Solicitors Growth Network Roadshow

5 Hours of In-Person CPD | Complimentary for SGN Members

Thursday, Nov 27th 2025

The Ashling Hotel, Dublin

5hrs In-Person CPD

Join Us For a Day of Learning, Development and Connection.

Our annual Roadshow returns to Dublin this November, bringing solicitors together for a day of learning and conversation.

This event is designed to make CPD compliance straightforward, while also giving you the chance to step out of the office and spend time with colleagues who understand the unique challenges of practice.

What to Expect:

Expert-Led Sessions
Hear from a carefully selected line-up of speakers covering a mix of practice updates. (Full agenda to be announced shortly).

Practical Learning
Each session is designed to be practical, relevant, and immediately applicable to your day-to-day work.

Networking Lunch
Enjoy time to connect with colleagues, exchange referrals, and share experiences.

Effortless CPD Compliance
Walk away with a personalised CPD certificate covering your 5 in-person hours.

Attendance is complimentary for all SGN members, though we do ask for a small refundable booking deposit to secure your place. This helps us prepare properly for the number of attendees and ensures that no seat goes to waste.

Our Speakers

Eamon Walsh

Speaker

Eavanna Fitzgerald

Speaker

Mark Tottenham

Speaker

Dr. Nicola Fox

Speaker

Sean Groeger

Speaker

Catherine Tobin

Speaker

Martin Lawlor

Host

Helen Coughlan

Host

Flor McCarthy

Host

What We Will Cover

Mediation and the Injuries Resolution Board: What Solicitors Need to Know

CPD Category: 1hr Client Care and Professional Standards

As mediation continues to play a growing role in resolving personal injury claims, understanding how the Injuries Resolution Board operates – and where mediation fits within that process – is increasingly important for practitioners.

In this session, Eamon Walsh, Head of Mediation at the Injuries Resolution Board, will provide a comprehensive overview of the Board’s work, including its background, assessment process, and strategic direction. He will outline how the mediation service integrates with the Board’s wider objectives, offering clarity on when and how mediation is used, what solicitors should consider when advising clients, and how to engage most effectively with the process.

Attendees will gain practical insight into the Injuries Resolution Board’s evolving strategy, the role of mediation in its framework, and what these developments mean for solicitors and their clients in day-to-day practice.

About the Speaker:

Eamon Walsh was appointed Head of Mediation in January 2025. As Head of Mediation he is responsible for service delivery and development of the new mediation service. Eamon is also one of the Injuries Resolution Board’s Statutory Assessors. Eamon has over 20 years of experience working with the Injuries Resolution Board.

Instructing Expert Witnesses: Getting It Right from the Start

CPD Category: 1hr General

Engaging the right expert witness can make or break a case, but knowing how to choose, instruct, and collaborate effectively is where many solicitors stumble.

In this practical session, barristers Eavanna Fitzgerald and Mark Tottenham BL will guide attendees through the key considerations when selecting and working with expert witnesses. They’ll explore what to look for in an expert, how to fulfil your professional duties when instructing them, and the common pitfalls that can undermine even the strongest expert evidence.

About the Speakers

Eavanna FitzGerald is a Barrister and founder of The Expert Witness Site (TEWS). She practiced at the Bar of Ireland for 20 years, specialising in medical negligence and sports law, before setting up TEWS – a business which sources Expert Witnesses for legal teams, and provides training for Experts. She is a former lecturer in Corporate Governance and Company Law at both UCD and Michael Smurfit School of Business. 

Mark Tottenham BL is the author of The Reliable Expert Witness and A Guide to Expert Witness Evidence. As the training consultant to The Expert Witness Site, he has delivered several courses for solicitors and expert witnesses alongside Eavanna Fitzgerald. He has lectured on expert evidence to various august bodies, including Fair Trials Europe, CIArb, The Society of Construction Law, The Kings Inns, The Law Society of Ireland and The German-Irish Lawyers and Business Association. As one of the presenters of The Fifth Court podcast, he has appeared at the Electric Picnic, Kilkenomics, the Kilkenny Law Festival, the Allingham Arts Festival and other live events. He is also the founding editor of Decisis Law Reports.

Cyberpsychology: Understanding and Outsmarting Scams (Without the Shame)

CPD Category: 1hr Professional Development and Solicitor WellBeing

Cybersecurity isn’t just a technical issue; it’s a human one. In this fascinating and highly relevant session, Dr Nicola Fox, cyberpsychology lecturer and researcher, will explore the psychological side of cybercrime and why even the most cautious professionals can fall victim to online scams.

Dr Fox will unpack how cybercriminals exploit human behaviour through tactics such as phishing, vishing, invoice redirection, deepfakes, and social engineering – and why factors like stress, cognitive overload, and authority pressure can make individuals and teams more susceptible.

The session will also examine how to foster psychological safety within your firm – creating a culture where people feel able to speak up after a mistake without fear of blame – and how education, awareness, and cultural change play a vital role in prevention.

About the Speaker

Dr Nicola Fox Hamilton is a cyberpsychology lecturer and researcher who has published in the areas of cyberpsychology, online relationships, and communication online. She lectures in Cyberpsychology in the Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Dun Laoghaire (IADT). Nicola regularly contributes to academic conferences and media discussions on a number of topics related to cyberpsychology, including cybersecurity and digital wellness. She was recently listed in the Sunday Business Post as one of Ireland’s 100 most powerful women in tech. Nicola also co-hosts the cyberpsychology podcast In Bits with her colleague Dr Liam Challenor, making research accessible, relatable, and useful to how we are using technology in our daily lives.

