ANNE O’CONNELL Winning Female-Led Law Firm of the Year is no small feat. What does this recognition mean to you personally and to the firm as a whole? Winning Female-Led Law Firm of the Year is an incredible honour that means a great deal both personally and professionally. For me, it’s a powerful affirmation of the decision to set up my own boutique employment law firm in 2017 and the years of dedication, resilience, and vision it has taken from our team as a whole to grow and develop the firm. Since the formation of AOC Solicitors, it has grown from a team of three with only one solicitor to the current team of nine, five of whom are solicitors, together with a dedicated Practice Manager. Any time someone refers to me having set up on my own, I always correct them—I didn’t set up on my own; I had a lot of help and support from the start. I believe that strength is in a team and that our firm’s strength lies in the team we have built—a wheel needs its spokes to turn. As a firm, we are all delighted to receive this award, as it recognises the forward-thinking culture we have tried to foster since our establishment in 2017. Take us back to the beginning; what inspired the creation of AOC Solicitors, and how did your founding values shape the culture of the firm today? The inspiration to start the firm came from a desire to create a legal practice that not only delivered exceptional results for clients but also redefined what leadership, inclusivity, and integrity look like in the legal profession. I wanted to build something different: a firm where collaboration was prioritised over competition and where values mattered as much as outcomes. From day one, our founding values—excellence, authenticity, accountability, and respect—have been the backbone of our culture. They influence everything from how we approach client relationships to how we nurture our team. Those early principles created a foundation of trust and purpose, and they continue to guide us as we grow. What are some of the unique challenges and advantages you’ve encountered as a female-led legal team in Ireland’s legal landscape? I think that setting up and leading your own firm is always very challenging, but thankfully it has also been hugely rewarding. The challenges we have encountered will likely mirror those of most other new firms trying to establish themselves in a competitive market. What has been a real pleasure is navigating those challenges together as a team where everyone’s voice matters and everyone values the importance of good communication and collaboration. This helps to create an environment conducive to dealing with any challenges that arise. When setting up the firm, I drew inspiration from the quote by Kobi Yamada: “She turned her ‘can’ts into ‘cans’, her dreams into plans,” and this quote kept me going when faced with challenges. I would also add to this quote that, with the support of my team, “she turned her plans into reality.” The legal sector isn’t always known for rapid evolution. How has AOC Solicitors managed to challenge industry norms and redefine what leadership looks like? When AOC Solicitors was established in 2017, boutique employment law firms were not the norm. I felt employment law had the potential to lend itself well to such a setting. Thankfully, this proved to be the case and, through the hard work of our team and loyalty of our clients, we managed to challenge the norm by establishing ourselves within the market and growing the firm to what it is today. In terms of redefining leadership, we believe that real leadership is about promoting and supporting teamwork, and we try to adopt that approach in our day-to-day work. We also try to maintain an environment where all team members (regardless of seniority) communicate openly about aspects of their work that are going well and aspects they are finding challenging. This allows us all to both help and learn from each other. Founder - AOC Solicitors ABOUT ANNE O’CONNELL Anne O’Connell is the Founder and Principal of Anne O’Connell Solicitors (AOC Solicitors), a boutique employment law firm based in Dublin. With over two decades of experience in employment law, Anne has built a reputation as a trusted advisor to both employers and employees, handling complex workplace disputes, high-profile litigation, and strategic HR matters. Since establishing AOC Solicitors in 2017, Anne has led the firm’s growth from a three-person team to a thriving practice of nine, including five solicitors and a dedicated Practice Manager. The firm is widely recognised for its specialist expertise, client-focused approach, and forwardthinking culture, offering tailored legal solutions in all areas of employment law. Under Anne’s leadership, AOC Solicitors has become one of Ireland’s leading boutique employment law practices, earning recognition from Legal 500 as a Tier 2 firm and achieving a five-star client satisfaction ranking. Known for its emphasis on teamwork, inclusivity, and innovation, the firm continues to set itself apart in Ireland’s competitive legal landscape. www.aocsolicitors.ie IRELAND FEMALE LED LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR LAWYER MONTHLY LEGAL AWARDS 2025 33 IRELAND FEMALE LED LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR LAWYER MONTHLY LEGAL AWARDS 2025 32
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