In a high-profile move, partner Richard Masters, the firm’s chair across Scotland and Northern Ireland, will also head up its corporate team in Belfast.

Originally from Lisburn, Mr Masters was managing partner at the heritage firm of Pinsent Masons, McGrigors, and was key to their development in Belfast.

He is joined in the corporate department by Michael Hamill, who comes on board as senior associate, and will be working alongside newly-promoted senior associate Lisa Early.

The property department has grown with the appointment of senior associate Jonathan O’Hagan, associate Ross Townsley, and solicitors Nicola McKane, David McGuinness and Niall McCavitt.

In banking, Seána Donaghy has been promoted to senior associate since returning from Pinsent Masons in Manchester, and Ben Semple has been appointed as a paralegal.

Emma Swan has been appointed as a paralegal in the litigation and regulatory team.

In business support, John Hart has been elevated to business development manager with an expanding media relations remit for the firm’s new Dublin office.

Andrea McIlroy-Rose, head of the Belfast office of Pinsent Masons, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Richard as part of the Belfast team and the other new joiners.

“Also many congratulations to our newly promoted colleagues.”