Appointments

Northern Ireland firm Davidson McDonnell has appointed Kirsten Magee as a legal director within its disputes resolution team. Ms Magee is an expert commercial litigator with a background in advising both private and public sector clients on a wide range of complex, high value disputes.

Stephen Holst has been re-elected as managing partner of McCann FitzGerald LLP for a further three-year term. Mr Holst's current term finishes on 30 April 2026, while his new term will run from 1 May 2026 to 30 April 2029.

Arthur Cox Northern Ireland has appointed David Black as head of its litigation and dispute resolution practice. Mr Black joined the firm in 2011 and is a partner in the litigation and dispute resolution group.

Former Eversheds Sutherland partner Julie Galbraith has joined Arachas, Ireland's largest nationwide insurance broker, as chief business officer and general counsel. Ms Galbraith will oversee the company's legal, human resources, and marketing and communications functions.

A&L Goodbody has recruited Eoin O Connor, Eimear O'Brien and their team to the firm's financial regulation advisory group. The new partners join alongside senior associate Bill Laffan and associate Hannah Vero, and will work with the existing team of partners Patrick Brandt and Louise Hogan and

William Fry has welcomed 18 new associates following the completion of their traineeships with the firm.

Philip Lee has welcomed six newly-qualified associates following the successful completion of their traineeships with the firm. Andrew Campbell and Callum Gillespie have both been appointed to the firm's projects and construction team.

Beauchamps has announced the promotion of Jeanie Kelly to partner in the firm's projects, infrastructure & energy group, specialising in planning & environment law. Having joined the firm in January 2025, Ms Kelly has quickly distinguished herself as a leading practitioner in the field, brin

Arthur Cox has appointed two new partners and six new of counsel across the firm.

A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland LLP has welcomed Keith Dunn as a new partner in its commercial and technology department in Belfast. Mr Dunn advises clients on a broad range of commercial and contractual matters, with a particular focus on data protection, intellectual property and cyber security.

Carson McDowell partner Cathal O'Neill has been re-elected as Northern Ireland chair of the Forum of Insurance Lawyers (FOIL). Mr O'Neill is co-head of the defence insurance litigation team at Carson McDowell, which he joined in 2017.

Foot Anstey McKees has recruited Chris Milligan and Michael Kelly to its Belfast office as partners. The firm has made a total of 10 new appointments in Belfast since last year's tie-up between Northern Ireland firm McKees and UK law firm Foot Antsey.

Caldwell & Robinson Solicitors has welcomed Barry Donnelly back to the firm as a partner. Mr Donnelly rejoins the firm having spent five years as head of information governance and data protection officer at Northern Ireland's Education Authority.

International law firm Simmons & Simmons has recruited Louise Dobbyn as a partner in its financial service regulation practice in Dublin. Ms Dobbyn joins the firm from Matheson and brings significant experience advising international financial institutions including banks, investment firms, fund

Former Legal Aid Board CEO John McDaid has been appointed as chairperson of the Adoption Authority of Ireland. Mr McDaid led the legal aid agency from 2014 until 2023, having joined in 1993 after a period of working in private practice as a solicitor in Dublin and in Australia.