Team size: 130

Miriam Nagle was appointed Group General Counsel of AIB Group in January 2025, assuming leadership of one of Ireland’s largest and most dynamic in-house legal teams. As a member of AIB’s Executive Leadership Team, she provides strategic legal counsel to the Board and senior leadership, while also overseeing third-party management activity across the Group as well as the Group Corporate Insurance Programme. 

Miriam joined AIB in 2013 and has held a series of senior leadership roles across the legal function, including Head of Dispute Resolution, Data Protection, Products, and Retail Legal. She spent nine years leading the Enforcement and Litigation teams, where she played a pivotal role in navigating complex legal challenges and regulatory matters. Her promotion to Group General Counsel reflects a distinguished career marked by strategic leadership, deep sectoral expertise, and a pragmatic approach to legal strategy. 

With over two decades of experience spanning private practice and senior in-house roles, Miriam began her legal career as a litigation specialist, advising on complex disputes across a range of sectors. Her in-house experience includes a number of senior roles in highly regulated environments such as banking and stockbroking, equipping her with a sharp commercial acumen and a deep understanding of financial services. 

Throughout her tenure at AIB, Miriam has been instrumental in guiding the Bank through a period of significant transformation and growth. In her current role, Miriam leads teams which provide expert legal advice across a wide range of areas, including lending, dispute resolution, treasury, data protection, contracts, and mergers and acquisitions. She has advised on numerous strategic deals and projects that have shaped AIB’s evolving business landscape. Her leadership continues to drive innovation and excellence within the legal function, fostering a culture of collaboration, integrity, and high performance. 

Miriam holds a Bachelor of Civil Law degree from University College Cork and was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors by the Law Society of Ireland in 2005. She also serves as a Non-Executive Director of Payzone Limited, a subsidiary of AIB, further contributing her expertise to the governance and strategic direction of the Group. 

How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crises, and how does your legal strategy align with the broader business strategy to ensure the organisation’s resilience? 

During periods of instability or crisis, bringing a calm and considered voice to the table is key. Taking time to think about the issue and give considered advice can be tricky in a pressurised situation, but it is, in my experience, the best approach.

A key role of the legal function is to enable the business to grow and develop, and legal strategy must be embedded in the broader business response. Our role is to anticipate risk, enable decisive action, and maintain trust with stakeholders. Resilience comes from being proactive, collaborative, and ensuring legal advice supports both continuity and accountability. 

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

Legal acumen is a must, but to really thrive as a modern in-house counsel, I believe that a strategic mindset is key, so that you can fulfil the dual roles of guardian as well as enabler of the business. Sound judgment and an ability to communicate complex issues clearly are essential. Agility is more important than ever now, given the rapid pace of change on all fronts, including in the AI space. An ability to identify and develop great lawyers and leaders is so important so that you have the best people around you and a plan for succession.  And above all, to succeed in the role, you must foster trust.