Arthur Cox contact.

In our latest episode, Suzanne Kearney and Dr Tom Courtney discuss corporate authority - who are authorised to bind companies as matter of Irish law? They also discuss the various forms of authority, delegation of authority and practical steps to establish whether not a person has authority. Disclaimer: The contents of this podcast are to assist access to information and do not constitute legal or other advice. Specific advice should be sought in relation to specific cases. If you would like more information on this topic, please contact a member of our team or your usual Arthur Cox contact.

In this recording from our seminar on 18 May 2023 on Digital Reform, Insights and Regulators’ Perspectives, Olivia Mullooly, Partner in the Technology and Innovation Group and Head of Intellectual Property at Arthur Cox, opens the event with some scene setting, providing a brief overview of the legislative landscape for digital content and services. Disclaimer: The contents of this podcast are to assist access to information and do not constitute legal or other advice. Specific advice should be sought in relation to specific cases. If you would like more information on this topic, please contact a member of our team or your usual Arthur Cox contact.

The inclusion of “optional provisions” was one of the key innovations introduced by the Companies Act 2014. In this episode, Suzanne Kearney and Tom Courtney focus on these statutory default provisions which apply and which govern a company’s internal administration, unless a company’s constitution provides otherwise. Disclaimer: The contents of this podcast are to assist access to information and do not constitute legal or other advice. Specific advice should be sought in relation to specific cases. If you would like more information on this topic, please contact a member of our team or your usual Arthur Cox contact.

In this podcast, Ian Duffy, Partner and Ciara Anderson, Senior Associate from our Technology and Innovation Group look at the new regulation around data protection, outsourcing, operational resilience and information security. They look at the recent and emerging laws in the space including the Digital Operations Resilience Act (DORA), Revised Network and Information Directive (NIZ 2) and the soon-to-be finalised Artificial Intelligence Act and how they are relevant to technology services providers. They also look at the current regulatory obligations that apply to fintech providers and how they can ensure they are complying with these. Disclaimer: The contents of this podcast are to assist access to information and do not constitute legal or other advice. Specific advice should be sought in relation to specific cases. If you would like more information on this topic, please contact a member of our team or your usual Arthur Cox contact.

In this podcast, Rob Corbet, Partner and Head of the Technology and Innovation Group moderates a panel discussion on content moderation as part of our recent Digital Reform: Insights and Regulators’ Perspectives event. The topics covered by the panel include key changes for content moderation programmes, considering AI in content moderation, new rules for content moderation, and content removal and governance obligations under the Digital Services Act. The other speakers on this podcast include Olivia Mullooly, Partner and Head of our Intellectual Property team, Ciara Anderson and Rosemarie Blake, Senior Associates, Technology and Innovation. Disclaimer: The contents of this podcast are to assist access to information and do not constitute legal or other advice. Specific advice should be sought in relation to specific cases. If you would like more information on this topic, please contact a member of our team or your usual Arthur Cox contact.

One of the four key pillars of the new Individual Accountability Framework is stronger Central Bank enforcement capabilities. Amelia Walsh and Deirdre O'Mahony discuss what the Central Bank of Ireland will be able to investigate individuals for under the new regime, including breaches of new conduct rules and the new duty of responsibility. Disclaimer: The contents of this podcast are to assist access to information and do not constitute legal or other advice. Specific advice should be sought in relation to specific cases. If you would like more information on this topic, please contact a member of our team or your usual Arthur Cox contact. #ACLaw #financialregulation #IAF #SEAR

In our latest Company Law: Back to Basics episode, Suzanne Kearney and Dr Tom Courtney discuss 'Piercing the Corporate Veil'. They discuss the benefits of a company having separate legal personalities, while also identify the areas of risk reflecting on the rare case when the corporate veil is pierced and the court overrides the principle of separate legal personalities. Disclaimer: The contents of this podcast are to assist access to information and do not constitute legal or other advice. Specific advice should be sought in relation to specific cases. If you would like more information on this topic, please contact a member of our team or your usual Arthur Cox contact.

In this episode, Maedhbh Clancy, Of Counsel in our Finance Group and Sarah Thompson, Partner in our Financial Regulation Group, discuss the new Individual Accountability Framework, one of the most significant changes to financial services regulation in many years, and give an overview of the key pillars of the framework. Disclaimer: The contents of this podcast are to assist access to information and do not constitute legal or other advice. Specific advice should be sought in relation to specific cases. If you would like more information on this topic, please contact a member of our team or your usual Arthur Cox contact.

