The appointment follows the multidisciplinary professional services firm’s merger with Patrick Sheehan Solicitors in October 2025.

Mr Sheehan, a solicitor with over three decades of legal experience and specialist qualifications in corporate governance, will lead Orbitus’ new corporate governance practice from the firm’s Killarney office.

Orbitus says the appointment comes at a critical juncture for Irish businesses, with recent years seeking a marked increase in Revenue enforcement activity, enhanced corporate oversight powers, and growing scrutiny of director compliance with the Companies Act 2014.

Tax partner Tommy Walsh said: “We’re seeing a fundamental shift in how Irish businesses are being held accountable.

“Revenue has invested heavily in AI-driven compliance tools, and the net is tightening around PAYE, PRSI and corporate tax obligations. Directors are personally exposed in ways many don’t fully understand.

“Pat’s appointment allows us to offer clients a complete picture — not just tax compliance, but the governance structures that protect both the business and the individuals running it.”

A UCC law graduate who qualified as a solicitor in 1995, Mr Sheehan has practiced with leading firms including A&L Goodbody and Arthur Cox before establishing his own practice in Killarney in 2004.

He has particular experience in the credit union sector, having served as chairperson of Killarney Credit Union and as a director of the Irish League of Credit Unions, where he previously chaired the board’s governance and sustainability committee.

Mr Sheehan said: “Corporate governance isn’t about creating bureaucracy, it’s about protecting people and building stronger businesses.

“Too many directors don’t realise their personal exposure under the 2014 Act. My role is to help them get ahead of these issues, not react to them in crisis.

“Joining Orbitus gives me access to a full team of specialists in tax, HR, data protection and commercial law, which means we can provide truly integrated solutions.”

Jennifer Downing, managing partner at Orbitus, added: “Corporate governance doesn’t exist in isolation. When we conduct a governance review, we’re often uncovering issues that touch tax compliance, employment law, data protection, and commercial structuring.

“Having Pat work alongside our tax and HR teams means we can address these issues comprehensively. That integrated approach is what sets us apart, particularly for SMEs who can’t afford multiple advisors.”

Services will include governance health checks, director duties frameworks, ESG readiness assessments, shareholder agreements, and ongoing compliance advisory, with sector-specific expertise in hospitality, agri-food, and community enterprises.