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A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland offers an ‘exceptional’ and ‘outstanding’ service, and substantially strengthened its team by hiring Louise Bailey and Judith Brown from Arthur Cox – both provide ‘high technical knowledge, quick response times and excellent advice’ – and bringing in associate Ciaran McAlinney from Dublin. Michael Neill, a leading insolvency expert, is a valuable resource in the prevailing economic climate. Clients include Anglo Irish Bank, Bank of Ireland, Barclays, HSBC, NAMA, Northern Bank, Santander and Ulster Bank.

Arthur Cox is praised for its ‘high level of service’ and ‘ease of access to partners, who have strong business acumen’. It helped Bank of Ireland and KBC Bank Ireland plc on the £117m restructuring of two shopping centres. Other clients include Anglo Irish Bank, Barclays, NAMA, Northern Bank, Santander and Ulster Bank. Angus Creed (‘extremely good, with commercial nous and impressive negotiating skills’) chairs the firm and heads the banking team, which includes asset finance expert Stephen Dawson (‘approachable and knowledgeable’); and insolvency expert Kieran McGarrigle, who joined from McGrigors Belfast LLP. Banking litigation is a developing strength, particularly through Catriona Gibson.

John McKee & Son has ‘very good expertise’ across lending, financing and security matters. It represents key client Ulster Bank as well as AIB, Bank of Ireland, NatWest, RBS and Raiffeisen Zentralbank. Avril McCammon is ‘a very effective lawyer’.

Carson McDowell advises banks and building societies on financing and restructuring, and is credited as providing ‘invaluable assistance’. It won panel appointments with HSBC and NAMA, while other clients include Anglo Irish Bank, Bank of Ireland, Barclays and JPMorgan Chase Bank. Practice head Tom Adair has ‘unsurpassed knowledge across specialist and general lending’, and corporate and project finance expert Michael Johnston is also recommended, along with associates Graeme McKee and David McAleese.

McGrigors Belfast LLP advised Barclays on £30m-plus financing for two housing associations; and represented Alliance & Leicester on local aspects of its £1.4bn RMBS. Other clients include Anglo Irish Bank, Northern Bank and Ulster Bank. Sinead McGrath heads the team.

Tughans provides ‘excellent, straight-to-the-point advice’, and recently advised banks on refinancings, security packages, and credit and debt facilities. Its clients include Bank of Ireland, Barclays, NAMA, Northern Bank, Bank of Scotland (Ireland), RBS and First Trust 
Bank. Practice head Fearghal O’Loan displays ‘comprehensive knowledge of his area of law, and 
the ability to find practical solutions and to explain 
the law intelligibly’. John-George Willis, David McDonnell and managing partner Ian Coulter are also recommended.

The ‘commercial and professional’ Ken Rutherford attracts good instructions for C & H Jefferson, which represents four of Northern Ireland’s main banks.

Cleaver Fulton Rankin acted for Silicon Valley Bank on Aepona Group’s refinancing. Other clients include Barclays, Bank of Ireland, RBS and The Co-operative Bank. Stephen Cross heads the practice, and associate solicitor John Kirk is ‘impressive’ and appreciated for his in-house experience.

Elliott Duffy Garrett represents domestic and international clients on lending, regulatory and financing matters. Kevin McVeigh is recommended.

McKinty and Wright advises on corporate and commercial property finance. It represents several banks on commercial lending, debt recovery and security matters. Gordon Greenfield and Carol Scobbie are the contacts.

Millar McCall Wylie was appointed to the NAMA panel, and reviewed Bank of Scotland (Ireland)’s secured portfolio during 2010. Other clients include Anglo Irish Bank, Bank of Ireland and KBC Bank Ireland plc. Damian McParland heads the practice.

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