A list of new members, including a new chair, has been announced for the Company Law Review Group (CLRG), by the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys. 

The CLRG was established in 2000 and put on a statutory footing in 2001. It was largely responsible for the design and drafting of what is now the Companies Act 2014.

Since its establishment, it has been chaired by Dr Tom Courtney of Arthur Cox, who stepped down as chair earlier this year. As well as being head of the firm’s company compliance and governance practice, Tom is the author of several textbooks, including the leading work The Law of Companies, most recently published in its fourth edition.

Fifteen solicitors

The CLRG comprises 30 members, 15 of whom are solicitors. Of these, five –including the new chair Paul Egan (Mason, Hayes & Curran) – have been nominated by Minister Humphreys; another five by nominating bodies; four from the State or State agencies; and one from academia. 

Paul is a member of the Council of the Law Society. He is a former member of the Irish Takeover Panel (2012 to 2018) and is the author of several books on company law and securities law. He is a member of the Irish Stock Exchange Listing and Rules Committees (2005 to date).

Responding to the news of his appointment, Paul said: “The CLRG is a hugely valuable body, gathering the practical experience of all who deal with company law most frequently.

"It is no accident that half of the members are solicitors, being those who navigate the law most often. The reforms brought about by the Companies Act 2014 are a direct result of its work.

"Tom Courtney has been an outstanding founder and chair of the CLRG – I can’t think of a tougher act to follow!”

The solicitor members of the CLRG are: Paul Egan (chair, ministerial nominee), Barry Cahir (Irish Society of Insolvency Practitioners, Beauchamps), Barry Conway (ministerial nominee, William Fry), Máire Cunningham (Law Society nominee, Beauchamps), Richard Curran (ministerial nominee, LK Shields), Marie Daly (Irish Business and Employers’ Confederation), Emma Doherty (ministerial nominee, Matheson), Bernice Evoy (Banking and Payments Federation Ireland), Tanya Holly (ministerial nominee, DBEI), Irene Lynch Fannon (ministerial nominee, University College Cork), Una McEvoy (Office of the Attorney General), David McFadden (ministerial nominee, Companies Registration Office), Ciara O’Leary (Irish Funds Industry Association, Maples and Calder), Gillian O’Shaughnessy (ministerial nominee, Byrne Wallace) and Eadaoin Rock (Central Bank of Ireland).