Shannon Gawley

An associate solicitor at Carson McDowell, Ms Gawley has spent the last year serving the EYBA as vice-president.

She was previously chairperson of the Northern Ireland Young Solicitors Association (NIYSA) for 2023/24.

Ms Gawley told Irish Legal News: “It is an immense honour to be elected as president of the European Young Bar Association.

“As I reflect on my journey, I am filled with gratitude for the experiences, friendships, and professional growth that the EYBA has afforded me.

“My journey with the EYBA began back in 2018 at the spring conference in Paris and little did I know that six years later, I would be entrusted with the responsibility to lead this incredible association.

“The EYBA has long been a beacon of excellence, fostering professional development, promoting the rule of law and encouraging cross-border collaboration among young legal professionals across Europe.

“I am excited to continue this vital work, building on our strong foundation and exploring new opportunities to enhance our impact.”

The theme of Ms Gawley’s presidency will be “The Future of the Profession”.

She explained: “This theme is not only timely but also deeply resonant with the core values of the EYBA. Our profession is at a pivotal point, facing rapid technological advancements through AI, evolving societal expectations, and new challenges in upholding justice and the rule of law.

“As young lawyers, we are the stewards of this future, and it is our duty to shape it with vision, integrity, and innovation.”

She added: “I am deeply grateful to the outgoing EYBA board for their dedication, hard work, and unwavering commitment in shaping the association. In particular, I would like to sincerely thank our past president, Sergiy Barbashyn, whose leadership and dedication has significantly advanced the association’s mission.

“Looking to the year ahead, with the help of the newly elected committee, I am excited to build on the great work of the association to date and will endeavour to continue to strengthen this long-lasting network of young lawyers in the pursuit of democracy, access to justice and the rule of law.”