Interview with Christina Moran

Christina Moran
Associate, A&L Goodbody

1. Where are you now? Tell us about your role 

I'm back in Dublin and working on A&L Goodbody’s disputes and investigations team, with a particular focus on reputation and tech matters.

2. What does a typical day look like for you? 

 I’m on secondment to the litigation team in Meta at the moment, so every day is very different depending on the jurisdiction and type of claim that I’m dealing with. Days involving Italy or Belgium are usually a lot more involved than Ireland or the UK.

3. What do you enjoy most about your work and what has been your most rewarding achievement?

Not knowing what the day might bring. The Irish disputes market is quite different to London and obviously smaller, so you get a complete mix of everything rather than focused specialisms. Most of my practice is tech related, but I still advise on traditional defamation claims, criminal matters, shareholder disputes etc. I moved home during the pandemic, so the first time I actually met my new team was on a socially-distanced dawn raid - which was rather surreal!

4. Throughout your career – what are your highlights?

Most definitely working on the FRN v JP Morgan claim. It was the case that most attracted me to RPC and gave me the opportunity to travel to Nigeria for the very first time. My grandparents spent 50+ years in Lagos and my mum grew up there, but I hadn’t had the chance to go myself. They were thrilled that I made it over. Also very relieved that Martina Howard went to such efforts to keep Jonathan Cary and I safe and organised while there (thanks Martina!).

5. Where do you see your industry heading – what are the key issues or changes you see on the horizon over the next three to five years?

More and more tech disputes (given the number of platforms with Irish jurisdiction clauses in place). And hopefully reduced damages awards in defamation claims (depending on how our planned reforms pan out).

6. What are you passionate about outside of work?

I’m enjoying being back beside the sea and just a quick drive from the mountains. I’m not as outdoorsy as others in Dublin, but we’ve been doing a lot of cycling and hiking since moving home and it’s been wonderful. I point blank refuse to even try sea-swimming though. There aren’t enough dry robes in the world to convince me to get into the Irish Sea.

7. What were the most valuable lessons you learnt while at RPC that has helped you in your current role?

Always be ready for the very most unexpected, like blackouts in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources in Lagos and having to make your way out of the Ministry of Justice by torchlight (because no one thought to mention that the electricity would shut off at 7pm). And bring copious amounts of baby wipes and hand sanitiser if you’re going to be rummaging through extremely old files.

In hindsight, both excellent lessons for the then imminent pandemic.

8. What is your favourite RPC memory?

My trips to Abuja and Lagos, most definitely

9. What does the future hold for you – if we spoke again in a year, what would you like to have achieved?

I’m having a baby boy in June so finding out how to parent is currently a key focus. All tips very gratefully received.