Appointments

Belfast firm Davidson McDonnell Solicitors has announced the appointment of Rory Higgins as a senior solicitor. Mr Higgins specialises in contentious commercial matters with a focus on insurance and construction, and is qualified to practice in Northern Ireland, Ireland and England and Wales.

Lawyer Claire Williams has been appointed to the board of Northern Ireland's utility regulator for a seven-year term. Mrs Williams, along with chartered engineer David de Casseres, will serve on the Board of the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation from 1 May 2019.

LK Shields has announced the appointment of David Naughton as a partner in the firm's asset management and investment funds team. Mr Naughton's appointment closely follows last month's appointment of Adrian Mulryan to head up the team.

Experienced litigator Orla Shevlin has joined Tallans Solicitors. She will join the practice as a senior personal injury, medical negligence and commercial litigation lawyer.

O'Reilly Stewart Solicitors has announced the promotion of Dionne Darragh to director and Christopher Bullock to associate solicitor at the Belfast-based firm. Ms Darragh, who joined the firm in 2006, has been appointed director in the personal injury litigation department. She specialises in specia

The Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) has announced the appointment of Fíona Ní Chinnéide as its new executive director.

Bray-based Benville Robinson Solicitors has announced the appointment of Eilish Bradshaw and Clare-Ann Temple as partners.

The head of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) has been reappointed for a further two-year term starting in September 2019. Les Allamby has been the human rights watchdog's chief commissioner since 2014, when he was appointed for an initial five-year term.

ByrneWallace has announced the appointment of two new partners, Michelle McVeigh and Neil Dunne, in the firm's property practice. Ms McVeigh acts for a wide range of clients across a broad spectrum of commercial property transactions, with particular expertise in the retail sector.

Galway firm Lally Solicitors has announced the appointment of Siobhán Folan as a solicitor in general practice. Ms Folan, a graduate of NUI Galway, is a native of the Aran Islands who now lives in Galway City. She is a Gaeilgeoir and her name is on Clár na Gaeilge, the roll of Irish-sp

Comyn Kelleher Tobin (CKT) has announced the appointment of Cliona Kenny as a solicitor in the firm's litigation and healthcare departments. Ms Kenny has almost 20 years' experience working in all areas of litigation, with particular expertise in clinical litigation and medical negligence.

Martin Phelan, head of tax at William Fry, has been appointed secretary-general of CFE Tax Advisers Europe, the representative body of tax institutes and chambers in Europe. Mr Phelan, who joined William Fry in 2000, is also a past president of the Irish Taxation Institute and has written extensivel

Derry-based Caldwell & Robinson Solicitors has expanded south of the border for the first time in anticipation of increased legal activity after Brexit.

Shoosmiths has announced the appointment of Sarah Ewing and John Palmer as real estate partners in the firm's Belfast office. Ms Ewing is an experienced real estate practitioner with particular expertise in residential development and acting for major retailers, while Mr Palmer is a respected projec

The Department of Justice has announced the appointment of Caroline Conway as Northern Ireland's new independent reviewer of criminal record certificates. Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK to provide screening of criminal record information through an independent reviewer, who can review c