DWF has announced a record six solicitor qualifications in its Belfast office, alongside the arrival of its largest-ever trainee cohort across its SQE and IPLS training programmes. The six newly qualified solicitors have qualified into a range of practice areas across the business' Belfast office:
Appointments
See all articlesKennedys has appointed James Ferrin to the role of legal director in Belfast as part of their global senior promotions round. Mr Ferrin practises in insurance law and joins 34 colleagues at offices around the world who have been promoted to legal director. A further 50 lawyers have been promoted to
Clyde & Co has appointed Sinéad Lynch, a partner in its Dublin office, as head of corporate & regulatory insurance for Ireland. Ms Lynch joins from A&L Goodbody, where she was a partner in the firm’s corporate practice specialising in insurance and reinsurance. Dual qualifie
DWF has announced a record six solicitor qualifications in its Belfast office, alongside the arrival of its largest-ever trainee cohort across its SQE and IPLS training programmes. The six newly qualified solicitors have qualified into a range of practice areas across the business' Belfast office:
Amy McDermott and Christopher O'Reilly have been appointed to lead Arthur Cox’s London office, effective from 1 September 2026. Ms McDermott and Mr O’Reilly succeed Conor McCarthy, a partner in the firm’s corporate and M&A group who returns to Dublin after leading the London of
McCann FitzGerald LLP has appointed partner Megan Hooper as the head of the firm's litigation and dispute resolution group, effective 1 September 2026. Ms Hooper joined the firm in 2002, having relocated from Australia, and was appointed partner in 2014. She practises in commercial litigation, inves
Maura Dineen has been appointed as country managing partner at DLA Piper succeeding David Carthy. Ms Dineen joined the firm in 2019 and advises Irish and international clients on tax matters across local and cross-border transactions. She is also a member of the Council of the Irish Tax Institute.&n
Northern Ireland
See all articlesKennedys has appointed James Ferrin to the role of legal director in Belfast as part of their global senior promotions round. Mr Ferrin practises in insurance law and joins 34 colleagues at offices around the world who have been promoted to legal director. A further 50 lawyers have been promoted to
DWF has announced a record six solicitor qualifications in its Belfast office, alongside the arrival of its largest-ever trainee cohort across its SQE and IPLS training programmes. The six newly qualified solicitors have qualified into a range of practice areas across the business' Belfast office:
Northern Ireland secretary, Sir Chris Bryant, has ordered an independent judge-led review into the Parades Commission. This comes in the wake of the High Court decision last week that quashed a determination of the Commission in relation to the Orange Order march along the Garvaghy Road.
Denise Kiley KC is the new chair of the Bar Council of Northern Ireland. She commences her two year term today succeeding Donal Lunny KC who took up the role in September 2024. Ms Kiley served as vice-chair of the Bar Council during the previous two legal years and sat on various committees includin
A member of the Parades Commission, Mr Billy Gamble, has resigned following a High Court judgment that found decision making at the Commission “sloppy”. Judicial review proceedings were brought by a member of the Portadown Orange Lodge in relation a determination of the Commission to ref
Universities
See all articlesUCD has announced that it will host a milestone reunion celebration for BCL graduates of years ending in 6 on Friday 20 November. UCD will welcome back graduates to celebrate the BCL classes of 1986, 1996, 2006, the BBLS classes of 1996, 2006 and their affiliated alumni.
Research from Queen’s University Belfast is shining a light on the role of AI and bots in the music industry, warning that consumers and musicians are being shortchanged because of technology that’s out of control. Dr Katherine Pittalis used her PhD to examine the fast-changing technolog
Whether you simply love all animals or have a more analytical curiosity about legal protections for animal welfare – Dr Maureen O'Sullivan has the course for you! Ireland’s first animal law module is proving a hit at the University of Galway, with student numbers more than doubling. Dr
Professor Oonagh Breen of UCD Sutherland School of Law has been appointed to the Royal Irish Academy’s Ethics, Politics, Law and Philosophy Committee for the 2026 to 2030 term.
Trinity Women in Law is seeking mentors to join its 2026 mentorship programme.
Interviews
See all articlesIreland’s role as one of the world’s leading aircraft leasing hubs dates to 1975, when the billionaire businessman Tony Ryan founded Guinness Peat Aviation (GPA) in 1975. Ryan, of course, was also one of the co-founders of Ryanair in 1984. His venture created a pool of experienced aviati
When Majella Walsh was announced as the recipient of the Munster Regional Sole Practitioner of the Year award at the LEAP Irish Law Awards last month, she says her first reaction was one of some surprise. Those who know her professionally would not have been startled at the news. Noted by clients fo
Colin Cardwell
Many parents have long had ambitions for their children to pursue careers in medicine or law, professions that are perceived as being synonymous with prestige, intellectual challenge and public service. John Magee, a partner at DLA Piper in Dublin, was seriously considering a career in medicine unti
Colin Cardwell
For solicitors who started their career just before the financial crisis of 2008 struck, the timing was both daunting and defining. Newly qualified lawyers were entering a profession gripped by uncertainty in an Ireland faced by economic turbulence. However, there emerged from that singular event a
Colin Cardwell
For Anne-Marie Linehan, the past couple of years at J.W. O'Donovan LLP have resembled the proverbial situation when three buses arrive at the same time. First, in 2024 and after 93 years the firm relocated to new premises in Cork's South Mall, reflecting its ongoing commitment to supporting clients
Colin Cardwell






