News

Colin Mitchell has taken up post as president of the Law Society of Northern Ireland.

ByrneWallace and LK Shields Solicitors are to merge in a shock move that will create one of the largest law firms in Ireland. The merged firm, to be called Byrne Wallace Shields, will create a firm with over 430 employees, including 220 solicitors.

A stowaway has managed to fly from New York to Paris without a boarding pass. The woman, a Russian passport holder somewhere between 55 and 60 years old, is awaiting deportation to the United States following her arrival in France without a visa, CNN reports.

Taylor Muldoon has been awarded The Lord Kerr Scholarship by Queen's University Belfast School of Law. The annual scholarship was established in memory of Baron Kerr of Tonaghmore, law alumnus of Queen's in 1969, former Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland and Justice of the Supreme Court of the U

Northern Ireland's enduring powers of attorney (EPA) framework is "outdated" and in need of urgent reform, former justice minister Claire Sugden has said. Ms Sugden, who chairs the Northern Ireland Assembly's All-Party Group on Ageing and Older People, told ministers to consider introducing somethin

Global data centre investors and operators are confident about the sector’s future and predict increased investment in data centres in the next two years, according to research by DLA Piper. The global law firm commissioned TMT Finance to survey 176 senior executives on the topic of data

Corporate law firm Flynn O'Driscoll LLP and commercial law firm Vincent & Beatty LLP have agreed to merge. The merger will be effective from 1 January 2025 and will create a firm with a headcount of 140 staff.

The European Commission has opened infringement procedures against Ireland for failing to transpose the NI2 Directive. EU member states were required to transpose the NIS2 Directive, which aims to ensure a high level of cybersecurity across the EU, into national law by 17 October 2024.

A pilot scheme providing free, independent legal advice and advocacy to adult complainants in serious sexual offence cases in Northern Ireland has been extended for two further years. The sexual offences legal advisers (SOLA) pilot scheme will now run until March 2027.

AMOSS LLP has promoted Gráinne Adams, Eoin Mackessy, Andrea de Courcey and Hazel Ruane to partner with effect from 1 January 2025.

The Pope's surgeon has been charged with fraud in connection with allegedly fake records of operations he never performed. Sergio Alfieri, who successfully operated on Pope Francis twice, in 2021 and 2023, lied about performing surgeries 29 times, prosecutors claim.

The Supreme Court yesterday hosted a launch event for Dr Niamh Howlin's new book, A Century of Courts: The Courts of Justice Act 2024. Published by Four Courts Press, the book brings together legal scholars, historians and members of the judiciary to reflect on the legacies of the Courts of Justice

Mason Hayes & Curran has paid tribute to solicitor Mikey Lee, who passed away last week. Mr Lee, a member of the firm's medical law team, passed away on Friday 22 November and his funeral took place in Skerries yesterday.

The UK government has insisted its plans to create a "smokefree generation" will extend to Northern Ireland despite doubts over their compatibility with post-Brexit rules. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which had its second reading in the House of Commons yesterday, will raise the legal age of the purc

The lack of criminal court sitting days has piled pressure on the justice system, the Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales has told MPs. Dame Sue Carr said that a decision to prevent crown courts from operating at full capacity has only increased case backlogs.