Working with a broad spectrum of private and public sector clients affords Carson McDowell an "excellent knowledge of public and administrative law across the board." The team handles a variety of advisory and contentious work, with judicial review work arising from its concentration on planning and environment matters. It has recently witnessed a significant increase in the outsourcing of legal work from the public sector to private companies, and has also seen an upsurge in public procurement issues, as private clients grow increasingly aware of legal remedies in this area.

The firm has been advising public sector clients on decision-making processes in which they face possible challenges. Highlights include advising Translink on concerns with its regulator over route usage; advising Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company and Invest Northern Ireland on freedom of information legislation; and representing the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment in relation to complaints made by students in relation to examination procedures.

This is a strong property and corporate practice with a long track record of doing banking deals. The team handles asset finance and leasing, corporate banking, debt securities, leveraged and acquisition finance, and property finance. The lawyers advised Bank of Ireland, as senior debt provider and hedge bank, on the £31 million Holy Cross Schools PFI project. The lawyers are commended for their proficiency and responsiveness.

Head of the banking department, Tom Adair is a "safe pair of hands" who has "built up good relationships with banking clients over the years." He advises on all aspects of security documentation and banking law.

The team at Carson McDowell wins plaudits for its "thorough and accommodating service." The firm includes one of the largest clinical negligence teams in the province and consequently provides expertise in a wide range of healthcare issues, including cosmetic surgery, dentistry, obstetrics and gynaecology matters. The lawyers act for a combination of medical defence unions and healthcare organisations.

This firm's specialist team has a long-established presence in the construction arena and is known as a "major hitter" in the field by clients and lawyers alike. It has been instructed by some of Northern Ireland's largest contractors, providing assistance from initial procurement procedures through to back-end dispute resolution. A complex arbitration is currently underway, and the team is acting on behalf of a private sector employer against a contractor, in relation to a prestigious housing development.

Clients attest that these "extremely professional" lawyers "are always on hand to provide quick, reliable answers." The team is one of the largest in Belfast and has accordingly been involved in a number of recent major deals. They acted as counsel for GUS in the £800 million demerger of Experian and Argos, and advised Allianz Capital on aspects of the £1.4 billion sale of the Four Seasons Health Care nursing home business. In a groundbreaking deal concerning Middle Eastern investment into Northern Ireland, the team acted for Arcapita Bank on its £1.62 billion acquisition of Viridian Group.

The practice is also a popular port of call for referrals from London firms. Commentators acknowledged its strength in real estate and highlighted the "strong development work" coming through its doors. Significant consolidation in the technology and environment sectors has provided a number of the team's M&A deals.

Michael Johnston is an "excellent practitioner - efficient, professional and a pleasure to work with," and is known for his increasing involvement in projects and PFI work. "Pragmatic and commercial," David Jamison "always gets the job done."

Professional discipline cases are the core of the litigation department's caseload, and insurance accounts for a substantial portion of its other work. In addition, the team has been keeping an eye on market trends, recently recruiting construction and environment specialists; both areas are expected to become litigation hotspots as the redevelopment of Belfast progresses. The litigation group has also been astute in responding to the market's increasing receptivity to mediation, adding several qualified mediators to its ranks. Its relationships with firms in England and Scotland allow it to attract work from the mainland as well. During the past year, Atlas Tanks, the University of Ulster and Powerscreen International Distribution have engaged the team on litigious matters. It defended the University of Ulster in a two week High Court trial involving a contractual dispute.

This is a cross-departmental team that advises universities, numerous schools and HE establishments in Northern Ireland on a range of matters. Highlights include advising on technology transfer regimes and counsel in relation to the joint development of IP with other parties, as well as providing related funding advice.

Further highlights include advising the University of Ulster in relation to the powers and duties of a quasi-public sector body. Other clients include Queen's University Belfast, the University of Ulster and Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education (BIFHE).

This respected employment team handles a range of personnel-related issues for local businesses, the two main universities in the province, health trusts and a cross-border public body set up under the Good Friday Agreement. In addition to providing client seminars on recent age discrimination laws, significant work flows from the group's corporate practice and covers such matters as contracts, policy reviews and TUPE-related transactions.

Professional negligence and employment work form part of the practice of Patricia Rooney, who is the partner in charge of the group.

With a strong background in transactional work, this well-regarded firm offers excellent finance and projects expertise. Its presence in the wind sector remains robust, and the lawyers are developing a sharp focus on energy trading and the changes to the Single Electricity Market, the first step in the all-island energy project to be fully implemented and operational on 1 November 2007. Illustrating its M&A capability, the team also acted as Northern Ireland counsel to major new client Arcapita in its successful £1.62 billion acquisition of Viridian Group.

Corporate finance partner Alan Bissett possesses deep knowledge of the electricity market and is consistently praised as "a fine litigator" who is "calm and sees all the angles." The "steady and well-regarded" corporate finance head Michael Johnston has gained a breadth of energy industry experience and is particularly noted for his work on PPP/PFI projects, whilst commercial litigator Declan Magee is "impressive, calm, incisive and inspires confidence."

