The programme, Environmental, Social & Corporate Governance (ESG) and Businesses: Law, Policy and Practice, was established in response to growing regulatory changes and increased demand from businesses for specialist advice in this complex and expanding area of legislation.

The course has been co-developed and will be co-delivered by UCC School of Law and McCann FitzGerald to provide a unique blended learning experience for students from both academics and expert practitioners.

The new programme, delivered at UCC’s School of Law, will be led by Femi Amao, the recently appointed professor of company law and sustainability. Professor Amao will collaborate with colleagues across the university to advance the sustainable development of business and society, as part of UCC’s wider Futures Sustainability initiative.

McCann FitzGerald partners, including Éamon Ó Cuív, Ciara Ryan, Brendan Slattery and Laura Treacy, will deliver seminars with a specific practitioner focus, including perspectives on sustainable finance, ESG disputes and litigation, sustainability reporting and ESG considerations for competition law.

Professor Mark Poustie, dean of law at UCC, said: “The School is very grateful to McCann FitzGerald for this innovative support which will help to ensure that all BCL and LLB students within the School and also a wide range of students beyond the School have access to ESG education within their programmes.”

Mr Ó Cuív added: “We are delighted to be involved with this initiative and look forward to meeting the students and next generation of legal professionals this September in Cork.”