Mr Synnott, a partner at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, graduated from the law school in 1985 and has now made the “largest ever” donation from a graduate.

The new chair in EU law will lead the university’s initiatives to maximise research opportunities in EU law in Ireland and beyond, and aims to help to develop opportunities for law graduates in Europe.

Professor Ursula Kilkelly, head of UCC College of Business and Law, said: “I would like to thank BCL graduate Aidan Synnott for his generous philanthropic gift. This donation will help realise the university’s ambition for the School of Law, enhancing the school’s international reputation in the research and teaching of EU law to the benefit of our students and to law and society more generally.”

Professor Mark Poustie, dean of the School of Law, said: “This generous gift will enable us to maximise interdisciplinary EU research opportunities within the university, and through internal and international collaboration, the chair will lead the development of a world-class research centre and develop a strong postgraduate research cohort in the area of EU law. With Brexit and other significant challenges in the EU, this is a timely development.”

Rob Donelson, executive director for alumni and development, added: “Philanthropy has the power to enable education: education transforms people’s lives. This donation, the largest ever by a UCC Law graduate, will positively impact students by ensuring that UCC’s academic programmes are informed by the leading scholarship in this critically-important field.”