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

It is an incredibly exciting time to be working at Stripe, as the company evolves into the next stage of its scaling journey. Having been founded in 2010, we now support millions of users and billions of transactions each year, and our team works closely with business partners to ensure Stripe’s governance infrastructure matches the formidable pace of the business’s growth. The Corporate Legal team is responsible for board and entity governance. This year, we have continued to deliver strategic advice to the business and boards on market expansion and corporate law — from internal restructures and supporting regulatory license applications worldwide, to leading the recent acquisition of our new Irish headquarters. Given the significant variations in local requirements across jurisdictions, I collaborated closely with local teams to implement a global governance framework that articulates streamlined best practices across our international portfolio of legal entities — covering critical areas such as board reporting and oversight, succession planning, and strategic decision-making. I also stood up Stripe’s ESG Programme and am spearheading reporting readiness efforts for the EU, Australia, and California.

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

I see the Legal function as a critical builder for the company – we craft the legal frameworks and draft the agreements that ultimately help Stripe execute its strategy and bring the business initiatives to life. While Legal can often be perceived as a blocker in some organisations, my team strives to be core enablers. Our answer is rarely a “no”, but a “yes, if”. We work hand in glove with cross-functional teams to tackle complex (and often unprecedented) legal issues and identify opportunities for innovative solutions. We encourage stakeholders to come to us early with concerns, which has earned the team the reputation as trusted advisors, helping the business navigate the intricacies of an ever-evolving regulatory landscape. Our curiosity is also vital, as it drives us to understand the inner workings of the business. We stay attuned to what’s happening across the organisation, anticipating potential problems and opportunities, which ensures we provide holistic and practical legal advice that meaningfully supports the company’s needs and goals.

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

I have always been deeply passionate about championing gender equality and social justice, particularly in empowering underrepresented voices and fostering a supportive community where diverse perspectives thrive. As Stripe’s Dublin HQ Lead of our Equate Group, I am dedicated to promoting the professional development and leadership of women, non-binary individuals, and their allies through education, mentorship, and collaboration. After surviving a violent sexual assault in 2019, I have also been advocating for legislative changes to Ireland’s criminal justice system for future survivors. That journey led me to work with two Ministers for Justice (Helen McEntee TD and Jim O’Callaghan TD), the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Rape Crisis Centre on reforms to tackle the many barriers that deter survivors from seeking justice. I am also the author of Ash + Salt, a bestselling book that shares my experience with the hope of breaking the stigma surrounding sexual violence and providing survivors and their families with the tools to survive and ultimately thrive after experiencing PTSD.