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The ‘excellent’ A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland team provides a ‘top service’ to its corporate clients in the area of dispute resolution. It has recently been representing a number of banks in claims alleging negligent advice from solicitors and valuers. New client wins include Vodafone and Northern Ireland Water. Team head Brendan Fox and Michael Neill are recommended.

Arthur Cox is acting for Irish Bank Resolution Corporation as both claimant and defendant in ten separate actions involving various allegations in relation to Peter Curistan and his companies connected to the Odyssey Pavilion. The well-respected Catriona Gibson heads the team, and associate Ruth Glenn is also recommended.

Carson McDowell is acting for BE Aerospace in a gain share agreement dispute, and F P McCann in a procurement contract challenge. It also acted for Independent News & Media Group in two privacy matters that went to the Court of Appeal. Joint practice heads Declan Magee and Roger McMillan are ‘very attentive and proactive’, and Stuart Murphy is also recommended.

The ‘very good’ team at Cleaver Fulton Rankin advises on a wide range of public and private sector matters. Recommended practice head Patrick Fleming is advising HSBC on enforcement of security together with related professional negligence claims. Jonathan Forrester is defending 11 charities against a proprietary estoppel claim. Up-and-coming solicitor Fergal Maguire is ‘professional, with a quick turnaround and comprehensive advice’.

Kennedys is advising a California-based company in a contract dispute as well as a defamation action; and Tayto Group in a tort claim for damages resulting from a fire. Practice head Seán Craig and Amanda Wylie are recommended.

The team at Pinsent Masons Belfast LLP has a chancery and commercial focus. It represented Irish Bank Resolution Corporation in its successful counterclaim against a borrower challenging the validity of security and personal guarantees. Practice head Sam Beckett and David Kirkpatrick are highly recommended, as is Laura Gillespie, who has recently been appointed director.

Tughans’ expansive litigation department is split into three teams. Kathy McGillie heads the renowned insurance litigation team, which mainly advises defendant insurers but also acts for other defence-side companies. Michael McCord heads the commercial litigation side, which is representing Northern Ireland Housing Association in a dispute with Lincoln Centre Belfast, and is also representing Irish Bank Resolution Corporation in litigation arising from the Quinn Group insolvency. The professional regulatory arm is headed up by Andrew Anthony, and also advises on malpractice and clinical crime claims. Toby McMurray and recently promoted director Barbara Creed are also recommended.

C & H Jefferson acts for domestic and foreign defendant insurance companies in personal injury claims, including employers’ liability and industrial disease cases. Recommended partner Gareth Jones heads the team, and also handles commercial litigation.

Elliott Duffy Garrett acts in both commercial litigation and individual disputes, with experience in product liability, personal injury, construction, insolvency, professional negligence, and defamation. Media expert Brian Deeny heads the department.

Johnsons Solicitors represents major national and international insurance companies, and is able to handle Republic of Ireland and UK claims. A niche area for the practice is acting for large private sector employers in liability claims, and it also undertakes professional indemnity matters. Paul Tweed is highly recommended for claimant-side defamation work.

The ‘strong, highly skilled’ team at Mills Selig provides an ‘excellent level of service, gives detailed, appropriate advice, and is growing its reputation for success’. The practice focuses on commercial disputes, including injunction work. It is acting for the Law Society of Northern Ireland in obtaining various freezing orders. Practice head Adam Curry has ‘obvious, impressive integrity and expertise’. Associate Richard Craig provides ‘clear explanations of complex legal issues, with an in-depth knowledge of legal process’.

Londonderry-based Babington & Croasdaile advises claimants and defendants in personal injury and negligence matters, as well as contract and other disputes. Ian McCarter and Killian Conwell are recommended.

John McKee & Son has expertise in acting for defendant insurers in high-value and catastrophic personal injury claims, represents claimants in professional negligence actions, and advises in contract disputes. Leonard Edgar and Chris Ross are the key contacts.

Johns Elliot handles commercial and general litigation. Specialisms include defamation, veterinary and medical negligence, and air law. Ronnie Robinson heads the practice.

At McCartan Turkington Breen, Viv Harty leads on personal injury cases, including asbestos and criminal injury claims, as well as commercial litigation. Ernie Talford is the key contact for medical and professional negligence claims and defamation actions.

McIldowies Solicitors ‘punches above its weight’ in personal injury and construction cases. Nigel Brown is recommended.

Napier and Sons has a broad client base and acts for claimants and defendants across a wide range of liability claims and contract disputes, as well as handling judicial reviews and injunctions. Joseph Napier is the name to note.

O’Reilly Stewart Solicitors acts across a spectrum of dispute resolution matters, from general tort to corporate manslaughter cases. It continues to develop its judicial review practice. James Turner and associate Clare Templeton are recommended.

Leading union firm Thompsons McClure represents individuals in work-related personal injury claims, and also advises trade unions in employment disputes. The ‘efficient, courteous, and professional’ team is led by Oonagh McClure, and Denise Strahan, who specialises in industrial disease matters, is also recommended.

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Legal Developments in Northern Ireland for Dispute resolution

  • Supreme Court provides guidance 
on forum conveniens and piercing the corporate veil


    Macfarlanes LLP currently authors the Litigation & Dispute Resolution section of The In-House Lawyer magazine. For more information and articles from this author click here . This article considers the Supreme Court decision in VTB Capital plc v Nutritek International Corp & or s [2013]. Perhaps the most striking aspect of the case is that it casts doubt on the notion that the Court has the power to pierce the corporate veil. The Supreme Court also held that, even if the power to pierce the corporate veil does exist, it does not enable a claimant to hold parties that control a company jointly and severally liable under contracts entered into by that company. 

    - Macfarlanes

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