Linda Johnston

Ms Johnston first joined Francis Hanna & Co in 1983 as a newly-qualified solicitor in the property law department. By 1988, she had become the partner responsible for all private client and commercial work within the firm.

Throughout her years of practice, she has acted for banks and financial institutions in relation to personal finance matters, in both lending and recovery, as well as specialising in chancery litigation, estate planning, long-term care issues and disputed wills.

She has had a particular passion for elder law and capacity issues throughout her career and was the first Northern Ireland member of Solicitors for the Elderly, a network of specialist lawyers focusing on the increasing needs of an ageing population.

In 2017, Ms Johnston played a key role in the establishment of an elder client working group of solicitors within the Law Society of Northern Ireland, a forum for discussion for solicitors dealing with elderly and vulnerable clients.

She also chaired the editorial panel for the Law Society’s Journal of Elder Law and Capacity, a publication launched in 2019 aimed at providing a new source of information for practitioners dealing in all aspects of elder law and capacity in Northern Ireland.

Fellow partner Martin Hanna said: “We are incredibly proud of all that Linda has achieved in her career at Francis Hanna & Co and of the contribution she has made to legal profession through her elder client work.

“As a specialist in her field who is highly respected by colleagues and clients alike, Linda will be sorely missed – though after almost four decades of service, she will no doubt welcome this well-earned opportunity to pursue her other interests.

“We at Francis Hanna & Co would take this opportunity to congratulate Linda on her full and successful career and wish her a happy and fulfilling retirement.”