There was an Irish takeover of iconic 113 Chancery Lane in London, home to the Law Society of England and Wales on Thursday 3 September as the first Law Society of Ireland London Irish Network event took place.

80+ Irish trained legal practitioners gathered at 6pm, to reconnect with colleagues across the profession and old friends from Blackhall Place, hosted by Law Society President, Rosemarie Loftus.

Panellists Máille Brady Bates, Claire Bamber and Joe Beashal came together in lively conversation led by Mark Garrett DG, sharing pivotal career moments and highlighting the value and power of professional Networks.

Irish comedian Rachel Galvo set the room up well for an evening of great conversation, connection and much laughter that went on into the evening.

President Loftus emphasized this event as being “the start of an ongoing conversation, rather than just a one-act event,” encouraging attendees to keep talking and share their views on the types of services and initiatives that would be of the most value.

See more in the Gazette.ie article and check the October issue of the Gazette Magazine for a full write up and image gallery.

If you are based in London and would like to belong to Law Society of Ireland London Irish Network, please contact us at solicitorservices@lawsociety.ie.

If you have feedback on our first event at 113 Chancery Lane, have ideas for our next gathering, or would like to share your thoughts on the services on offer please get in touch anytime at the email above.

From Connection to Opportunity: The Power of Networks

The evening included a special panel discussion that offered diverse perspectives on connecting and building a powerful network in today's workplace.

Máille Brady Bates – Associate General Counsel for Labour & Employment, Meta

Máille Brady Bates is an employment lawyer specialising in complex workplace issues across the UK and EMEA. She is currently Associate General Counsel for Labour & Employment at Meta, where she advises on a broad range of employment law, industrial relations, litigation and workforce matters across the region. Before joining Meta, Máille practised at Arthur Cox, advising employers across a range of industries on contentious and non-contentious employment matters. She is qualified as a solicitor in England & Wales and Ireland and has particular experience navigating complex, cross-border employment issues and partnering with businesses through periods of change. Alongside her legal career, Máille serves as a Director on the Board of Amnesty International Ireland.

Joe Beashel - Partner, Head of London Office Matheson LLP

Joe Beashel is Co-Head of the Financial Institutions Group and is Head of Matheson’s London office.  He is a solicitor with thirty years’ experience almost all of which were gained in the financial services sector. Before joining Matheson in 2004, he was the country head of the Irish fund administration unit of Invesco plc, a leading international investment manager. He trained in Beauchamps in Dublin.  His practice is focussed on financial services regulation across banks, MiFID / investment firms, fund services providers, alternative investment fund managers, payment and e-money institutions, retail credit firms and others. He has led Matheson’s London office since 2024. Matheson has had an office in London for 30 years.

Claire Bamber - Senior Advisor, London Litigation Dept, Debevoise & Plimpton

Claire Bamber is Senior Adviser to the London Litigation Department of Debevoise & Plimpton. It is a role which covers a broad remit, and includes advising on strategy, business development, resource management, financial oversight, and pastoral care. She is a qualified lawyer, and spent the early years of her career advising clients on Eastern European Emerging Markets M&A transactions. In 2001, she left corporate law practice to work for the United Nations. At the UN she held a variety of legal and political roles, in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and elsewhere.  Since she returned to private practice in 2012, she has taken on progressively more senior strategic advisor roles spanning the entire business of law.

Special guest: Rachel Galvo

The Law Society welcomed comedian Rachel Galvo as a special guest. Rachel is an Irish comedian based in London who has burst onto the live scene, making waves on both sides of the Irish Sea.

Her hit one-woman show and viral Tiktoks feature her sharp, funny and self-aware takes on feminism, privilege, and being a woman in comedy.