Matheson is delighted to announce that two Litigation partners have been recognised at this year’s 8th annual Euromoney LMG Europe Women in Business Law Awards.
Insurance Litigation Partner Sharon Daly was named ‘Europe’s Best in Insurance and Reinsurance 2018’ at the awards ceremony in London on Thursday, 14 June, and newly appointed Commercial Litigation Partner Maria Kennedy was named ‘Europe’s Best Rising Star in Litigation 2018’.
Sharon, who has led some of the largest and most complex disputes to come before the Irish Courts over the last decade, comments on her win: “I am honoured and humbled to accept this award and to be recognised by Euromoney as the best in Europe in my specialist field, joining a distinguished list of winners whom I have long admired and respected both in Ireland and internationally”.
Sharon has over 25 years’ experience in all aspects of commercial litigation and dispute resolution with particular expertise in advising financial institutions, including insurance companies, and corporate clients in complex, multi-party, multi-jurisdictional commercial disputes. Sharon has previously been described by a leading international legal directory as ‘among the best for insurance litigation’ and in 2017 was one of only two Irish lawyers listed in the Intelligent Insurer’s guide to influential women in re/insurance.
This award reflects Sharon’s reputation in the market, not just domestically but internationally and the high regard in which she is held in the insurance sector.
Maria Kennedy accepted her award yesterday evening saying: “To be part of a firm that sees diversity of leadership and diversity of talent as a key strategic priority is a privilege, and to be Euromoney’s Rising Star in Litigation in my first year as a partner is testament to the investment the firm has made in my career to date.”
Maria joined the firm in 2013 and her practice includes commercial, competition, administrative law, real estate and energy disputes. Maria completed the Senior Associate Leadership Programme at Cambridge University in January 2016 and is enjoying mentoring current participants in the programme and sharing her experiences as part of the Matheson Cambridge Coaching Network.
Matheson was shortlisted for a further four individual awards as follows: Tara Doyle for Best in Investment Funds, the award which Tara has won for the last two years; Michelle Ridge for Best in Investment Funds; Madeline McDonnell for Rising Star: Corporate, where we were the only Irish law firm listed; and Laura Gleeson for Rising Star: Finance. The firm was also shortlisted for Best National Firm Mentoring Programme and Best National Firm in the Ireland category.
Diversity in the workplace was announced as a key business initiative in March 2016 and forms part of the firm’s core values. We are proud of our reputation as a leading and innovative law firm, and that women account for more than 35% of our partnership and 44% of new Matheson partners from the last three years are female.
