Governance Under Pressure: Governance, Diversity and Global Policy Trends

Connor Cassidy is a partner in the Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution Group at Matheson, and a member of the firm's Regulatory Investigations team. Our Regulatory Investigations team works closely with technical experts from our non-contentious practice areas, including the Technology and Innovation, Financial Institutions, Asset Management, Finance and Capital Markets and Corporate groups to ensure a seamless service which understands and meets our clients' regulatory requirements and priorities. Connor has over ten years' experience advising a variety of clients in complex disputes including alternative methods of dispute resolution, with particular expertise in technology / financial services disputes. Connor also advises clients on contentious regulatory matters, often involving a number of regulators, law enforcement authorities and jurisdictions. His clients include global technology companies, financial institutions, insurers, fund managers, fintech firms, directors, senior executives and shareholders and other regulated entities and persons. Connor has significant experience in handling complex regulatory investigations and advising on issues relating to legal professional privilege. Connor's practice also includes advising clients in respect of white collar crime and corporate offences, fraud, anti-bribery and corruption compliance, as well as lobbying compliance under the Irish and EU regimes. He has authored a number of publications including; The Practitioners Guide to Global Investigations (Irish Chapter) 2023; Global Investigations Review: Irish Chapter (2022); Getting the Deal Through: Financial Services Litigation 2020: Getting the Deal Through: Construction (White Collar Crime section) 2020; The Practitioners Guide to Global Investigations 2020 (Ireland); ICLG Business Crime; and Getting the Deal Through: Dispute Resolution 2020. Connor joined the firm in 2016, having previously qualified and practised as a barrister at the Bar of Northern Ireland.

Sarah Jayne Hanna is a partner in the Technology and Innovation Group at Matheson, having joined the group in 2024 from our International Business Group. Sarah Jayne advises a wide range of clients on technology issues, with a particular focus on digital services regulation (DMA and DSA), cybersecurity, technology and commercial contracts, intellectual property, data protection and privacy. Sarah Jayne brings a unique blend of experience to the group having practised corporate law for 12 years in Matheson’s International Business Group, where she acted as standing corporate counsel to several of Matheson’s key international clients in a wide range of sectors including technology, medical technology and biotechnology. Sarah Jayne, like many of her clients, has adapted to the ever-changing landscape of Irish and EU law and guidance and repositioned herself within the Technology and Innovation Group to continue to support her wide breadth of clients on the evolving digital regulatory environment. Sarah Jayne brings together extensive experience advising international companies on complex legal and commercial issues that arise on cross-border transactions including corporate transactions (including merger / division transactions, business consolidation projects, pre- and post-acquisition integration transactions, separation projects and IP restructuring projects) and experience providing strategic counselling to Irish boards in respect of corporate governance and directors’ duties. Sarah Jayne’s significant practical experience in advising companies on their corporate structuring transactions and corporate governance needs together with her industry knowledge positions her well to assist companies in navigating and interpreting the complex and converging technology regulatory rules and regimes applicable to them. Sarah Jayne also has extensive experience in drafting and negotiating a wide variety of commercial contracts ranging from IP sale and licence agreements to outsourcing and service agreements and the use of technology in contract execution (including electronic signatures and certification services). Sarah Jayne regularly advises on third party mergers and acquisitions in relation to commercial contracts, data protection, IT and IP matters.

Susanne is a partner in Matheson’s Corporate Group specialising in corporate advisory matters and equity capital markets transactions. Susanne has particular expertise in corporate governance and compliance matters and in securities regulation under the Market Abuse Regulation and the Transparency and Prospectus regimes, the Irish Listing Rules and the Irish Takeover Rules. As a member of Matheson’s ESG Advisory Group, Susanne has particular expertise in company law and corporate governance advisory work for public and private companies, including assisting clients to embed good corporate governance structures and policies across their organisations. Susanne also works with our clients on corporate reporting requirements in Ireland. Susanne provides board induction and ongoing director training on specialist corporate governance, compliance and securities law matters. Susanne also advises on matters of crisis and reputation management.

Olivia Long is Head of Tax Policy at Matheson. She has over fifteen years' experience working in international and corporate tax. Before re-joining Matheson, Olivia spent a number of years working with the OECD's Tax Treaty Unit. As well as working on tax treaty matters at the OECD, Olivia worked on the development of the Two Pillar Solution to Address the Tax Challenges Arising from the Digitalisation of the Economy.

Denise is a senior associate in the Employment, Pensions and Benefits Group. She advises international and domestic clients across a wide range of sectors on contentious and non-contentious employment law and industrial relations issues. She regularly provides client training on specific employment topics, legal updates and recent case law. Denise guides employers through all matters arising out of the employment relationship from recruitment through to termination. She assists clients on their day-to-day management of employees, including guiding employers through investigations into sensitive bullying and harassment allegations, conducting grievance and disciplinary processes, managing employee performance and managing illness absences. Denise has acted for a wide range of clients before the Workplace Relations Commission, including defending TUPE, unfair dismissal and equality claims. She also advises companies on the employment aspects of corporate transactions, restructurings and outsourcings.