The inaugural U.S./Ireland Legal Symposium will take place in Westport, Co Mayo from 11-13 May 2011. This international Symposium will be hosted by the Brehon Law Society of Philadelphia and is supported by the Western Development Commission (WDC), Mayo County Council and Temple University Beasley School of Law in Philadelphia.

Pictured at the launch of the inaugural U.S./Ireland Legal Symposium in Knockranny House Hotel, Westport were (l-r): Peter Hynes (Mayo County Manager), Joseph T Kelley (President of the Brehon Law Society of Philadelphia) and Joanne Grehan (Western Development Commission). The Symposium takes place in Westport, Co Mayo from 11-13 May.

Photo: Keith Heneghan, Phocus

Topics relevant to international business exchange are high on the agenda and this event qualifies for CPD hours. Attendees will include Irish and American lawyers, business consultants and businesses operating in Ireland, the United States and the United Kingdom. Delegates will also include representatives from the banking and financial services sector, accountants and tax professionals, venture capitalists, state bodies, government departments and local authorities.

The Symposium will be chaired by Deirdre Somers, Chief Executive of the Irish Stock Exchange (ISE) and Vice President of the Federation of European Securities Exchanges (FESE). Guest speaker at the Gala Dinner will be Enda Kenny TD, Leader of Fine Gael.

Speaking at the launch of the Symposium at Knockranny House Hotel, Joseph T Kelley, President of the Brehon Law Society of Philadelphia said, “The theme of this year’s Symposium is ‘Doing Business in the U.S. / Ireland / Europe – Critical Legal Issues for U.S. and Irish Companies’. The programme will address topics which are essential for international business exchange between both countries and will include import/export regulations, legal trends in the U.S. and Ireland and how to navigate cross border legal risks in intellectual property”.

The WDC is the key instigator in bringing this Symposium to the West of Ireland. It is supported by Mayo County Council in this initiative which dovetails with Government plans for trade, tourism and investment.

Joanne Grehan, Regional Development Executive at the WDC said, “The Government’s investment strategy refers to Ireland’s positive reputation internationally as a location for doing business and the importance of engaging with the Diaspora as a means of growing necessary global links. Our work on LookWest.ie, promoting Ireland’s Western Region as a great place to live, work and do business has given the WDC an opportunity to tap into international Diaspora communities. This Symposium is the result of our ongoing engagement with organisations and high profile individuals in the U.S and is strongly aligned with our role in driving the regional economy”.

Peter Hynes, Mayo County Manager commented; “We see this opportunity to welcome the brightest of Irish and American legal minds to Westport as an important step in reinforcing positive messages about Ireland and Mayo in helping to support Government objectives to drive jobs, indigenous exports, tourism and foreign direct investment”.

U.S. legal groups are no strangers to Ireland as part of their quest for continuing legal education. However, most trips have typically focused on Dublin. The U.S./Ireland Symposium is the first event of its kind to draw lawyers from across the United States and throughout Ireland to an event in the Ireland’s Western Region.

The Cathaoirleach (Mayor) of Mayo County Council, Councillor Michael Burke has extended a warm “Céad Míle Fáilte” to Mayo to all attending delegates at the Symposium and looks forward to greeting them in May. The event will take place over a three day period and will combine a mix of accredited classes with social and networking opportunities. Registration and sponsorship information is available at www.brehonsymposium.com

Date    :    10 February 2011

Contact    :Lesley Emerson, PR West, James Street, Westport, Co. Mayo

Tel: 098 27883, Mobile: 087 2263319

NOTES TO EDITORS

The Brehon Law Society

The Brehon Law Society is a professional association organized to foster the profession of law among individuals of Irish ancestry. The Society is comprised of Judges, lawyers and law students and their friends. Brehon was chosen as the original name of the Society when it was founded in Philadelphia in 1976 and had chapters in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

The Society provides forums for educational, cultural and social activities concerning Irish heritage and tradition. The Society also seeks to promote closer affiliations between the bench, the bar, students of law and the community, and to further a high standard of legal ethics.

Since its foundation, the Society has grown from a handful of lawyers to over hundreds of members with a chapter in Pittsburgh and has branches in law schools in the Delaware Valley area, including Villanova University School of Law, Temple University Beasley School of Law, Rutgers School of Law – Camden, Drexel University Earle Mack School of Law and Widener Law School (Delaware and Harrisburg Campuses).

The Society counts many past and present members of the judiciary among its members including Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille and Justice Seamus McCaffery of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

The Western Development Commission

The WDC is the statutory body promoting economic and social development in counties Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon, Mayo, Galway and Clare.

The WDC’s strategic goals are:

1.    Contribute to balanced regional development by ensuring that the Western Region maximises its full potential for economic and social development.

2.    Promote the benefits of living, working and doing business in the Western Region.

3.    Support the sustainable economic and social development of the rural economy.

4.    Provide risk capital to SMEs and social enterprises.

www.wdc.ie and www.lookwest.ie

Mayo County Council

Mayo County Council's mission is to improve the quality of life for people living in Mayo and enhance the attractiveness of the County as a place to live in, work, enjoy and invest. While the people resident in the County are the Council’s primary responsibility the Council is also concerned with the well being and development of Mayo communities globally.

County Mayo is served by 31 County Councillors elected from six electoral areas within the county. These Councillors oversee the Mayo County government which carries out the policies of both the state and local governments.

Although based in Castlebar, the County Council services the entire county through a series of Area Offices located in nine towns across the county.

The County Council is responsible for providing a number of services to the county, including protecting the environment, fire protection, agricultural services, planning, road maintenance, enhancing the cultural and artistic life of the community, tax collection and licensing and maintaining refuse infrastructure.

www.mayococo.ie