In this episode, Ian Duffy, Partner, Technology and Innovation, is joined by Ciara Anderson, Senior Associate, to discuss the incoming Digital Operational Resilience Act or DORA and the Network and Information Systems Directive Number 2 or NIS 2. Disclaimer: The contents of this podcast are to assist access to information and do not constitute legal or other advice. Specific advice should be sought in relation to specific cases. If you would like more information on this topic, please contact a member of our team or your usual Arthur Cox contact.

ESG or Environmental, Social and Governance factors have recently become a hot topic in the financial services and indeed in the pensions industry. But what are the legal obligations on trustees of occupational pension schemes in relation to considering ESG factors and implementing ESG decisions and is ESG here to stay? In this audio briefing, Sarah McCague, partner, and Katie Lawless, Associate, talk about pensions and Environmental, Social and Governance factors known as ESG, whether pension schemes trustees have to consider ESG when investing, the interaction between ESG and IORP II legislation, Trustees’ fiduciary duties and ESG investment. Disclaimer: The contents of this podcast are to assist access to information and do not constitute legal or other advice. Specific advice should be sought in relation to specific cases. If you would like more information on this topic, please contact a member of our team or your usual Arthur Cox contact.

The Companies Act 2014 has recently been amended, requiring for the first time in statute that directors of companies, unable, or likely to be unable, to pay their debts must have regard to the interests of creditors. In this episode, Suzanne Kearney, Of Counsel in the Corporate and M&A Department in Arthur Cox, and Tom Courtney, Partner, discuss Directors’ Duties, what these duties are and what they mean for companies and their directors. They will also discuss the most recent development in this area - the new statutory duty to have regard to the interests of the company’s creditors. Disclaimer: The contents of this podcast are to assist access to information and do not constitute legal or other advice. Specific advice should be sought in relation to specific cases. If you would like more information on this topic, please contact a member of our team or your usual Arthur Cox contact.

As many of our listeners will already be aware, the Companies (Corporate Enforcement Authority) Act 2021 was signed into law last December and was recently commenced. This Act introduces significant structural reform to the corporate crime enforcement regime in Ireland by amending the Companies Act 2014 to establish an independent statutory authority, namely the Corporate Enforcement Authority replacing the current Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, or ODCE, within the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Today, Suzanne Kearney, Of Counsel in the Corporate and M&A Department in Arthur Cox and Tom Courtney, Partner at Arthur Cox are joined by Joanelle O’Cleirigh, Partner in the Litigation, Dispute Resolution and Investigations Department at Arthur Cox to discuss some observations on how the new Authority is likely to impact the enforcement of company law for companies and in particular for company directors. Disclaimer: The contents of this podcast are to assist access to information and do not constitute legal or other advice. Specific advice should be sought in relation to specific cases. If you would like more information on this topic, please contact a member of our team or your usual Arthur Cox contact.

The Gender Pay Gap Information Act, 2021 was signed into law in July 2021. Just last month, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability Integration and Youth made regulations requiring certain employers to publish information in relation to the gender pay gap in their organisations. In addition, employers will be required to publish the measures taken by them to eliminate or reduce the gender pay gap. With the spotlight being shone on different levels of pay between men and women in the workplace, should similar consideration be given to differing levels of pensions coverage in the workplace? Sarah McCague, Partner, Pensions, is joined by Daniel Watters, Associate, Pensions, to discuss the gender pensions gap, what the law says on the topic and whether the advent of auto-enrolment is likely to improve the situation. Disclaimer: The contents of this podcast are to assist access to information and do not constitute legal or other advice. Specific advice should be sought in relation to specific cases. If you would like more information on this topic, please contact a member of our team or your usual Arthur Cox contact.

In this ‘Back to Basics’ episode, Suzanne Kearney, Of Counsel in the Corporate and M&A Department in Arthur Cox, is joined by Aisling Carey, Professional Support Lawyer in the Corporate and M&A Department in Arthur Cox and Tom Courtney, Partner in Arthur Cox, to discuss Section 239 and Transactions with Directors and Connected Persons. Disclaimer: The contents of this podcast are to assist access to information and do not constitute legal or other advice. Specific advice should be sought in relation to specific cases. If you would like more information on this topic, please contact a member of our team or your usual Arthur Cox contact.

On 29 March 2022, the Department of Social Protection published the Final Design Principles for the introduction of a pensions auto-enrolment system in Ireland. The aim of auto-enrolment is to “change the Irish pensions system from one where employers may, or may not, make provision for a workplace pension scheme to one where every worker will have access to a workplace pension”. Even though proposals for auto-enrolment have been around since the 2000’s, Ireland has somehow managed to remain the only OECD country without any form of auto-enrolment system. With the publication of the Final Design Principles, will that all change and what are the consequences for existing pension schemes? In this episode, Sarah McCague, Partner in the Pensions Group, and Philip Smith, Head of the Pensions Group in Arthur Cox will be talking about some of the key features of the proposed new auto-enrolment system and what it will mean for employers and the trustees of existing occupational pension schemes. Disclaimer: The contents of this podcast are to assist access to information and do not constitute legal or other advice. Specific advice should be sought in relation to specific cases. If you would like more information on this topic, please contact a member of our team or your usual Arthur Cox contact.

