Mr Duffy, who was admitted to the roll of solicitors in 1952 and retired in 1993, died on Friday at the age of 93.

Adrienne Brock, managing partner of EDG, said Mr Duffy “was acknowledged and respected by his peers as one of the pre-eminent practitioners in property law in Northern Ireland and as someone who held to the very highest standards of professional ethics and courtesy”.

“In the words of another retired partner who knew him well in his dealings with his professional colleagues, few of whom could match his knowledge and expertise, ‘Gerry never took advantage of the fact that he was a genius’,” she added.

“To those of us in Elliott Duffy Garrett who were fortunate to have worked alongside Mr Duffy, he was also admired and loved for his courtesy, generosity and sense of fun. Our firm has much to thank him for and will remember him with great affection and pride.”