Mr Hugh Mohan SC has been elected as chairman of the Bar Council. He replaced Mr Conor Maguire SC who retires from the position at the end of the month, having served two years.
Aged 41, Mr Mohan is a native of Monaghan.
He was educated at CBS and St MacCartan's College in Monaghan, followed by UCD, where he obtained a BCL. He qualified as a barrister in the King's Inns.
He was called to the Bar in 1985, and became a senior counsel in 2000.
His practice consists mainly of defamation, civil and commercial work, and he previously advised the Sunday Tribune on libel.
He was in the O and L case, involving the Irish-born children of foreign parents, and the Beverley Flynn libel trial.
He was chairman of the Advisory Group on defamation which reported earlier this year.
He is married to Sinéad, and they have two daughters.