Lawyers

Lisa Smyth | Partner

My background

“I graduated from UL in 2001 with an LL.B in Law and European Studies (French & Politics), having spent a semester living in France. None of my family were involved in law so it was a bit of a leap of faith but I decided to tackle the 8 Fe1’s immediately after graduating. I did the ‘milk round’ of interviews and was offered a training contract in McCann FitzGerald, which I enthusiastically accepted. My final training rotation was in the insolvency and restructuring team. Luckily there was an opening for a new qualifier to join that team at the time and I was appointed a partner in the same team in 2013. I remain practising in that area today.”

What it’s like to work in McCann FitzGerald

During her years as a trainee and associate, Lisa was always impressed by the amount of time the partners took to mentor and teach those within their teams. “The firm recognises that you can learn hugely by doing. This starts from your first day as a trainee when you share an office with a partner, which also breaks down barriers straight away and creates an environment in which it is easy to ask questions.” Lisa says that the firm aids trainees in the lifelong learning of how to build relationships with clients. “We work hard to get to know our clients and build a connection which provides a platform for providing focused advice in a no-nonsense way. We are a people business, and without colleagues and clients who feel valued and supported we are nothing at all, so we place a strong emphasis on relationship building.”

My role as Trainee Partner

“I was appointed partner with responsibility for trainees in the summer of 2018. I thoroughly enjoy the task of recruiting the best and the brightest and encouraging trainees to make the most of what is an exciting part of their career. We value our trainees and strive to ensure that their time with us is both challenging and fulfilling.” Lisa works with the Director of Human Resources, the Head of Legal Professional Training, and their respective teams, to look after trainees during their training contract until they qualify. “Our goal is to continue to foster a culture within which it is easy and enjoyable to learn and to recruit candidates who will thrive in a challenging, varied and fast paced environment.”