Appointments

Three members of the Northern Ireland Guardian Ad Litem Agency (NIGALA) board have had their appointments extended. Non-executive chair Bernard Mitchell, whose term was due to end at the start of November, will stay on until a new chair early next year.

Mason Hayes & Curran has announced the appointment of Paul Rochford as a partner in the firm's employment law and benefits team. Mr Rochford, previously a senior associate with the firm, practises in the area of employment and education law in the private and public sectors.

Dublin firm O'Brien Lynman Solicitors (OBL) has announced the appointment of Naomi O'Connor as a partner in its property and insolvency division. Ms O'Connor, who is qualified to practice in Ireland and in England and Wales, acts on behalf of financial institutions, private investment funds, receive

Belfast firm Millar McCall Wylie has announced the appointment of Michael Wilson as a real estate associate. Mr Wilson joins the commercial property team from an international law firm, advising in areas such as acquisitions and disposals, landlord and tenant law and property finance.

Dublin-based corporate law firm BHSM has announced the appointment of Richard Lee and Rob Gibbons as partners. Mr Lee, appointed as partner in the firm's employment & benefits team, has significant experience acting for employers and employees in contentious and non-contentious matters.

Dublin firms Flynn O'Driscoll (FOD) and Fanning & Kelly have announced a merger, bringing together FOD's full service offering with Kieran Kelly's extensive experience in media and defamation law. The combined firm will operate from the Flynn O'Driscoll offices at No. 1 Grants Row, Lower Mount S

Belfast firm Cleaver Fulton Rankin has announced the appointment of Christopher Bew, Olivia Sheanon, Brendan Tabb and Ruaidhri Groom as trainee solicitors. The trainees will spend a period of six months each in four different departments, working alongside skilled solicitors with the opportunity to

Athlone firm Fintan O'Reilly & Co Solicitors has announced the promotion of its associate solicitor Lisa Marie Doyle to partner. Ms Doyle, a native of Rahara, Co Roscommon, and a graduate of NUI Galway and the Law Society of Ireland, joined the practice as as trainee solicitor in 2011 and qualif

Ronan Daly Jermyn has announced the appointment of regulatory specialist Brian Hunt as partner and head of the firm's new financial services regulatory practice, set up in anticipation of post-Brexit demand. Mr Hunt joins from Zurich Insurance plc, a Dublin-based non-life insurer with 12 branches ar

Property lawyer Katharine Hardie has been appointed head of Pinsent Masons’ Scottish and Northern Ireland operations. Ms Hardie takes over the role of chair of Scotland and Northern Ireland from Richard Masters, 29 years to the day since she joined the firm as a trainee lawyer in 1990. Sh

Dublin firm Eugene F. Collins has announced the appointment of Edel Flynn as an associate in the firm's employment team. Ms Flynn has extensive experience advising employers on all aspects of contentious and non-contentious employment matters, successfully representing employers before the civil cou

Solicitor Niall Fox has opened a new Cavan town centre practice focusing on all areas of contentious work, with an emphasis on criminal defence, personal injury, medical negligence, and family and business disputes. Mr Fox, originally from Co Fermanagh, has practised as a solicitor for over a decade

Cork firm JW O'Donovan Solicitors has announced the appointment of Ciara Lehane as a litigation solicitor.

International law firm DAC Beachcroft has bolstered its Dublin office through the hire of a two female partner-led team. Corporate partner Sharon McCaffrey and competition law partner Joanne Finn have joined the firm, bringing with them a team of two senior associates, one associate and a secretary.

International law firm Herbert Smith Freehills has welcomed Colm Wolinski and Michael McFall as trainees in Belfast.