Corporate Governance

Clear, Practical Corporate Governance Advice

Holmes advises boards, directors and shareholders on managing legal risk, fulfilling statutory duties and building governance frameworks that support ethical, effective leadership.

We help organisations operate efficiently while meeting legal and regulatory obligations across both commercial and public sector environments. Working closely with boards and senior management, our corporate governance team strengthens governance standards, supports informed decision-making and ensures compliance with Irish and EU requirements.

Corporate Governance Legal Services

We provide expert legal advice to companies, directors, and officers across a full range of governance issues, including:

Core Areas of Advice

• Directors’ duties & responsibilities

• Shareholder rights, actions & disputes

• Companies Act compliance

• Company secretarial services & statutory filings

• Board structures & governance frameworks

• Director governance training & leadership briefings

• Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies

• Corporate and shareholder dispute resolution

Governance Policy & Implementation

Our Corporate Governance and Compliance team also advises on the design and implementation of policies and formal procedures aligned with Irish and EU governance requirements.

Governance Challenges in a Changing Landscape

As shareholder activism increases and environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations become central to private investment, organisations face growing pressure to adapt business models and enhance transparency. Holmes is a trusted advisor to Irish-led, globally scaling companies, state bodies and government entities navigating these evolving governance expectations, including sustainability frameworks, regulatory disclosure and ESG legal advisory services.

Comprehensive Risk Advisory

Our expertise spans corporate governance, compliance, and cross-departmental risk, including employment, pensions, property, competition, environmental regulation, health & safety, and data protection.

Recent Experience

Our governance solicitors have advised clients across Ireland on a wide range of matters, from statutory compliance to shareholder dispute including:

• Drafting a corporate governance handbook for a university subsidiary, covering director duties, conflicts of interest, and committee responsibilities.
• Presenting to the board of a leading Irish insurer on governance, ethics, compliance, and regulatory obligations.
• Delivering a corporate governance manual and training for the board and executives of a special purpose vehicle.
• Providing company secretarial guidance to multinationals, large SMEs, and listed companies.
• Advising state and semi-state bodies on compliance with the Companies Act 2014 and governance frameworks.
• Successfully defending a High Court shareholder derivative action, later upheld on appeal to the Supreme Court.

Trusted Advisors to Boards and Directors

Holmes brings deep expertise across corporate governance, compliance and company law. We are trusted by Irish-led companies, multinationals and state bodies, with a proven track record in board training, compliance reviews and governance-related dispute resolution.

Our advice is clear, commercially grounded and tailored to the realities of complex organisations, ensuring boards and directors can discharge their duties with confidence.

If you would like advice on director duties, shareholder rights or governance frameworks, contact one of our Corporate Governance solicitors for a confidential discussion.