The Matheson and University College Cork (“UCC”) Hackathon took place on campus last week which saw over 70 students taking part.
The Hackathon forms part of the UCC and Matheson Innovation Partnership, a five year sponsorship which supports the creation of a new lectureship and scholarship, as well as a series of lectures and collaborative events in the area of law, technology and innovation.
Now in its third year, UCC students across all disciplines worked together to brainstorm innovative ideas, develop solutions, and pitch proposals that deep dive into multinational companies facing geopolitical instability.
Students were welcomed by Gráinne Callanan, Partner and Head of Matheson’s Cork office and Professor Thia Hennessy Head of College of Business and Law on the day. This was followed by an informative client panel discussion, moderated by Nessa Lynch, Matheson Lecturer in Law, Innovation and Technology and included Deirdre Crowley, Commercial Litigation and Digital Economy Group Partner, Matheson, Eric Daly, EMEA Leader | Enterprise Integration Services, Dell Technologies, Niamh Nic Choitir, Security Analyst, McAfee, Diarmuid Bowe, Product Director, JP Morgan Workplace Solutions and Eoin Motherway, INED to Funds & FinTech’s. Representatives from these clients also took part as mentors to the students throughout the day and sat on our judging panel.
Once the hackathon kicked off, the students worked in teams to consider issues such as new tariffs and ESG scrutiny. They then pitched their ideas to a panel of judges who were delighted to announce the winning team which included Oran Linehan, Robbie Grogan, Ellen Whelton, Rosa Whelan and Niamh Hayes. Their winning idea was selected as it demonstrated a strong innovative approach, impressive team work and critical thinking skills. Kieran O’Sullivan, Senior Associate, Matheson, Matheson, moderated the hackathon and played a big part in keeping the students motivated throughout the day.
As legal practice continues to evolve, firms must embrace a culture of innovation in order to meet the complex challenges that can arise. Businesses across all industries and sectors are undergoing significant digital transformation. Matheson is at the forefront of legal innovation. This partnership with UCC is an exciting opportunity to complement the work we are doing in our Digital Economy Group and to support the development of talent in an area which will continue to be critical to Ireland’s economic progress.
