Lisa Early and Michael Hamill have been promoted to director in the corporate team, while Jane Boyd has been promoted to director in banking.

Ms Early began her career in the firm’s Manchester office as a trainee in 2010. Her experience focuses on the M&A and private equity market in Northern Ireland, with a particular focus on manufacturing and technology. She advises both institutional investors and management teams on buy-outs, buy-ins, fund raisings and related acquisitions and disposals.

Mr Hamill, who joined Pinsent Masons in 2018, has significant corporate transactional experience across a range of sectors and in particular advises on energy and natural resources transactions throughout the UK and Ireland, including the purchase, sale and financing of renewable energy projects.

Ms Boyd started her career with Pinsent Masons in 2009 and has worked in the firm’s Belfast and London offices. She acts for lenders and borrowers on financing transactions with a focus on real estate finance, general corporate lending and wealth management.

Pinsent Masons also announced 17 new partner promotions, bringing the total number of partners to 474, and increasing women’s representation to around 28 per cent.

Andrea McIlroy-Rose, partner and head of office in Belfast, said: “I am delighted that we are promoting three talented lawyers who each make an important contribution to the offering we provide to clients in Belfast and to Northern Ireland firms working internationally.”

Richard Foley, senior partner at Pinsent Masons, added: “We are incredibly proud of the talent, skill and dedication of all of our people. As we all take stock and adjust to the challenges we face prompted by COVID-19, it’s heartening to have some positive news that helps us look to the future.

“Those promoted strengthen our position as a leading sector-focused, multinational legal services provider and mark an important step in our transition to become a professional services business with law at its core.

“The firm’s commitment to provide its clients with innovative, solutions-based legal services is the touchstone of our business.  Now, more than ever, developing talent that supports this is critical as our clients grapple with the challenges posed by coronavirus.”