Carson McDowell's highly respected public law team's expertise extends to issues affecting education, transport and statutory interpretation. Significant new clients include the Life Sentence Review Commissioner for Northern Ireland and the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland. The team has recently been boosted by the arrival of a new regulatory associate.

KEY INDIVIDUALS: Declan Magee heads the public law team and is deemed by sources to be a "highly talented litigator."  

This firm offers clients a broad banking and finance service, encompassing property finance, projects and corporate finance. It recently acted for Abbey National Treasury Services in connection with the £25 million refinancing of a large regional retail park business. It frequently receives instructions from London-based firms on the Northern Irish aspects of complex transactions, while it has also been busy handling NAMA work. The firm services key clients such as JPMorgan Chase, Santander and HSBC.

KEY INDIVIDUALS: Tom Adair  heads the banking and finance practice. He is noted for his considerable banking and insolvency experience and his "proactive and hands-on" style. He concentrates on general banking, property finance and projects. The firm also houses strong associates, including Graeme McKee, who is noted for his ability to "cut to the chase." Fellow associate David McAleese is praised for his timeliness and approachability. He is particularly noted for his expertise in property finance matters.

This highly rated defence-oriented practice has a fine reputation for representing individuals from healthcare providers and healthcare unions. In addition, the group is seeing an increased number of instructions from insurance companies and continues to see a growth in dental negligence claims. The team recently acted for a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist in a high-value cerebral palsy claim concerning alleged failings in the standard of ante-natal care. The team's impressive client base includes the Medical Protection Society, Dental Protection and the Medical & Dental Defence Union of Scotland.

KEY INDIVIDUALS: Department head Roger McMillan is much sought after for his experience in high-profile and high-value clinical and dental negligence matters. He remains one of the luminaries in the field and is regarded by sources as "a dynamic performer." Peers say partner Clare Bates is a key member of the team and "knows her way around dental cases as well as anyone." Jacqueline McAleese is also highly regarded and wins praise for her "practical and down-to-earth" approach. Alongside McMillan, she has been involved in a successful mediation of a clinical negligence claim. Claire Harmer has recently been promoted to senior associate and is being hailed by market sources as "one to look out for." She assisted McMillan in defending a claim of alleged negligence in the diagnosis and treatment of carcinoma.

Carson McDowell has a long-standing name in the construction sector. Clients from a wide range of industry backgrounds have instructed the team, noting its "robust and timely advice" and the "knowledge and expertise" of its individual lawyers. The group has recently been working extensively with the University of Ulster on a range of contentious and non-contentious matters including aspects of the £250 million Greater Belfast Development project.

KEY INDIVIDUALS:  Team head Stuart Murphy is the driving force at the practice. He led the team advising the University of Ulster and is providing ongoing advice to Belfast Harbour Commissioners in relation to the £5 billion Titanic Quarter development.

The corporate team here advises a wide variety of clients on an interesting range of matters, including the formation, acquisition and disposal of companies, joint ventures and shareholders' agreements. It recently assisted Canadian-based exploration company Dalradian Resources with its IPO on the Toronto stock exchange, and has also worked with Vertical Wind Energy, the University of Ulster and Wrightbus. Clients appreciate the firm's businesslike culture, and say its solicitors are "always good and available to talk, and always up to date."

KEY INDIVIDUALS: David Jamison is an experienced corporate partner with a good track record in acquisitions, disposals and mergers, joint ventures and corporate restructuring. He recently advised the shareholders of Bargain Books on the sale of the business and its assets to The Works Stores. Michael Johnston heads the team and is a hugely experienced and very well-regarded practitioner. His recent highlights include advising the management of automated test equipment manufacturer Yelo on a buyout from its Canadian parent Averna. Neasa Quigley brings specific experience of the IT and energy sectors to her work on M&A and other corporate matters. She recently worked with drug delivery development company SiSaf on a second equity funding round. Associate Gerard Armstrong is widely regarded as a very capable practitioner, and commentators anticipate big things for him. He recently advised Invest Northern Ireland on the negotiation of £9.6 million in funding arrangements with NYSE Euronext.

This team is praised for its responsive and effective service. It acts for a number of banks, buildings societies and educational institutions, and regularly works for lenders in relation to secured and unsecured debt. Notable clients include BMW Financial Services, Tesco and Autotrader Magazine.

