Steven Keown, director at McCallion Keown Solicitors, has been elected chairman of the Belfast Solicitors Association (BSA).

Mr Keown takes over from outgoing chair Eoghan McKenna of MSM Law.

He told Irish Legal News: “I am very proud to join a long line of esteemed colleagues who have chaired the Belfast Solicitors’ Association since it was established in 1943.”

Central to the BSA’s work in 2018, Mr Keown said, would be its annual CPD programme, its popular Costs Reckoner, and its charitable work, partnering with mental health charity Inspire for a second year.

He said: “It is thanks to our strong membership numbers and valued sponsors that we will be able to continue this work in 2018.

“2018 will also see our ever growing annual golf day at Malone Golf Club on Thursday 17th of May – including golfers from both Dublin and Liverpool Solicitors’ Associations competing for a new Tripartite Trophy – and our Gala Dinner at Titanic on Saturday 9th of June is sure to be a highlight of the year. I look forward to a very exciting year ahead.”