Managing partners of some of Ireland’s top firms tell Ben Haugh about the biggest legal challenges that businesses should be aware of this year

ACTIVITY

Our clients’ needs have become increasingly diverse, especially in specialist areas such as climate, housing, healthcare and the arts. This provides a corresponding opportunity to develop the range of legal services we can offer, thereby positioning ourselves as leaders and innovators and contributing to resolving gaps in public policy and driving change in sectors we care deeply about.

In 2024, we developed a five-year vision which emphasises two interwoven elements: building our international presence and implementing strategic decisions that are true to our values. The launch of Philip Lee (US) LLP in April 2025 will be instrumental in achieving these goals. This year we will also expand our tax practice with the hire of a new head of tax. We are also working actively on developing our offering in the financial regulatory space.

CHALLENGES

Our main challenge over the past year has been to navigate the firm’s very rapid growth. In particular, managing the influx of new talent and ensuring that all of our people flourish within the firm was a key challenge. We focus on maintaining a culture of respect and collaboration, which encourages an optimal environment to nurture talent and foster a passion for excellent work. We have continued to invest in our people, fostering a highly motivated team of lawyers committed to excelling and achieving goals. This has been crucial in adapting both to the changing business landscape and our own fast growth.

INNOVATION

In 2024, we significantly shifted our approach. While misinformation, breaches of client confidentiality, historical data breaches on generative AI platforms and outdated information remain ongoing operational and ethical concerns, we are actively trialling various AI technologies. We have found that rigid policies, training and human oversight are key to implementing AI technology successfully.

OUTLOOK

One significant trend is the increasing focus on climate finance and carbon project development. As businesses and governments worldwide prioritise sustainability and decarbonisation, the demand for legal expertise in these areas is expected to grow. Our firm is strategically positioning itself to lead in this space by expanding our climate projects practice and a key milestone in that context is our conclusion of a franchise agreement with Skylight Law LLP, a specialist New York law firm which will adopt the Philip Lee brand.

Another trend is the rise of cross-border transactions and the need for sophisticated legal solutions to navigate complex international regulations. Our continuing focus on the London market and our new US sister firm, with a focus on climate-tech venture capital and engineered carbon removal projects, enhance our capacity to offer comprehensive legal services to clients operating on a global scale.