KEY INDIVIDUALS: The team's key contact is Darren Toombs.

Carson McDowell remains a leading firm for commercial litigation, and it houses considerable expertise in the fields of professional negligence, IP, insolvency, construction and healthcare. It has recently represented the Law Society of Northern Ireland in a challenge to the Minister of Justice in connection with the draft Justice Bill. Other clients include Seagate Technology, which the firm has advised in an IP dispute with Siemens.

KEY INDIVIDUALS: Declan Magee is highly experienced in the handling of disputes across a range of fields, including professional negligence, personal injury and real estate. Clients say that he "really stands out in Northern Ireland and he sits equally with any commercial adviser from London or Scotland." Sandra Crawford recently joined from McKinty and Wright. She brings a wealth of experience in professional indemnity matters. Darren Toombs is a highly regarded commercial litigator with strong expertise in the restructuring and insolvency sphere. 

The team remains well regarded in the education sector for its work on behalf of clients ranging from schools, universities and administrative educational bodies to private sector companies. Its expertise covers property, employment, procurement and corporate structuring advice to key clients such as The Queen's University of Belfast. Recent highlights include assisting the University of Ulster through its process of moving a portion of campus into the city centre. Interviewees "trust its advice implicitly" and "view the service it provides as an invaluable one."

KEY INDIVIDUALS: Declan Magee is an expert in litigious education matters who clients describe as "extremely knowledgeable, direct and logical in his approach and always happy to help, sometimes at very short notice."

The employment team at this full-service Belfast firm advises a strong corporate clientele on both contentious and non-contentious matters. It also advises senior executives on departures. Clients praise the team's "great service ethos," with one explaining that "they are able and willing to deal with problems within a tight timescale." Notable clients include bmi, Johnson Brothers, Northern Ireland Transport and Schrader Electronics.

KEY INDIVIDUALSL: Team head Orlagh O'Neill  advises clients on all areas of equality and employment law, with a particular emphasis on contentious industrial relations matters. The "solution-oriented" Rachel Penny  has particular expertise in TUPE, equality and trades union-related matters.

This team continues to flourish, with distinguished work over the past year including advising Northern Ireland Electricity on its major critical application for the proposed North-South electricity interconnector, and ESB Wind Development on its entry into the province's renewables market.

KEY INDIVIDUALS: Neasa Quigley heads the team.

This group is well regarded in the environment sphere and works closely with the firm's planning department. It has acted on a number of recent high-profile judicial reviews, including one relating to a potential John Lewis development. The team's clients include Northern Ireland Electricity, which it recently advised on a North-South electricity interconnector application, Belfast International Airport and Bord Gáis. 

KEY INDIVIDUALS: Gary McGhee's environmental expertise is supported by his impressive planning practice. Highlights of his past year include advising the Port of Belfast on its proposed development of a new quay with the space to assemble and store wind farm equipment, and representing ESB on the environmental impact of several wind farm developments.

Carson McDowell has a strong, well-rounded practice that covers contentious and non-contentious IP work. Its clients span various industry sectors, and include University of Ulster, Causeway Data Communications and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board. Commentators are hugely impressed with the firm's service, and say its solicitors are "extremely down to earth, but very commercially astute and IP-aware. In all dealings they are capable, competent and efficient, grasp complex legal issues easily and explain them to us clearly." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS: Declan Magee is a highly regarded litigator who continues to head the practice with distinction. Clients say he is "approachable and direct, and just gets on with the job and gets good results." Dawn McKnight is new to the rankings, and arrives with a reputation for excellence in non-contentious matters. Clients say: "She goes beyond the standard brief of a commercial IP lawyer - she'll suggest tactics, she'll help in negotiations, and her hard work has helped us get a couple of deals over the line that seemed impossible at the outset. She's an invaluable part of our team."

This firm is widely recognised for its defence of EL/PL and disease claims. The roster includes key insurers and insureds such as Belfast International Airport and Belfast Education & Library Board. The team is deemed "very proactive, good value and committed," according to clients.

KEY INDIVIDUALS: Declan Magee heads the EL/PL team and is considered "very efficient and fair" by clients.

