Attorney General of Ireland makes the rounds in U.S.
Legal News
When he visited Michigan last week on a goodwill tour, Ireland Attorney General Rossa Fanning experienced a homecoming of sorts.
Now in his third year as Ireland’s chief law officer and legal adviser to the government, Fanning spent part of a day in Ann Arbor delivering a lecture at the University of Michigan Law School, where 25 years ago he earned an LLM degree as a Fulbright Scholar.
“It was special to be back at the University of Michigan, where I have many fond memories of my time studying there,” said Fanning, who arrived in Ann Arbor in 1999 after obtaining his law degree from the University College Dublin. “It was a transformative year for me, as I didn’t know anyone there when I arrived and then left a year later with lifelong friends.”
Soon after earning his master of laws degree in 2000, Fanning received job offers from two major firms in New York and Washington, D.C., a pair of enticing options that he considered before deciding to return to Ireland to begin his legal career.
It wouldn’t take long for Fanning to enjoy the taste of legal success, as within a short span he established a reputation as one of Ireland’s most highly regarded barristers, representing such clients as Google, Facebook, and Twitter, as well as star golfer Rory McIlroy, one of the most popular figures on the international golf circuit. He also successfully represented a concert promoter who sued the American singing and songwriting superstar Prince for canceling a concert after millions of euros had been spent promoting and booking the musical event.
Then in December 2022, after spending more than two decades in private practice, Fanning was nominated to become attorney general of Ireland, a coveted appointment that required him to divest himself from all matters tied to his law practice.
“Within a matter of days, I went from representing a range of business clients to representing the interests of the Irish government instead,” Fanning recounted during a brief interview at the federal courthouse in Detroit on March 20. “It was a very quick transition from one to the other.”
Fanning made his comments to The Legal News following a luncheon reception held in his honor that was hosted in the courthouse by Chief Judge Sean Cox of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Along with a number of his judicial colleagues from the Eastern District bench, Chief Judge Cox accompanied Fanning on a tour of the “Million-Dollar Courtroom,” the magnificently restored courtroom that features a mix of marble and mahogany that has dazzled legal practitioners and judicial observers for decades.
“It is truly one of the finest courtrooms that I’ve ever seen,” said Fanning, marveling at the architectural detail throughout, including the two 12-foot columns made of white marble with pink marble bases that are emblematic of the “strength of justice.”
Fanning and several members of his staff came stateside last week as part of his country’s outreach efforts that are annually tied to the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. In 2024, Fanning spent St. Patrick’s Day in Buenos Aires, Argentina, enjoying the special Irish holiday by visiting the Southern Hemisphere.
This year, before arriving in Michigan, Fanning made official visits to Butte, Mont. and the Colorado capital of Denver to spread the goodwill of the Irish.
When he touched down in the Great Lakes State, Fanning said he had “the pleasure of meeting” with Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Attorney General Dana Nessel, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, and State Senator Sue Shink.
“During my visit, I met three attorneys general, two governors, and several mayors, all of whom were very welcoming and gracious,” said Fanning. “I especially want to thank (State Bar President) Joe McGill for inviting me to a meeting of the Irish-American Lawyers and for all his hospitality and help during my stay.”
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