New Law and Technology Partnership Will Support a Culture of Innovation
Matheson announces today that it will partner with University College Cork (UCC) to launch the UCC and Matheson Innovation Partnership, a new sponsorship which will support 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.
Pictured L-R: Ursula Kilkelly, Head of the College of Business and Law, UCC; Mark Poustie, Dean of the School of Law, UCC; Michael Jackson, Managing Partner, Matheson; and Gráinne Callanan, Partner and Head of the Cork office, Matheson.
A Culture of Innovation
The new five-year partnership will support a culture of innovation at UCC – a leading provider of research, education and training in the area of law, innovation and technology. Highlights include:
- The Matheson Lecturer in Law, Innovation and Technology, a new lectureship designed to bring deep expertise in the area of law and technology, including areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) and disruptive technologies. The lecturer will also undertake interdisciplinary research in fields such as data analytics and computer science, bringing relevant teams together to develop an integrated and collaborative approach to meeting the latest technological challenges.
- The Matheson Scholarship in Law, Innovation and Technology, which will see at least one PhD scholar conduct research in the area of law, innovation and technology, and analyse their impact on aspects of the legal profession. The scholar will be supported by the Matheson lecturer, along with other colleagues in the UCC School of Law.
- A Hackathon - a legal tech event bringing together participants combining legal, technology and business expertise to mix innovative ideas and emerging technologies, open to students as well as professionals in areas of law, technology and business.
Commenting on the new partnership, Michael Jackson, Managing Partner, Matheson, said:
"Legal practice is constantly evolving and embracing a culture of innovation is key to meeting the complex challenges that can arise. Businesses across all industries and sectors are undergoing significant digital transformation. Matheson is attuned to this and our Digital Economy Group, a cross-departmental team of specialists, was established to cut through the complexities of digitalisation for our clients and to provide practical and commercial legal solutions in this fast changing digital environment.
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. We are pleased to partner with UCC on this initiative, which we believe will showcase the benefits of collaboration between business and academia for our clients and our communities."
Gráinne Callanan, partner and Head of Matheson's Cork office commented:
“We are proud to partner with University College Cork for this exciting programme, supporting exceptional talent and the next generation of leaders that will help shape the legal industry in the future. UCC’s commitment to innovation, excellence and community mirrors our own values and compliments our mutual dedication to delivering a meaningful and sustainable impact to the communities in which we operate. With a shared global outlook, we recognise the opportunities for Ireland and for the Munster region as an attractive location for business and investment, and I look forward to seeing the opportunities for growth and innovative thinking that this partnership will achieve."
Professor Mark Poustie, Dean of the School of Law, UCC, said:
"The School of Law is very grateful to Matheson for their generous sponsorship of this transformational Lectureship in Law, Innovation and Technology and the associated Matheson PhD Scholarship. These will provide much needed and mutually beneficial capacity to explore the legal implications of AI and disruptive technologies, for example, in terms of regulation and impact on the legal profession. The Matheson Lecturer and the recipient of the PhD Scholarship are intended to engage in interdisciplinary research in Data Analytics and Computer Science and will be aligned with the exciting UCC Futures programme, particular the cluster relating to AI and Data Analytics. The School now looks forward to commencing the recruitment process for the Matheson Lecturer as soon as possible with the PhD Scholarship to be launched following the recruitment of the Lecturer."
Matheson was the first large Irish law firm to open a second Irish office outside of Dublin when it first opened a premises in Cork in 2018 and the firm's dedication to the area has continued to grow, with the opening of new state-of-the-art offices in Penrose Dock in May 2022. In addition to the newly established Digital Economy Group, this new partnership also builds on Matheson's investment in innovation, including the Digital Services Group - a multi-disciplinary team combining people, processes and technology to provide customised digital services and solutions for clients operating across a range of industries and sectors.
UCC School of Law is ranked in the top 100 globally in the QS Subject rankings and has risen from 75th in the world in 2022 to 59th in the world in 2023, achieving 1st place in Ireland in both years. The School has enjoyed significant research success in the past year with awards including its first European Research Council grant of €2m and two Irish Research Council Laureate grants totalling €1.2m. The School has been led by Dean Professor Mark Poustie since 2019.
