‘Tech has no borders’: Meet the Donegal lawyer at the forefront of global AI leadership

When you hear the phrase “woman in tech”, you could be forgiven for thinking such a person might be found establishing a start-up in Ireland; in the boardroom of a multinational; or analysing algorithms. 

Where you might not expect to find them is as a Partner in a law firm. Yet, that is exactly where Marie McGinley calls her professional home. As International Head of Technology at Eversheds Sutherland and Head of Intellectual Property, Technology and Data Protection at Eversheds Sutherland Ireland, Marie brings her expertise to the firm’s Global Technology and AI Leadership team and to clients in Ireland and across the world in the areas of cyber security, data protection, technology development, IP, strategic outsourcing and many more of the areas impacted by technology. “Tech really has no borders,” says the Donegal native. “Fundamental to my job is highlighting risks to clients and I do this at a global level, bringing together colleagues who have specialist knowledge across regions to support clients and to ensure a seamless service.”

Marie claims she ended up in the tech sector by chance, but I am unwilling to believe her given her enthusiasm for an ever-changing sector full of, in her words, “phenomenal women, especially in Ireland”. 

“From a young age, I was always into tech and gadgets and that kind of stuff. When I started as a trainee it was with a tech team and it went from there. Honestly, I was very lucky,” she laughs, before sharing that one of the classes she took as part of her law degree in Galway was Intellectual Property (this is the evidence I need to confirm she is much more strategic than she might think!). 

Tech has no borders

Marie went on to complete an LLM (Master’s) in International and Comparative Commercial Law in Kings College London, which she credits with building her skills for navigating a breadth of cross-cultural viewpoints, something she feels is essential to what she brings to clients today. “It goes back to tech having no borders,” she says. “Our clients might have products in Europe, Asia and the US, so our global tech team all work together…it’s fundamental to my job.” 

Despite being in the tech space since being a trainee, Marie’s days are never the same. “I tell anyone who trains with our team that they will never have a day when they’ll be doing the same piece of work that they did the day before. It is constantly changing – we could be grappling with between 30 to 40 different pieces of law per day, depending on where you are or the product or service we are helping a client with.”

As opposed to being overwhelmed by the pace, it seems to energise Marie even more as she speaks about the process and her clients. “This is not one of those areas that are static in the law – we advise clients on current legislation, anticipated legislation, best practice in the industry, what we’re seeing globally, as well as advising on the strategic risk and compliance elements having regard to the risk profile that a company might have,” she says.  

“We get to work with clients on their products and services before they even come to market. It’s like you’re part of a secret until it’s announced and it is really exciting to be involved in it. And we have the opportunity to be with clients who grow from one- or two-person organisations to multi-employees across various jurisdictions. To be with them every step of the way, as they evolve… it’s phenomenal.” 

Trusted advisor

Marie places a high value on the relationships she and her colleagues build with their clients. “You build relationships with these clients that are a completely different level because they’re an extension of your team and you’re an extension of their team. I have seen that more and more, even with multinationals. It’s all about relationships and trust.” 

She explains how she acts as a trusted advisor to clients who might have their own in-house legal team – “their GCs can pick up the phone and we’re here to support them; to give a steer without judgment because, at the end of the day, we’re supporting the legal function, as well as the company who is our client. Working like this, we can help a client navigate the complex issues that arise particularly in the area of technology.”

“Legislation in this area is completely in a state of flux. It is continually evolving, and it’s touching not only your own sector, but different sectors as well,” she explains. “For example, in terms of software development, we’ve got a body of law already in place. We have all the IP legislation, data protection legislation, cybersecurity with NIS2 and all the obligations in that regard. Then, you also have emerging technology, with AI being a good example, where you can see new legislation being developed. In this changing environment, you have companies developing and launching products daily or planning future launches with even more new legislation on the horizon. We stay on top of all of that – what is currently happening, but also what is anticipated – and we help organisations navigate that minefield to allow them to make the best business decision, so that they can then launch a successful product or service to the market.”

Flourishing without bias

Speaking of launches, Marie is part of the Eversheds Sutherland Ireland team that has recently launched TechLink, an initiative that celebrates women in tech in Ireland. The aim is to bring together a collective of women to discuss how to create an environment at technology companies where women can thrive and have a truly diverse and inclusive workforce that can flourish without bias. It is based on a desire expressed by numerous colleagues in the industry to have “a group where everyone can learn from each other; a safe space for those honest and open conversations,” explains Marie. 

“Not everyone is legal or from the same type of company, but a lot of the issues are the same.” The group had their first event in October with more planned for 2024. “By creating that network, you can pick up the phone to someone or if you know we have an event coming up and a week or two, you can bring your issue to it,” she says.

As a committee member of Pathways, Eversheds Sutherland Ireland’s gender equality network, diversity and inclusivity are important to Marie. “Organisations advance with a diverse range of thought processes and you can only do that with a diverse group of individuals because otherwise all the conversations are the same. We can’t all be clones of each other!” 

Hearing more about Marie’s ways of working and her vision, layered onto her technical expertise, it is no surprise that she has been recognised with numerous awards: shortlisted as a PwC IMAGE Businesswoman of the Year in 2023; winning a ‘Women in Business Law Europe’ award in 2021, 2022 and 2023; ranked by Chambers Europe and in Legal 500 as a “Leading Individual” in information technology and “Next Generation Partner” in data privacy and data protection.

When I ask Marie our final question, her answer makes me confident there is plenty more recognition still to come. 

The question: What is the legacy she wishes to inspire as a woman in tech in Ireland? Marie’s answer: “To create an environment where people are supported to be themselves as they grow and succeed as technical experts in the technology sector.”

To learn more about Eversheds Sutherland, visit their website.