What are the key projects that you have been involved in over the past 12 months?

Rubicon Capital Advisors is one of the world’s leading investment banking advisory firms focused on the infrastructure, energy transition, digital and utilities sectors. As Rubicon’s Global General Counsel, working from its headquarters in Dublin, during the last 12 months, Ciara has advised on all aspects of Rubicon’s business globally across its offices in Dublin, New York, Madrid, Mexico City, Santiago de Chile and Seoul. This has included: working closely with Rubicon’s CEO advising on key strategic matters across the firm’s broad activities; negotiating legal agreements entered into with Rubicon’s investment banking clients; managing litigation and dispute resolution; and leading the legal documentation in relation to the firm’s investment opportunities. Ciara is also responsible for selecting, appointing and managing top tier law firms across Rubicon’s business.

With respect to Rubicon’s Asset Management business, having already successfully led all the documentation and legal negotiations in relation to the firm’s equity and debt fund formation, during the last 12 months, Ciara was instrumental in leading the fund documentation and legal structuring as well as providing legal support to the Asset Management business with closing investments of the Fund internationally, with the support of top tier international law firms.

During the last 12 months, Ciara also successfully managed all aspects of Rubicon’s most recent litigation, resulting in a significant payout to Rubicon, with the support of a top tier law firm in New York. Ciara is currently managing an appeal to the Supreme Court of Spain with the support of a top tier law firm in Spain.

What do you think are the most important attributes for a modern in-house counsel to possess?

Ciara’s view is that some of the most important attributes for a modern in-house legal counsel to possess are being committed to the business; and being results driven. Leaning into these attributes during every interaction helps to drive the business forward and achieve results focused solutions for the firm, its clients and its investors. The first step for in-house legal counsel is to identify the potential risks for the business. However, most importantly, the crucial role of an in-house counsel is to act as a trusted advisor to the business as a key strategic thinker. As an integral member of the global leadership team, Ciara adds value by providing strategic and commercial solutions to support the business with navigating and managing potential risks in an outcome driven way, in compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

What is a cause, business or otherwise, that you are passionate about?

Ciara is a board member of the Rubicon Education Foundation. The Foundation was established by Rubicon and provides scholarships to female students who demonstrate academic achievement or potential and are in need of financial assistance for the payment of school fees and education-related expenses. The Foundation has been highly successful in achieving positive social outcomes by creating opportunities that would not have otherwise been available to these students. The students have integrated well into private school life, excelling both academically and in their extracurricular activities, and a number of the students have been elected by their peers to leadership positions within the school. For Ciara, it is important to be part of an organisation that is having such a positive social impact and is increasing the voice of female students across the broader socio-economic spectrum.