Alan Murphy

EY Law Ireland head Alan Murphy said disruption from multiple fronts has given Irish legal departments a “unique opportunity to adapt quickly, think strategically, and drive change proactively”.

Geopolitics was identified as the biggest impact on GCs in the 2025 EY Law General Counsel Study, with 83 per cent of respondents saying it was affecting their role.

That was followed by technological advancements including AI (73 per cent), the regulatory environment (70 per cent), business and customer expectations (67 per cent) and sustainability (53 per cent).

The survey included responses from 1,000 general counsel and chief legal officers across 21 countries, including 30 Irish respondents.

Mr Murphy said: “Irish GCs are at a real turning point. They’ve earned their seat at the table through expertise, judgement and the ability to stay calm under pressure. Now, more than ever, their role is expanding — and rightly so.

“But with that comes the hard part: making change happen in teams that are already stretched, dealing with legacy systems, rising expectations and limited time.

“The 2025 EY Law General Counsel Study shows that most GCs know what needs to change — and they’re ready to get moving. The challenge now is turning that intent into action.

“Irish GCs don’t need convincing — they need the breathing space, backing and tools to make progress stick.

“This is the moment to shift from good intentions to real change.”