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| Home / What Chambers & Partners Say About Us |
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Banking & Finance |
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Banking & Finance |
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THE FIRM: This firm is regularly appointed as Northern Irish counsel by major City law firms working on big transactions in the region. For example, it was recently appointed by DLA Piper UK to provide Northern Irish legal advice to Barclays on a total loan facility of £65 million for a corporate acquisition. Other clients include Bank of Ireland, Ulster Bank, Anglo Irish Bank, Honda Finance and Bank of Scotland. SOURCES SAY: "Reliability, approachability and quality." KEY INDIVIDUALS: Tom Adair's reputation for being "responsive, helpful and knowledgeable" reflects that of the firm. |
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Clinical Negligence - Mainly Defendant |
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Clinical Negligence - Mainly Defendant |
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THE FIRM The firm handles work on behalf of both doctors and dentists and is considered equally adept in both areas. SOURCES SAY: "This firm has been doing clinical negligence work for years, it knows all the people involved and can resolve issues effectively." KEY INDIVIDUALS: Roger McMillan (Band 1) heads the team and is commended for his leadership skills. He is also credited with "having his finger on the pulse of the market - and he has an excellent understanding of all the technical terminology." His practice encompasses regulatory work in the medical arena and civil claims. Associate Clare Bates (Associate to Watch) focuses exclusively on clinical negligence claims. "She is extremely bright and always manages to get a good result," interviewees say. |
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Construction |
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Construction |
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THE FIRM: Carson McDowell is a long-established fixture in the Northern Ireland construction market. The group advises on the full range of construction issues, both contentious and non-contentious. Recent highlights include advising the Belfast Harbour Commissioners on the construction elements of a range of projects, including the £5 billion Titanic Quarter development. KEY INDIVIDUALS: Declan Magee heads the group. |
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Debt Recovery |
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Debt Recovery |
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THE FIRM: This firm is hugely respected within the Northern Ireland market. The team has a strong focus on commercial debt, where it acts for banks and building societies, among others. The firm is widely acknowledged for its expertise in insolvency and commercial litigation, so the group unsurprisingly handles a considerable amount of contested cases. Tesco, Chelsea Building Society and Autotrader Magazine are among the team's most significant active clients. SOURCES SAY: "They provide a friendly service, have strong communication skills and apply their expertise well." KEY INDIVIDUALS: Darren Toombs heads the team. |
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Dispute Resolution |
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Dispute Resolution |
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THE FIRM: This firm has long been a leader in the disputes field and its outstanding attorneys continue to further its reputation in this domain. Product liability and professional negligence work remain a forte, and the group has also been making inroads into the procurement litigation market. The team focuses on mediation work and fields a number of accredited and highly experienced mediators. It recently successfully acted for a leading restaurant owner in a contract claim relating to the multimillion-pound sale of a restaurant in Belfast. SOURCES SAY: "This dynamic group is efficient and responsive, ensuring that matters are dealt with swiftly and that costs are kept to a minimum." KEY INDIVIDUALS: Declan Magee (Band 1) is highly respected for his professional negligence and procurement litigation work. Clients enthuse that he is "a down-to-earth guy who is easy to deal with and very attuned to what his clients want." Associate solicitor Darren Toombs (Associate to Watch) heads the firm's debt recovery team and has commendable experience of litigating in the commercial courts. According to sources, he "shows great insight that belies his age, and can handle far more experienced lawyers with ease." |
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Education |
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Education |
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THE FIRM: This team stands out in the sector for its work on behalf of local education authorities and notable universities, including Queen's University Belfast and the University of Ulster. It has also increased the range of schools and further education colleges it advises. SOURCES SAY: "An outstanding, dependable and vastly experienced firm." KEY INDIVIDUALS: Declan Magee is a contact. |
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Real Estate |
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Real Estate |
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THE FIRM: Carson McDowell's omnipresence on Northern Ireland's major projects and transactions has resulted in a glowing reputation among clients and peers, with the former quick to praise the team's copious expertise and dedicated service. Despite a challenging economic climate, the group continues to win roles on the most prominent deals in the market. It is currently acting for the Law Society of Northern Ireland on its development of new headquarters. The team is renowned for its skill in retail projects and enjoys strong relationships with many retailers that have continued to expand despite the downturn. It is advising Topshop on its flagship store at Victoria Square, Belfast, and has handled numerous acquisitions for Tesco in Belfast, Ballymena, Londonderry and Omagh. KEY INDIVIDUALS: Rosemary Carson's (Band 1) expertise advising retailers on landlord and tenant matters is legendary, and she frequently acts for Tesco and HMV on such matters. She is also highly regarded for her representation of the University of Ulster and is lauded by clients as "an approachable and commercially minded lawyer who always delivers first-class results." Alan Reilly's (Band 1)"technical brilliance puts him at the top of his field," commentators agree. Sources commend his expertise in the acquisition and development of shopping centres and his excellent work for Belfast Harbour Commissioners. Recently appointed head of department, Jeremy Hill is regularly consulted by Northern Ireland's largest public landowners and also advises prominent private companies, such as Charles Hurst Group. |
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Real Estate: Litigation |
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Real Estate: Litigation |
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THE FIRM: This practice benefits from the resources of the firm's real estate transactional practice. SOURCES SAY: "Commercial, affable lawyers with a strong standing in the market." KEY INDIVIDUALS: Declan Magee (Band 1) heads the property litigation practice, winning acclaim for his "quick responses and clearly articulated advice." |
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All extracts are from "Chambers UK 2010"
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