The Gazette 1991

MAY 1991

GAZETTE

Younger Members News

Society of Young Solicitors 1991 Spring Conference - Westport, Co. Mayo.

operative staff. Nowhere was the presence of the 35 strong con– tingent from Northern Ireland felt more than at the banquet. Once Colin Sainsbury, Chairman of the SYS, had given his address, no time was lost in dispensing with further formalities. The band was edged out and the Northern boys took over. Previously undiscovered talent found a new platform and the crack was mighty. The pace never lessened, continuing with the disco into the early hours of Sunday morning . Fortified with hearty Irish breakfasts (and, in some cases, something stronger) delegates assembled for the last lecture of the conference - a panel consisting of Frank O'Donnell, Solicitor, Frank Lanigan , Solicitor and Alison Dickenson of Douglas Llambias and Associates and dealing with dev– elopments in legal practice, its management and operation.

"Catch the Champagne Express"! We said and so they did. These dedicated conference-goers and first-timers did not wait to reach Mayo to set the pace for the weekend. Upon arrival in Westport, only those who were either young enough or practised enough lasted the pace into the small hours at the disco. Saturday morning dawned (all too quickly for some) and saw an excellent turn out for the morning's lectures - not surprising given the eminence of the speakers: the Honourable Mr. Justice Ronan Keane on the impact of the Companies Act, 1991 on Directors and Insider Dealing and Professor William R. Duncan on the effect of the Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Act, 1989, on litigation, property and success– ion rights. Both speakers are author and co -author respectively of " Company Law in the Republic of Ireland" and "Marriage Break– dow n in Ireland, Law and Practice" - books which practitioners in those areas of law should not be w ithout. The serious side of the con– ference complete for the day, delegates now set about the other task in hand - that of amusing t hemselves. Guidance in the right direction was provided at a w elcoming reception hosted by Westport Urban District Council at w hich the virtues of Westport were extolled w ith great eloquence. They need not have w orried . It would be hard to beat the beauty of Croagh Patrick or Clew Bay on a warm sunny day. The decision to take the coach t rip around the bay to Leenane (location for the film "The Field") w as definitely the right one. Although Westport boasts many excellent restaurants, the attract– ions of the established highlight of the w eekend proved too great. The forma l banquet and dance held on this occasion in the Hotel Westport drew a .capacity attendance. Our thanks must go to the Hotel and particularl y to its friendly and co-

Our thanks to all our speakers not only for their lectures but also for making the journey and partici– pating in the events of the week– end; to the hardworking sub-committee responsible for organising the conference (Jimmy McCourt and Paul Marren assisted by Colin Sainsbury); and , last but not least, to our generous sponsors - Investment Bank of Ireland (our main sponsor), Butterworths, Sweet and Maxwell and Douglas Llambias and Associates. The Conference drew to a close as delegates made their way to cars, coaches and trains. For others, Sunday lunch was just beginning .... . . . Details of the SYS Autumn Conference will appear in the next issue of the Gazette.

Jennifer Blunden Public Relations Officer, SYS.

Society of Young Solicitor. Conference, We.tport ('efttoRlght): Adrian Burke, Chri. Mahon, Sandra Flah.r, Jam.a McCourt, Deirdre Salnabury and Colin Salnabury.

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