Female Led Law Firm of the Year 26 www.lawyer-monthly.com Lawyer Monthly Women in Law Awards 2025 lot of help and support from the start. I believe that strength is in a team and that our firm’s strength lies in the team we have built—a wheel needs its spokes to turn. As a firm, we are all delighted to receive this award, as it recognises the forward-thinking culture we have tried to foster since our establishment in 2017. Take us back to the beginning; what inspired the creation of AOC Solicitors, and how did your founding values shape the culture of the firm today? The inspiration to start the firm came from a desire to create a legal practice that not only delivered exceptional results for clients but also redefined what leadership, inclusivity, and integrity look like in the legal profession. I wanted to build something different: a firm where collaboration was prioritised over competition and where values mattered as much as outcomes. From day one, our founding values—excellence, authenticity, accountability, and respect—have been the backbone of our culture. They influence everything from how we approach client relationships to how we nurture our team. Those early principles created a foundation of trust and purpose, and they continue to guide us as we grow. What are some of the unique challenges and advantages you’ve encountered as a female-led legal team in Ireland’s legal landscape? I think that setting up and leading your own firm is always very challenging, but thankfully it has also been hugely rewarding. The challenges we have encountered will likely mirror those of most other new firms trying to establish themselves in a competitive market. It has been a real pleasure to navigate those challenges together as a team where everyone’s voice matters and everyone values the importance of good communication and collaboration. This helps to create an environment conducive to dealing with any challenges that arise. When setting up the firm, I drew inspiration from the quote by Kobi Yamada: “She turned her ‘can’ts into ‘cans’, her dreams into plans,” and this quote kept me going when faced with challenges. I would also add to this quote that, with the support of my team, “she turned her plans into reality.” Q Q
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