Appointments

Northern Ireland firm Davidson McDonnell has doubled the size of its corporate team after welcoming five new members this year. The commercial law firm, which recently marked 10 years since its foundation in Belfast, now has a 10-strong team specialising in corporate transactions.

John O'Kelly has been elected as chairperson of the Belfast Solicitors' Association (BSA). Mr O'Kelly, a partner in Belfast-based HHD Solicitors, was elected at yesterday's BSA AGM to succeed outgoing chairperson Robert Croskery.

Will Carmody has been re-elected as managing partner of Mason Hayes & Curran for a second term. Mr Carmody took the reins in January 2023 after over 20 years with the business law firm, at the time leading its financial services practice.

Human rights lawyer Noeline Blackwell has been appointed as an expert adviser to Fiosrú, the Office of the Police Ombudsman. The former CEO of Dublin Rape Crisis Centre will assist the watchdog as an expert adviser on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.

Northern Ireland firm Allsopp Campbell Rainey has appointed Carla Fraser as partner and head of family law. Ms Fraser brings with her more than a decade of specialist experience across complex matrimonial, divorce, and Children NI Order matters, including high-profile and sensitive cases.

Belfast-based Phoenix Law has promoted immigration lawyer Sinead Marmion to partner. Ms Marmion joined the firm in 2019 and heads its immigration and asylum department, acting in several high-profile and complex cases including the landmark challenge to the UK's Rwanda policy and the Illegal Migrati

David Widger has been re-elected by the partners of A&L Goodbody LLP to serve a second four-year term as managing partner from May 2026. Mr Widger assumed the leadership of the firm in May 2022, having joined the firm as a trainee in 1992 and becoming a partner in 2001.

Mark Borland has been elected as president of the Law Society of Northern Ireland. Mr Borland is a senior partner at Antrim-based Conway Todd & Co and has more than 30 years’ experience in conveyancing, property, wills and probate.

Northern Ireland firm Carson McDowell has promoted eight senior associates to its newly-established role of legal director.

Johnsons has promoted Darragh Carney and Bradley Duncan to partner with effect from today. Mr Carney and Mr Duncan, who have been promoted from senior associate, both completed their training contracts with Johnsons and have spent their entire professional careers with the firm’s insurance lit

Karen O'Leary has been appointed as director of enforcement in the Central Bank of Ireland with effect from the new year. Ms O'Leary brings an extensive breadth of experience to the role, most recently as the Central Bank's director of currency, workplace and regulatory services.

European law firm Fieldfisher has appointed Stuart Marks as business services centre director in Belfast. Mr Marks brings over over 15 years' leadership experience in professional and legal services across Northern Ireland and internationally.

Paul Dornan has returned to Mercy Law Resource Centre (MLRC) as managing solicitor. Mr Dornan previously spent four years as a solicitor with the independent law centre and charity, before taking up the role of community solicitor at Ballymun Community Law Centre.

Environmental lawyer Alice Whittaker has been named as the new chairperson of Philip Lee LLP, taking the reins from the beginning of 2026. Founding partner and chairperson Philip Lee is set to retire at the end of 2025, leaving the firm in the hands of Ms Whittaker and managing partner Jonathan Kell

The Law Society of Northern Ireland has welcomed 13 new members to its ruling Council following an election which saw a significant increase in turnout. The body that represents and regulates more than 3,000 practising solicitors reported a turnout of 28.2 per cent in the election, up from 17.8 per