Ciara Lagan

I worked in private practice for 20 years before joining A&O in 2019. I had specialised in corporate law, working in London, Cardiff and Belfast on M&A, corporate structuring and governance matters. Gaining experience on local, national and international transactions across a wide range of sectors, including tech, finance and manufacturing was an excellent opportunity to develop my skills and network.

Having achieved a personal goal when I became a partner of a Northern Irish firm I was keen to continue to challenge myself. By joining A&O In-House Legal, I have a wider perspective on the impact of legal advice. I am able to advise on internal matters for the firm and also help shape how that advice can impact the processes and structure of the firm. I get to see and continue to work on projects that add value to A&O, ranging from opening new offices and business streams to adopting best practice risk management strategies in the face of regulatory change.  

It's a complex and varied job at times that really keeps me on my toes. Although I have been able to maximise my corporate experience in my role with In-House Legal, I have expanded my regulatory and risk management knowledge. Ambition is welcomed at A&O, with a real passion for growth and as part of the In-House Legal team I am encouraged to continually seek ways of improvement that benefit the firm. A&O embraces innovation, with its Advanced Delivery services and real engagement of legal tech to help maximise value for clients. That innovation does not stop at clients – since I have joined A&O, In-House Legal has adopted numerous innovative working practices and use of legal tech to deliver our services to the firm.

I've worked on projects across the globe, including China, Australia, Singapore, Germany and the U.S.. It is exciting to work with such a broad spectrum of cultures and, frankly, such friendly colleagues. People at A&O go out of their way to help you and there is a real level of respect for the services that In-House Legal provides. In-House Legal has taught me a new way of working, which offers me the challenge I was looking for on a global scale and supports my ambition as part of an innovative legal firm leading the charge in alternative career paths for lawyers.