Northern Ireland

Stuart Nevin writes about a recent Court of Appeal decision on restrictive covenants, and the validity of an objection to proposed land developments based on aesthetic grounds. A recent Court of Appeal decision (89 Holland Park (Management) Limited -v- Hicks [2020] EWCA Civ 758) held that it was pos

New immigration rules allowing for family members of people in Northern Ireland to apply for status under the EU settlement scheme have come into force. The revised rules specify that a "relevant person of Northern Ireland" – meaning a British citizen, an Irish citizen, or British-Irish dual c

The Executive Office is unlawfully stymieing the implementation of the legacy pension scheme for victims of the Troubles, the High Court in Belfast has ruled. Mr Justice Gerry McAlinden handed down judgment this morning in respect of two separate judicial reviews brought by Jennifer McNern and 

UK law firm BLM is renewing its lease for its Belfast office despite launching a new redundancy consultation and closing two of its other UK offices. The leases for the firm's Belfast and Glasgow offices are currently being renewed and BLM said it has no plans to close any of its other 11 UK offices

Legislation to protect private renters in Northern Ireland from eviction during the COVID-19 crisis will be extended to 31 March 2021. The Private Tenancies (Coronavirus Modifications) Act requires landlords to give tenants a 12-week notice to quit period before seeking a court order to begin procee

Les Allamby, chief commissioner for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, considers how Northern Ireland is dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. How does a national human rights institution (NHRI) respond effectively to the COVID-19 pandemic when human rights and freedoms are curtailed?

We are pleased to publish a complete list of trainee solicitors and barristers who won recognition this year for their work at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies (IPLS) at Queen's University Belfast. The Thomasena McKinney PrizeThis prize is awarded by the Law Society of Northern Ireland in

Judge Geoffrey Miller QC has been appointed as County Court commissioner in the Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission (NIJAC). He was appointed by First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill for a five-year term until 11 August 2025.

Jury trials have resumed in Northern Ireland for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 crisis in March. Following physical alternations to allow jury trials to take place in line with public health guidelines, a jury trial has begun in Laganside Court in Belfast, and five more Crown Court v

The Bar Council of Northern Ireland has recommended following the Scottish framework on personal injury discount rate. The Department of Justice recently launched a consultation on how the discount rate or “real rate of return”, used by the courts to determine the size of personal injury

Legislation to make "upskirting" a specific criminal offence in Northern Ireland will be brought before the Assembly early next year, Justice Minister Naomi Long has said. "Subject to Executive approval, I intend to bring forward legislative proposals to make upskirting a specific offence in a Justi

A first-of-its-kind case in Northern Ireland has highlighted a "legal lacuna" in respect of the release of offenders detained under mental health legislation, lawyers have said. Belfast-based Higgins Hollywood Deazley (HHD) Solicitors is involved in a case concerning an offender who was dealt with b

Gareth Planck, partner at Eversheds Sutherland, looks at how lockdown has changed offices and working routines. The global pandemic has reshaped how we go about much of our lives. It has of course, also reshaped how many of us work on a day-to-day basis. Kitchen tables and spare bedrooms have become

Staff at JMK Solicitors and CRASH Services have raised £6,000 so far for their 2020 charity partner, Cancer Fund for Children.

Family lawyer William Cross has taken a break from retirement to join Edwards & Co Solicitors as a locum. Mr Cross will support the firm's family department while partner Julie Tierney takes maternity leave.