This highly reputable standalone Belfast-based firm continues to build on its stellar reputation. It has developed its hard IP team and extended its skill base to include expertise in the biotechnology sector and life sciences. The caseload includes advising biopharmaceutical companies on the licence of patents and chemical formulae in the EU. The group also fields talent in the area of technology transfer, development of Internet and e-commerce-related legal issues including advising on the data protection act and European legislation.

Following the departure of Alan Taylor, Jeremy Hill is currently the first point of contact for IP matters.

Particularly well thought of for its representation of funders, this "proactive and personable" firm is "never short of work." Over the past year the firm was kept occupied with a number of education projects, including the closing of the Holy Cross School Project, on which it acted for the Bank of Ireland. The team's client base is not limited to banks however, and it also advises McLaughlin & Harvey as the building contractor and SPV shareholder in the Bangor and Nendrum Schools Project.

An "excellent lawyer and popular individual in the market" Michael Johnston is the key name in the firm's projects practice.

The team of "personable" lawyers at Carson McDowell enters the rankings to client recommendation of its "very sound, helpful advice and extremely efficient service." It advises national and international clients on retail and housing developments. The team secured Coca-Cola planning permission for a £53 million bottling facility in the Green Belt outside Lisburn in County Antrim, and advised Tesco on several planning applications across Northern Ireland, including new stores in Londonderry and Banbridge. Lawyers also handle contentious planning matters including judicial reviews, inquiries and appeals. For example, it advised Seaport Investments on a judicial review challenge to the lawfulness of the draft Northern Area Plan on grounds of non-compliance with European law.

This regulatory team joins the tables on account of the fact it "does all the Northern Irish defence work ." The firm acts on behalf of three of the five medical defence organisations and also does a great deal of work for the local health trust services. The team is made up of specialist lawyers with expertise in dealing with GMC and GDC investigations, complaints, disciplinary issues, Ombudsman's investigations and statutory inquiries. In a recent success, the team defended a GP at a GMC fitness to practice hearing in relation to allegations surrounding the removal of a patient from a practice list.

This full-service, city-centre firm includes partners experienced in defending professional negligence charges, notably Brian Turtle. Once again, solicitors outnumber other professionals by some margin in the case lists.

Commentators laud Carson McDowell for "investing in a great team that covers the whole property spectrum." This depth of resources ensures that "urgent matters are turned around quickly," leaving clients "extremely impressed." As one of Belfast's largest property teams, it is frequently instructed by major clients requiring advice on intricate projects. It is advising The Belfast Harbour Commissioners on the first development agreements with Titanic Quarter involving the Gateway Offices and Abercorn Basin developments. Other notable clients include Herbert Group, Citigroup and MFI.

Alan Reilly leads the real estate team and is valued by clients for his "appreciation of the wider impact of decisions and his grasp of how best to protect his clients' interests." A familiar face on the Belfast property scene, Reilly is best known for his copious experience of the acquisition and disposal of shopping centres. Much of his practice is devoted to advising clients on managing large property portfolios, particularly in the retail sector where he acts for Arcadia Group, TK Maxx and Woolworths.

 Rosemary Carson is rated by clients for her "detailed understanding of the Northern Irish property market." A landlord and tenant guru, she is a trusted adviser to many household names, such as HMV, Tesco and Bhs. Carson is also noted for her proficiency in the field of acquisitions and disposals; she is currently counselling Seaport Investments on the acquisition of land in Northern Ireland.

 Jeremy Hill specialises in acquisitions and disposals, and advises several of Belfast's largest public landowners. His private sector clientele includes Citibank and Charles Hurst.

Alastair Todd's consultancy role with the Department of Environment's Environmental Policy Division has contributed significantly to his already extensive environmental expertise. He advises clients on the environmental aspects of acquisitions and disposals and also possesses in-depth knowledge of the healthcare sector.

Despite the limited size of the formal insolvency market in Northern Ireland, this "well-respected" full-service commercial outfit attracts a significant share of receiverships, administrations and insolvency-related transactions. The lawyers enjoy solid relationships with major insolvency practitioners (IPs) and proffer advice to directors, charge holders and creditors alike. According to leading sources, the practice is involved in "a good selection of the more prominent cases" in the region.

The group's proficiency in cases with a cross-border element was highlighted by a recent standout transaction which saw the lawyers advising the administrators of the Northern Ireland subsidiary of medical equipment suppliers TriVirix on the insolvency of the business, as well as intra-group retention of title claims. The company's financial difficulties attracted significant regional media attention due to the involvement of public funds in propping up the business, the large sums owed to creditors and the threat of wide-ranging redundancies. Similar scrutiny has been paid to the collapse of the Emerging Business Trust, with the team's lawyers acting for liquidators in investigating the extent of funds available to reimburse creditors.

A "sensible" and "highly rated communicator," David Jamison is adept at "applying a deep understanding of insolvency legislation to the most complex scenarios." Clients appreciate his wide-ranging experience in corporate finance, which he draws on to advise on transactions involving insolvent entities, and on restructuring projects.