The Minister for Finance, Pascal Donohue TD, published the long-awaited General Scheme of the Central Bank (Individual Accountability Framework) Bill 2021 in July of last year. As expected, the individual accountability framework will include ​a new senior executive accountability regime (SEAR) under which regulated financial services providers (RFSPs) and senior managers within those RFSPs will clearly frame where responsibility and decision-making rests within their organisation. In this audio briefing, Louise O'Byrne, Partner in the Employment Law Group at Arthur Cox is joined by Rachel Morgan, Managing Associate in the Employment team and Brenton Pollard, Managing Associate, Financial Regulation Group, of Linklaters LLP. Rachel and Brenton will share their experiences and insights into the equivalent UK scheme, the SMCR. Disclaimer: The contents of this podcast are to assist access to information and do not constitute legal or other advice. Specific advice should be sought in relation to specific cases. If you would like more information on this topic, please contact a member of our team or your usual Arthur Cox contact.

Once enacted, the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022 will significantly reform the regulation of online content in Ireland. In this first episode of a new series by our Intellectual Property Group, Tech Trackers: Regulation in the Digital World, Gavin Woods and Isabel Cooke discuss the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill in addition to proposed reforms to defamation law and the Regulation (EU) 2021/784 on Terrorism Content.

The financial services landscape in Ireland has changed a lot in the last 4-5 years, and the last 12 months have seen continued regulatory developments and a lot of activity from the CBI. As we emerge from the pandemic, with the lifting of restrictions and the return to the office for many, we thought we’d ask – what are the priorities and trends for 2022 going to be? In this podcast, Amelia Walsh, Of Counsel in the Litigation, Dispute Resolution and Investigations Department at Arthur Cox is joined by Rob Cain, the Head of our Financial Regulation Group, and Richard Willis from our Litigation, Dispute Resolution and Investigations Group in the first of several podcasts, webinars and seminars that will be run in 2022 by our market-leading Financial Regulation: Investigations and Enforcement team.

In this 'Back to Basics' episode, Suzanne Kearney, Of Counsel in the Corporate and M&A Department in Arthur Cox, is joined by Aisling Carey, Professional Support Lawyer in the Corporate and M&A Department in Arthur Cox and Tom Courtney, Partner in Arthur Cox, to discuss Substantial Property Transactions between companies, their directors and persons connected with them. They will continue this discussion in next month's episode, focusing on transactions with directors and connected persons under Section 239 of the Companies Act. Disclaimer: The contents of this podcast are to assist access to information and do not constitute legal or other advice. Specific advice should be sought in relation to specific cases. If you would like more information on this topic, please contact a member of our team or your usual Arthur Cox contact.

The European Union (Occupational Pension Schemes) Regulations 2021 known as the IORP II Regulations were signed into Irish law on 22 April 2021. These regulations fully transpose the requirements of the European IORP II directive into Irish law. The IORP II Regulations are set to change the landscape of how Irish occupational pension schemes are operated and governed. Disclaimer: The contents of this podcast are to assist access to information and do not constitute legal or other advice. Specific advice should be sought in relation to specific cases. If you would like more information on this topic, please contact a member of our team or your usual Arthur Cox contact. In this audio briefing, Sarah McCague, Partner in our Pensions Group, will be talking about some of the key documents that trustees of occupational pension schemes need to get in place to ensure IORP II compliance in accordance with the Pensions Authority’s timeline.

In the final 'Back to Basics' episode for 2021, Suzanne Kearney, Of Counsel in the Corporate and M&A Department in Arthur Cox, is joined by Aisling Carey, Professional Support Lawyer in the Corporate and M&A Department in Arthur Cox and Tom Courtney, partner in Arthur Cox to discuss mergers involving private companies. In the last six years in particular, mergers have become a common feature of corporate reorganisations involving Irish companies. Indeed, most countries have a merger regime in place and typically both a domestic merger regime and a cross-border regime. Disclaimer: The contents of this podcast are to assist access to information and do not constitute legal or other advice. Specific advice should be sought in relation to specific cases. If you would like more information on this topic, please contact a member of our team or your usual Arthur Cox contact.

