Our Team
Julie Brennan
Managing Director
Julie Brennan is a solicitor who trained in McCann FitzGerald and then worked in their commercial litigation department for 6 years, specialising in dispute resolution and litigation. Julie holds a degree in law, a masters in commercial law and a diploma in employment law. She began working in the area of risk and quality management in 2010, as head of risk management in Outsource and then head auditor with the Institute of Legal Research and Standards from August 2012. Julie has extensive experience in auditing firms of all sizes throughout the country. She has given presentations to Bar Associations around the country on the subject of risk and quality management and has lectured on the subject in the Law Society.
Cathy Haines
Senior Auditor
Cathy Haines was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in 2007 and worked as a general practice solicitor with Rory P. Benville & Co. Solicitors in Bray. She started working with Outsource in 2011 as an Auditor and Risk Management Consultant and joined the Institute of Legal Research and Standards when it was created in 2012. She has audited a large number of small to medium sized firms mainly on the East coast of Ireland over the past five years and has also assisted and supported firms who were looking to implement a full risk management strategy. In addition Cathy has been involved in carrying out a full review of undertakings and files for a number of firms through her continued work with Outsource.
Kate Ashmore
Senior Auditor
Kate was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in 2002 and gained extensive experience in a number of general practices in the midlands. Kate was employed as a senior auditor with the Institute of Legal Research and Standards for seven years from 2012, following which she took up a two- year inhouse role with a regulatory body before rejoining the LQSI in January 2022 as Head of Business Development. Kate has extensive experience in the areas of AML compliance and data protection and holds a Diploma in Risk Management and Compliance and a Certificate in Data Protection Law
Sinéad O’Sullivan
Senior Auditor
Sinead O’Sullivan graduated from UCG (now NUIG) with B.Comm and LL.B (honours) degrees in 1995 and 1998 respectively. Sinead trained with Howley Carter & Co., Solicitors, Sligo and was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in 2003. Post qualification she worked for several firms including Howley, Carter & Co. Solicitors, Sligo, O’Callaghan, Cowhey, Solicitors, Dublin and Peter Martin, Solicitors, Sligo practising primarily in residential and commercial conveyancing but gaining extensive experience in all areas of general practise until joining the Institute of Legal Research & Standards now the Legal Quality Standard of Ireland in 2012. Sinead completed a Certificate in Conveyancing and Property Law with the Law Society in 2014 and a Certificate in Data Protection Practice with the Law Society in February 2018.
Deborah Weekes
Auditor
Deborah Weekes joined The Legal Quality Standard of Ireland in 2022 and works with firms in the Munster area. She has worked as a solicitor for over 15 years in general practice; primarily in the areas of conveyancing and probate with extensive experience in litigation. She holds an LL.B (Hons) in Law and European Studies from the University of Limerick and was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors of the Law Society of Ireland in 2006. She also holds a Diploma in Family Law and a Certificate in Technology Law from the Law Society of Ireland.