McCann FitzGerald delivers first ESG lecture at UCC
McCann FitzGerald LLP has delivered its first lecture as part of a new sustainability-focused curriculum for students at University College Cork (UCC).
Éamon Ó Cuív, partner at McCann FitzGerald and newly-appointed adjunct professor at UCC’s School of Law, addressed students on the complex and fast-evolving regulatory framework for environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters in Ireland and Europe and the practical implications for today’s legal advisors.
McCann FitzGerald is the first legal firm in Ireland to co-develop a curriculum specifically on ESG from a legal perspective, with students at UCC having the opportunity to experience a unique blended learning experience from both academics and hands-on practitioners.
As adjunct professor, Mr Ó Cuív will support the development of UCC School of Law’s curriculum to reflect the industry perspective, offering insight on areas of demand for legal expertise and how evolving legislation affects the Irish business landscape.
The programme will run until the end of November with further lectures in sustainable finance, ESG disputes and litigation, sustainability reporting and ESG considerations for competition law to be delivered by McCann FitzGerald partners Ciara Ryan, Brendan Slattery and Laura Treacy.
Sally Anne Sherry, managing director at Ecocem UK & Ireland, will also give a lecture with McCann FitzGerald partner Brendan Murphy, which will be themed on corporate strategies for embedding ESG.
From UCC School of Law, the programme is led by Professor Femi Amao, professor of company law and sustainability.
Mr Ó Cuív said: “Delivering this first lecture as a newly appointed adjunct professor at UCC was a really rewarding experience.
“After much work behind the scenes in developing this curriculum alongside our colleagues in UCC, the energy in the lecture hall was palpable, with students clearly very alert to the growing importance of ESG matters and how this intertwines with legal advisory and their future careers.
“As a firm, we are heavily invested in supporting and educating the next generation of lawyers and together with my colleagues, we look forward to sharing our experiences with UCC’s law students in the months ahead.”