In the latest episode of our Company Law, Back to Basics series, Suzanne Kearney, Of Counsel in the Corporate and M&A Department, Aisling Carey, Professional Support Lawyer in the Corporate and M&A Department and Tom Courtney, partner in Arthur Cox are focusing on shares and share capital as they consider the various types of shares which may be issued by a company, and the restrictions on the alteration of the share capital. Companies limited by shares must have a share capital, which represents the shareholders’ interests in the company. Just to note, today’s episode primarily discusses matters as they relate to private companies with a share capital. There are some exceptions in relation to companies who do not have a share capital, certain investment companies and some additional obligations which apply to public limited companies.

In our inaugural alliance podcast episode, Keith Donaldson, alliance committee member, is joined by Matt Kennedy, Policy and Research Officer at BeLong To Youth Services, and Kate Cummins, Youth Worker at BeLong To Youth Services, to discuss the organisations work, particularly a recent report produced and released last year titled 'The LGBTI+ Life in Lockdown'. The podcast looks at the challenges our LGBTI+ youth in particular faced throughout the covid pandemic, the importance of BeLong To and it's services and what we can all do to help support our LGBTI+ youth. Disclaimer: The contents of this podcast are to assist access to information and do not constitute legal or other advice. Specific advice should be sought in relation to specific cases. If you would like more information on this topic, please contact a member of our team or your usual Arthur Cox contact.

In this podcast Colin Rooney, Partner in the Technology and Innovation Group, will be discussing the use of electronic signatures with Maedhbh Clancy, Of Counsel in our Finance Department and Suzanne Kearney, Of Counsel in our Corporate and M&A Department. Maedhbh and Suzanne regularly encounter and consider various aspects of the execution of documents and deeds, including the use of electronic signatures, as part of their practice and will have some practical tips which they will share with our listeners. Disclaimer: The contents of this podcast are to assist access to information and do not constitute legal or other advice. Specific advice should be sought in relation to specific cases. If you would like more information on this topic, please contact a member of our team or your usual Arthur Cox contact.

In the latest episode of our Company Law, Back to Basics series, Suzanne Kearney, Of Counsel in the Corporate and M&A Department, Aisling Carey, Professional Support Lawyer in the Corporate and M&A Department and Tom Courtney, partner in Arthur Cox discuss the topic of members and directors meetings in private companies. They distinguish between private and public companies in this regard as there are additional rules, practices and procedures which apply to public companies, particularly listed PLCs, which would not be possible to cover in the time we have allocated today. Once again, it’s a great opportunity for our listeners to get Tom’s insight on this topic given that many practitioners regularly consult Tom’s book for the law in relation to meetings. Disclaimer: The contents of this podcast are to assist access to information and do not constitute legal or other advice. Specific advice should be sought in relation to specific cases. If you would like more information on this topic, please contact a member of our team or your usual Arthur Cox contact.

In December 2020, amendments to the Irish Investment Limited Partnerships legislation were enacted to reflect changes needed to update this legislation with features in other Irish structures (such as the ICAV). The aim is for the Irish ILP structure to be the preferred vehicle for EU investment funds structured as partnerships. In the latest episode of the Asset Management and Investment Funds Podcast, Sarah Cunniff, Partner, introduces an extract of the recording of a specific webinar on Irish Investment Limited Partnerships which was broadcast on 15 January 2021 and in which Dara Harrington and Ian Dillon participated. Sarah is also joined by Tara O’Reilly who provides some updates since the webinar was first broadcast. Disclaimer: The contents of this podcast are to assist access to information and do not constitute legal or other advice. Specific advice should be sought in relation to specific cases. If you would like more information on this topic, please contact a member of our team or your usual Arthur Cox contact.

At the start of the lockdown in March 2020 our Asset Management and Investment Funds Team initiated regular webinars to keep in touch with our clients, the director community and contacts. The purpose of this new podcast series is to provide you with these updates in a revised format. In this episode, Sarah Cunniff, Partner, introduces an extract of the recording of the specific webinar on the Central Bank thematic review on liquidity risk management which was broadcast on 29 May 2020 and in which Dara Harrington, Partner, discussed these requirements. Of course, there have been some developments since that webinar was broadcast and so at the end of the podcast Sarah is joined by Tara O’Reilly, Partner and Co-Head of the Asset Management and Investment Funds Team, who will provide some detail on what has been happening since the time the webinar was first broadcast. In May 2020, the Central Bank commenced the second stage of its thematic review of UCITS liquidity management which was conducted as part of ESMA’s common supervisory action on liquidity risk management. It has always been a requirement for Irish fund management companies to manage liquidity risks but a detailed framework reflecting the ESMA guidelines on liquidity risk management needed to be documented by Irish fund management companies by September 2020. Disclaimer: The contents of this podcast are to assist access to information and do not constitute legal or other advice. Specific advice should be sought in relation to specific cases. If you would like more information on this topic, please contact a member of our team or your usual Arthur Cox contact.