Ciara
O'Luanaigh

Who I help:

Irish & UK incorporated companies. Owner-managed businesses. Group structures. Corporate Secretarial clients across all sectors.

How I help:

Corporate governance. CRO compliance. Company law advisory. Group structuring (Ireland & UK). Corporate Secretarial oversight.

“A “we will get it done” mindset.”

Ciara is a Corporate Advisory Partner based in our Dublin office. She leads Corporate Secretarial services across Irish and UK company structures, supporting a broad range of clients with compliance, governance, and company law requirements. She began her career in a large firm managing liquidations and receiverships during the financial crisis, working within a rapidly expanding insolvency team. That experience shaped her practical understanding of corporate structures and directors’ responsibilities. She joined the Corporate Advisory team in 2013 which had specialist functions and was appointed Partner in 2020.

Today, she oversees corporate compliance across AAB’s Irish company client base, which includes UK companies, while continuing to expand her expertise in governance and regulatory best practice. Her multi-sector view ensures she remains up to date with evolving regulatory frameworks, governance standards, and compliance requirements across industries and companies of all sizes. By closely monitoring legislative developments and emerging risks, she brings informed, proactive oversight to her advisory role — helping our clients strengthen controls and stay ahead of regulatory change.

Built in a crisis

“I spent the early part of my career in a large firm managing liquidations and receiverships during the financial crash.

The volume was intense and the work was complex, but I learned an enormous amount. You see very quickly what happens when governance isn’t properly understood or when obligations aren’t managed the way they should be.

When the opportunity came up to move into Corporate Advisory, I jumped at it. It allowed me to take what I’d learned in insolvency and apply it in a more proactive way, helping companies stay structured and compliant, rather than dealing with problems after the fact.”

Organisation as an enabler

“Corporate Advisory work touches every company structure we act for, across Ireland and the UK.

It’s filings, CRO requirements, director changes, group restructures, statutory registers, and deadlines that don’t move. Clients are often unaware of the complex requirements and that’s understandable.

My role is to bring clarity and structure to that. I see all of our Irish company clients who take Corporate Advisory services, including many UK entities, so I have a broad view of what’s happening across structures and where issues can arise. It’s technical and deadline-driven, but organisation has always been a strength of mine, that’s what allows us to stay ahead of it.”

The year that changed everything

“The biggest personal challenge in my career was being made a Partner, becoming a first-time mum and navigating Covid lockdown all in the same year.

At the same time, Corporate Advisory did not slow down. Compliance deadlines still existed, requirements still had to be met, and clients still needed guidance, even as everything else changed around us.

That period reinforced something for me: you can only control what is in front of you. Stay organised, stay calm, and work through it step by step.”

It all comes down to trust

“Relationships matter in this role. I make a point of asking clients how they are, not just what needs filing. Clients often refer work because of that personal connection. The relationships are built on trust and open communication.”

Getting it to the finish line

“We had a client with a particularly complex company structure issue. There were challenges along the way, and it wasn’t straightforward.

We sat down, worked through what needed to happen and tackled it step by step. That’s my approach: we will get it done.

Sticking with something until it reaches completion is what clients value. I stay calm and organised in a world of constant deadlines.”

Cross-Border Advisory

“Being part of a wider organisation gives us access to a broader pool of expertise, particularly in the UK. For clients with cross-border structures, that additional resource strengthens what we can deliver.

For me, it also creates an opportunity to further deepen our knowledge in corporate governance and continue building capability in line with evolving expectations.”