Career Biography

Ian Martin is the General Counsel for HSBC Ireland, leading the legal function across the firm’s Corporate and Institutional Banking and Markets and Securities businesses. Ian is also chief legal advisor on matters of data protection, employment law, litigation and disputes, procurement and all other legal issues affecting the Irish business. As a member of the firm’s Management Committee, Ian is involved in all strategic decision-making affecting the Irish business.

Prior to taking on his current role in 2021, Ian was Senior Legal Counsel for the wholesale banking business in Ireland since joining the bank in 2015, covering commercial banking, payments and trade finance.

Outside of the direct responsibilities of his role, Ian is a founding member and chair of the HSBC Ireland Green Team since 2018 and a member the wider Climate Action Network. Ian is a member of the Ireland Corporate Sustainability Committee and has also been a member of the Sports and Social Committee and the Diversity and Inclusion committees at various times over the years.

Ian is an avid runner and has been part of successful HSBC teams in the Staff Relay Series and the Grant Thornton 5K. Ian represented HSBC as an Ashoka Advisor in the 2019 Globaliser Programme and was a member of the European Shadow Legal Exco in 2024.

Prior to joining HSBC, Ian worked as legal counsel for BNP Paribas in Ireland for a number of years after completing his legal training with Arthur Cox. He has a degree in Law and French from UCC and Master in Laws from Trinity College Dublin. He is also a qualified Data Protection Officer.