Amy McCartney has joined the firm’s real estate team, advising clients on residential sales and purchases as well as banks, funders, and borrowers on all contentious and non-contentious real estate finance matters.

Rebecca McClelland has joined the firm’s construction team, advising on construction matters for a wide range of clients including housebuilders, developers, contractors, and sub-contractors.

New trainee solicitors Kaitlin McCourt, Anna Marshall, and Caitlin Howarth bringing the total number of Belfast-based trainees to six.

Over the next two years, the trio will rotate through three seats across a number of practice areas including construction, real estate, commercial dispute resolution, corporate, banking, restructuring and private client.

Alison Reid, partner and office head of Gateley Legal in Northern Ireland, said: “It is wonderful to welcome the next generation of lawyers to our growing Belfast office.

“Our first-class legal training and professional development programme for aspiring young lawyers ensures we maintain a healthy pipeline of talent. These are five highly talented young people, and we look forward to supporting them and seeing their careers flourish with Gateley Legal.”

Ms McCartney said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed the last two years completing my training contract at Gateley Legal and am grateful for all the help and support I have received from my colleagues throughout this time.

“I am delighted to be qualifying into the real estate team and am looking forward to moving into the next stage of my career.”

Ms McClelland said: “My training contract has been both enjoyable and rewarding. I’m very fortunate to be qualifying into the construction team, which is the team I started working in as a paralegal when joining Gateley Legal back in August 2021.”

Ms Howarth, one of the new trainees, added: “Initially starting as a paralegal, I am delighted to be continuing my journey with Gateley Legal as I commence my training contract.”