Representatives from Northern Ireland’s solicitor profession joined key civil servants on the panel, which spoke about important issues including civil justice co-operation after the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.

The packed event, introduced by Law Society CEO Alan Hunter, also focused on contingency planning for the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Speakers included Northern Ireland civil servants Laurene McAlpine, deputy director in civil justice policy at the Department of Justice; Jo Wilson, senior Brexit lawyer at the Department of Justice; and Michael Foster, head of the civil law reform division of the Department of Finance’s solicitors’ office.

The meeting also heard from Jenny Pickrell, head of EU and trade legal services policy at the Ministry of Justice in London, and Dr Frank Geddis, head of research and governance at the Law Society of Northern Ireland.