Director of Legal Advocacy

Please download the application form to apply here: FINAL Director of Legal & Advocacy - Application Form.docx

Please download the Candidate Booklet here: FINAL Director of Legal Advocacy Competition Booklet.pdf

About The Role

The Director of Legal & Advocacy is a senior leadership role within the organisation. The successful candidate will join the Insolvency Supervision, Civil Enforcement & Advocacy Division and report to a Member of the Authority.

The CEA also has a second Director-level legal role (Director of Legal) in the Criminal Investigation & Digital Analytics Division. Each Director leads a team of legal professionals and support staff. While responsibilities are broadly divided between civil and criminal matters, the CEA is a growing organisation, so both Directors are expected to work flexibly, support each other's areas when needed, and be capable of handling both civil and criminal legal work.

Both Directors also provide legal advice and other services to the Authority and the Chairperson, who is responsible for the management of the CEA's staff, administration, and operations.

The CEA may reassign Directors where needed to meet business requirements and to ensure they gain broad experience across the organisation.

This is a complex and varied role that offers a unique opportunity to help shape a modern enforcement agency. The responsibilities below provide an overview of the key duties but are not exhaustive.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities of the Role

1.Legal

Advisory

Provision of high quality, well researched, and timely legal advice on all aspects of the CEA’s

activities, including, but not confined to, advice and interpretation on matters pertaining to:

• company law,
• civil law and procedure,
• administrative law and procedure,
• criminal law and procedure,
• Constitutional law,
• the law of privacy and other applicable human rights obligations relevant to the CEA’s statutory remit,
• data protection/GDPR law,
• employment law,
• contract law,
• public procurement law,
• protected disclosures legislation, and
• freedom of information legislation,
• Advising on issues relating to company insolvency and associated matters, including the law relating to restriction and disqualification of company directors,
• Advising on issues relating to suspected breaches of, and suspected misconduct under, the Companies Act 2014 and other relevant legislation,
• Advising on matters relating to the CEA’s statutory powers and enforcement options,
• Advising on, and contributing to, the development of investigative strategy, policy, and procedures,
• Supporting the initiation and institution of summary proceedings and acting in a prosecutorial role on behalf of the CEA, as required,
• Contributing to the preparation of files for onward transmission to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the provision of subsequent support to that Office, including with regard to the preparation for, and conduct of, trials on indictment, as required.

Litigation

• Taking the steps necessary to initiate enforcement action and other relevant litigation including, for example, applications for orders compelling compliance, disqualification applications, and applications relating to material over which privilege is being asserted etc.
• Managing litigation to which the CEA is a party, e.g., Judicial Review proceedings,
• Advising on, and contributing to, the development of litigation strategy and the management/supervision of litigation,
• Sourcing and managing external legal representation, advice and ancillary services, and the management of relationships with external service providers, and
• Acting as the CEA’s legal representative, as required,

Policy & research

• Conducting research and analysing draft legislation, policy proposals, and other materials and their
• implications for the CEA, leading on the development of the CEA’s policy position on relevant matters, and
• Representing the CEA in relevant fora,

2. Advocacy

• Leading on the delivery of the CEA’s statutory mandate to encourage compliance with the

Companies Act 2014, including:

• by taking a strategic approach towards identifying opportunities to further the CEA’s
• objective of increasing impact and added value through stakeholder empowerment,
• through analysis of complaints received, other issues arising, and broader horizon
• scanning, identifying opportunities for the CEA to further stakeholders’ interests through
• the provision of information and guidance on core, topical, and emerging issues,
• by furthering the CEA’s advocacy mandate through effective collaboration with internal stakeholders,
• by identifying and leveraging opportunities to collaborate with external stakeholders in the furtherance of enhanced impact,
• through the provision of regular social media and website content to the CEA’s communications team for the purpose of raising the CEA’s presence, profile, and impact,
• developing appropriate KPIs for measuring the impact of the CEA’s advocacy activities.

3. Leadership & management

• Leading a team of experienced legal professionals and support staff in the pursuit of the CEA’s
• statutory mandate and strategic objectives,
• Acting as a role model and leading by example in the context of the CEA’s values of
• professionalism, integrity, and independence,
• Establishing and developing strong collaborative relationships across what is a multi-disciplinary
• organisation,
• Contributing to high standards of governance and the CEA’s effective management of risk,
• Managing competing priorities in an effective manner and providing high quality deliverables to demanding deadlines,
• Contributing to staff training and development,
• Taking an active role in leading organisational change and modernisation,
• Representing the CEA in various fora, as required,
• Performing any other duties assigned from time to time.

The above is not, and does not purport to be, a comprehensive list of all duties involved and, consequently, the appointee may be required to perform other duties appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.

About the Person

Essential requirements

The successful candidate will:

1) Have been called to the Bar of Ireland and/or have been enrolled as a Solicitor in the State.

2) Since qualifying as at 1 above, have acquired, in aggregate, at least five years’ relevant experience at an appropriate level of seniority as a practicing Barrister or Solicitor in the State;

3) Possess a high degree of specialist knowledge in two or more of the following areas of law:

• company law,
• civil law and procedure,
• regulatory/enforcement law and procedure,
• administrative law and procedure,
• criminal law and procedure

4)Have acquired experience, at a suitably senior level, in one of more of the following areas of

law/practice:

o data protection/privacy law,

o protected disclosures and whistleblower law,

o legal professional privilege,

o employment law,

o restructuring and insolvency law,

o European law and/or public procurement law.

Desirable

One or more of the following are desirable:

• Experience, acquired at an appropriate level of seniority, of leading and managing teams of professional staff within a legal, regulatory, enforcement, professional services, or comparable environment.
• Experience of managing organisational resources and competing priorities in order to deliver strategic and operational objectives.
• Experience of providing advice and support to statutory Boards/office holders, executive leadership teams, and/or or other senior decision-makers on governance, regulatory, and/or enforcement matters.
• Experience of leading organisational change.

To find about more about responsibilities and the essential/desirable criteria please consult the Candidate Booklet.

How to Apply

Please download the application form to apply here: FINAL Director of Legal & Advocacy - Application Form.docx

You can also consult the Candidate Booklet here: FINAL Director of Legal Advocacy Competition Booklet.pdf

Your application form must be submitted by 3pm Monday, 31st August 2026. Only applications fully submitted online will be accepted into the campaign. Applications will not be accepted after the closing date.

If you do not receive an acknowledgement of receipt of your application within 24 hours of applying, please contact CEA@consciatalent.com