The new corporate partnership will see the appointment of a new Matheson assistant professor in corporate governance and law for the 2025-26 academic year.

The new post will advance research in this area of law and will focus on strengthening the law school’s teaching and research profile in areas such as corporate governance, company law and compliance.

Part of the programme will see the introduction of a new “Matheson UCD Governance Hackathon”, a multidisciplinary hackathon which will see students working in teams in a fast-paced environment to consider fictional scenarios in corporate governance, thereby encouraging original thinking and problem-solving.

An additional aspect of the programme will feature a series of seminars which will bring together leading experts, academics, and practitioners to discuss and analyse the latest developments in corporate governance, company law and compliance.

The seminars will also 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.

Professor Laurent Pech, dean at UCD Sutherland School of Law, said: “This new partnership with Matheson is an exciting opportunity for 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.”

Patrick Spicer, chairperson at Matheson, said: “We are delighted to further cement our longstanding relationship with UCD with this new partnership with the Sutherland School of Law.

“The area of corporate governance has evolved considerably in recent years and can often be a complex subject for businesses to navigate.

“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.”

Corporate partner Susanne McMenamin added: “This partnership marks an exciting step to furthering investment into the research and development of corporate governance in Ireland.

“Working together with UCD on this collaboration reflects our shared commitment to the advancement of research, thought leadership and innovative thinking in this area of law.”