UCD partners with law firm Matheson for corporate law teaching and research
16 June 2025
Professor Laurent Pech, Head of the UCD Sutherland School of Law; Patrick Spicer, Chairperson of Matheson; and Susanne McMenamin, Partner at Matheson
UCD Sutherland School of Law has teamed up with law firm Matheson LLP to launch the UCD Matheson Corporate Governance Partnership, which will support the teaching and research of corporate governance and related law.
A new role in the School has been created as part of the partnership. The Matheson Assistant Professor in Corporate Governance and Law will advance research and strengthen the School’s teaching and research profile in these areas of law.
Recruitment for the post has begun, with a view to the new assistant professor being appointed for the 2025-26 academic year.
The partnership will see the introduction of the Matheson UCD Governance Hackathon, which will see law students working in teams to consider fictional scenarios in corporate governance, encouraging original thinking and problem-solving.
It will also involve a series of seminars open to legal professionals, academics and UCD alumni, in which leading experts and practitioners will discuss and analyse the latest developments in corporate governance, company law and compliance.
The seminars will provide a platform for discussion, knowledge-sharing, and the generation of innovative ideas that will help to shape the future of these areas of law.
“This new partnership with Matheson is an exciting opportunity for UCD Sutherland School of Law,” said (opens in a new window)Professor Laurent Pech, Head of the UCD Sutherland School of Law.
“With the growing regulatory changes in relation to corporate law and ESG, law students now need to understand the challenges and opportunities presented by the interplay and operation of ESG obligations.
“The School’s partnership with Matheson, including the recruitment of the Matheson Assistant Professor in Corporate Governance and Law, will provide for a focussed approach in the teaching and research of corporate governance and related law. Furthermore, it will strengthen the knowledge and academic experience of our law students and lay the groundwork for further developing this area of law.”
“The area of corporate governance has evolved considerably in recent years and can often be a complex subject for businesses to navigate,” added Patrick Spicer, Chairperson of Matheson.
“We believe that this collaboration will shine a spotlight on the importance of focused teaching in this sector and that it will provide the necessary resources to not only invest in the development of future talent, but also to further advance the available research in this area, which will have immense benefits for the wider legal and business communities.”
By: Rebecca Hastings, Digital Journalist, UCD University Relations
To contact the UCD News & Content Team, email: newsdesk@ucd.ie