Cybersecurity in Practice: Building a Cyber-Resilience Plan for Your Firm

CPD Category: 1hr General

With cyber threats becoming more sophisticated every year, it’s no longer enough to simply know the risks – you need a clear plan to protect your firm, your data, and your clients.

In this practical, hands-on session, Sean Groeger, solicitor, will guide participants through the essential steps of developing a tailored cybersecurity plan for their practice. Moving beyond theory, this interactive session will walk attendees through some of the key areas every firm should address – from data protection and password protocols to incident response and staff awareness – and help them build a working draft of a cybersecurity policy they can take back to the office and put into action.

Designed specifically for small and medium-sized practices, this session will demystify the technical jargon, highlight the most common vulnerabilities faced by solicitors, and provide practical tools to strengthen day-to-day cyber resilience. Attendees will leave not just with insights, but with a tangible framework they can implement immediately.

About the Speaker

With a strong foothold in both financial services and technology law, Sean Groeger advises on technology law matters including cybersecurity and AI and helps entities with their digital transformation within the legal framework and the rapidly evolving legal landscape. This includes helping entities to navigate complex multi-jurisdictional matters, focusing on legal digital solutions, privacy laws, and emerging technologies such as AI, AI Governance, and cybersecurity. He is passionate about how tech and law interact, and loves working on areas where AI and cybersecurity with the proper governance, can drive innovation, while staying compliant with ever evolving regulations. Sean is also Co-Head of the Cybersecurity subcommittee of the Law Society Technology Committee.

AI Mindset and Change Management: Leading Your Firm Through the Next Shift

CPD Category: 1hr General

For many solicitors, the rise of artificial intelligence feels both exciting and unsettling. You know it’s coming – you may even want to embrace it – but between the pace of change, conflicting information, and fear of the unknown, it’s hard to know where to start.

In this timely session, Catherine Tobin will explore the human side of AI adoption within legal practice – from managing the uncertainty that comes with new technology to guiding teams who may feel anxious, resistant, or simply lost.

Catherine will discuss how to approach AI implementation with empathy and structure, build confidence among staff, and manage situations where employees may already be experimenting with tools outside formal firm policies. She’ll also share practical strategies for reframing AI as an opportunity rather than a threat – showing how to channel the time saved into creativity, value-building, and professional growth.

About the Speaker

Catherine Tobin is the Chief Operating and Marketing Officer of the Solicitors Growth Network, where she oversees operations, communications, and innovation across the organisation. A serial entrepreneur and experienced business coach, Catherine has managed multiple teams and ventures across a range of industries, with a strong focus on systems, technology integration, and operational efficiency.

As an AI enthusiast, Catherine is deeply conscious of the need for continual learning in this rapidly evolving field to ensure technology is adopted thoughtfully, responsibly, and with real understanding. She has delivered training and spoken at numerous events on the practical use of AI in business, helping professionals understand how to leverage these tools effectively and ethically.

As a certified, psychologically minded coach, Catherine brings a unique human perspective to technology, emphasising the importance of mindset, emotional intelligence, and behavioural change in successfully implementing AI within organisations. Her sessions blend real-world business insight with a deep understanding of the human factors that underpin meaningful, lasting change.

SGN Christmas Party 2025

A chance to connect and chat with this community and toast the Christmas season.

After a day of learning and development, why not join us for a drink and some nibbles as we celebrate the start of the festive season together.

Starting from 5pm and running til late, this will be a relaxed and merry gathering, where you can unwind, connect, and build stronger relationships with your peers.

There will be a private area reserved at the Ashling Hotel directly after the final session of the day, where food will be served and a drink will be waiting. More details to follow as we get closer to the day, but for now, be sure to save the date.

Register Your Place Today!

Don’t miss out on this valuable opportunity to learn from industry experts and connect with your peers.

About The Venue

This event will be hosted at The Ashling Hotel which is located in the heart of Dublin City, right across from Heuston train station.

Directions to the hotel can be found here.

It is accessible by all modes of transport and the Luas Red line runs right past the door.

Parking is available in the multi-storey car park and hotel guests can enjoy a special discounted overnight rate.

Tel: 01 6772324

Email: info@ashlinghotel.ie

Frequently Asked Questions

While this CPD event is free to attend for members, we appreciate your understanding that we require a booking deposit to secure your place at the event. This policy helps us ensure that those who register are genuinely interested and committed to attending, enabling us to effectively manage the event and avoid empty seats. The great news is that this deposit of €50 is fully refundable! Upon confirmation of your attendance at the event, we will promptly process your deposit refund. This approach helps us to maintain a more engaged event experience for all attendees. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

As this is a live in-person event, recordings will not be available to view in replay format. 

Tickets for our event are partially refundable. The total ticket cost is €70, of which €50 is a booking deposit that will be fully refunded upon confirmation of your attendance at the event. However, please note that the remaining €20 covers lunch and refreshments and is non-refundable. 

If you would rather not attend the luncheon with other attendees, please just let us know prior to the event so we can make a note of this and refund this portion of the ticket directly to you along with your booking deposit. Email Catherine/Sarah at info@solicitorsgrowth.com.

In the event of cancellation of the event, full refunds will be issued to all ticket buyers.

Personalised CPD certificates will be emailed directly to each attendee after the event. Please allow up to 3 working days for all CPD certs to be issued. 

Absolutely! If you would like to bring a guest to the Christmas party, you are more than welcome to do so, we would just ask that you notify us in advance so that we can keep track of numbers for food, etc. Email Catherine/Sarah at info@solicitorsgrowth.com.

Click below to Join the Waitlist

This event is now at capacity however, you can register for our waitlist to be notified if a spot comes up.

In Proud Partnership With

If you want to enquire further about the event or have any questions, please contact Catherine and Sarah at info@solicitorsgrowth.com

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