This team has an especial focus on advising clients from the construction industry on their involvement in public projects. It acted in the Lagan College and Tor Bank PPP projects and also represented the FMP joint venture in the Dumfries & Galloway Council Smarter Schools project.

KEY INDIVIDUALS: Leader of the corporate finance practice Michael Johnston (Band 3) acted for the Quinn Group in its bid for PPP waste project SWaMP2008.

This highly regarded practice offers advice on all aspects of planning law, including appeals, judicial reviews and environmental impact assessments. It is admired for its "personal service that never misses a deadline," and big-ticket clients include Tesco, House of Fraser and Northern Ireland Electricity.

KEY INDIVIDUALS: Gary McGhee has been representing Belfast International Airport in its challenge to Belfast City Airport's planning application to extend its runway.

Carson McDowell has constructed a regulatory practice based on the representation of healthcare professionals and medical defence unions. Practitioners have made appearances before the disciplinary panels of an array of regulatory bodies including the GMC, the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland and numerous public sector departments. Notable cases include representing a senior dental practitioner and member of the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland in disciplinary proceedings. Other clients include the Health and Social Care Board for Northern Ireland.

KEY INDIVIDUALS: Leigh Linton is one of the province's leading professional disciplinary lawyers and continues to represent pharmaceutical and healthcare practitioners. Head of practice Roger McMillan combines his grasp of litigation and healthcare regulation to act for dentists, doctors and other healthcare professionals. He acted before a medical fitness-to-practise panel over allegations of dishonesty.

In recent years this market-leading team has continued to build on its first-class reputation for dealing with solicitor professional negligence claims. The broadening focus of the team has only added to its superb reputation across the professional negligence spectrum. Its success is reflected in a number of new instructions and the team now has an enviable list of clients, including Hiscox Insurance, Marsh UK and Novae Insurance.

KEY INDIVIDUALS: Declan Magee  is recommended by peers in the legal market for his wealth of experience in this area. He has a particularly good reputation for representing accountants and surveyors. Roger McMillan is another well-established practitioner with a long-standing reputation for his work in professional negligence. He and Magee jointly head the team.

Praised for housing "some of the best procurement lawyers in Belfast," Carson McDowell has a compact, specialist team that handles a range of contentious and non-contentious issues. The group occupies a prominent position in Northern Ireland, and recently advised a number of entities including the Belfast Harbour Commissioners, Queen's University, Waterways Ireland and Translink on their compliance with EU procurement law. Clients appreciate the team's "seamless interaction and strong commitment to getting the job done."

KEY INDIVIDUALS: Associate Catherine Thompson is singled out for her "clear and precise advice" which "translates on a simple level to people of non-legal backgrounds." Declan Magee  is considered an expert on contentious procurement issues.

This leading five-partner commercial property team maintains a distinguished portfolio of clients, including Tesco, the University of Ulster and Belfast Harbour Commissioners. The team's strength in the retail sector is demonstrated by recent instructions on transactions relating to Damolly retail park, Newry, and Castle Mall shopping centre, Antrim. With a variety of new clients on board over the past year, the team is developing its expertise in the energy and renewable energy markets.

Client Service: "They kept us up to speed and delivered a straightforward transaction."

KEY INDIVIDUALS: Rosemary Carson is highly respected in the Northern Ireland commercial property market and has an enviable reputation, particularly for landlord and tenant work. She is "keen to get deals done with an efficient and straightforward approach." Jeremy Hill  heads the commercial property team at Carson McDowell and advises landowners, retailers and developers. The "very capable" Alan Reilly is a consultant in the commercial property department and advises a range of retail clients, including Tesco.

This highly regarded team continues to be recognised as a market leader. It has an impressive client base that includes big names such as Argos, which it advises on a variety of contentious real estate issues arising from its Northern Irish properties portfolio. Interviewees appreciate the team's "accessibility and willingness to always offer premier guidance."

KEY INDIVIDUALS: 

Team head Declan Magee is "a great man to work with; he gets things done with as little fuss as possible." 

The firm continues to be a significant presence in the market advising liquidators and administrators and acting on corporate restructurings. Recent highlights include acting for the administrator of Belfast Clinic.

KEY INDIVIDUALS:

Sources say David Jamison is personable and a pleasure to work with. He has considerable experience of transactional insolvency matters.