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Arthur Cox has parlayed its banking relationships 
into extensive work on distressed property assets. It 
is advising the administrators of the WG Mitchell 
group and the Odyssey Pavilion. Other clients include Bank of Ireland, Barclays, NAMA, Ulster Bank, the Department of Social Development, Gap, Jaeger Group and new client Runwood Homes. Practice head Rowan White, Ross Davidson and Alastair Todd are recommended.

Carson McDowell is well regarded for its work for retailers, utilities and clients in the infrastructure sector (an area of expertise for Emma Cooper). It advised Corbo Ltd on selling Damolly Retail Park in Newry; acted for Bord Gáis and Gaz de France on divesting a County Antrim gas storage facility; and is advising Belfast Harbour Commissioners on a mixed-use development. The group handles tenancy for retailers including Argos, HMV and Topshop. Other clients include Belfast International Airport, Tesco and University of Ulster. Department head Jeremy Hill and Rosemary Carson are recommended. Associate Victoria O’Hara joined from Tughans. Alan Reilly retired from the partnership, but remains a consultant.

Cleaver Fulton Rankin advised Scottish and Southern Energy plc on various wind farm acquisitions. James Houston advised a financial institution on acquiring Shore Road Retail Park, and practice head Kathryn Collie is representing Northern Ireland Science Park (Property) Ltd on lettings at its Queen’s Road site. The team also advises charities such as Age Concern NI and Mind Wise New Vision.

McGrigors Belfast LLP’s ‘excellent’ property practice attracts many institutional clients, and won new instructions from the Department for Social Development regarding the regeneration of Belfast city centre. It advised NYSE on lettings at Belfast’s Adelaide Exchange; acted for Invest NI on land acquisitions; advised on the £85m restructuring of a shopping centre; and is advising on a new development for Northern Ireland Science Park. Ian Huddleston and Andrea McIlroy-Rose are ‘very knowledgeable and very commercial, and give good, common-sense advice’.

Tughans’ ‘excellent’ practice advised ING REIM 
on the local aspects of a REIT acquisition; acted on 
the purchase of a £30m retail park acquisition for 
Metric Property Investments; advised Corbo Ltd on 
the disposal of several Belfast city centre properties and a retail park; and is advising Tesco on 
restructuring a property portfolio. Practice head Phyllis Agnew, Tracey Schofield and John Mills are recommended.

A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland advised BDO, as D2 Trading Ltd’s administrator, on disposing of 18 leasehold properties; and manages Heatons’ 53-store Irish portfolio. It also represents NAMA and Bank of Ireland. Associate Mark Blair heads the team, having joined from Wragge & Co LLP.

C & H Jefferson advises retailers, landlords 
and investors on transactions, leasing and 
restructuring. Ciara McCloskey and the ‘pragmatic 
and straightforward’ Mark Tinman co-head the team. Julie Galbraith and Donald Thompson are also recommended.

Leo Brown heads Elliott Duffy Garrett’s team, which advises retailers, developers and investors on property management and transactions.

Millar McCall Wylie is ‘very good – commercial and professional’, and ‘capable and creative’. It is active for retailers, including Starbucks and Monsoon Accessorize Ltd, in property portfolio management, and is assisting Card Factory with its Northern Ireland rollout. The group also represents healthcare clients and charities. Practice head Peter McCall is ‘quick and accurate’, and senior associate Simon Fleming is ‘very commercial when negotiating leases’.

John McKee & Son handles instructions from major banks, and also acts for developers, retailers and other commercial entities on leasing and other transactions. Gerard Small is the primary contact.

Johns Elliot’s commercial conveyancing practice represents institutional and private clients. The ‘sensible, pragmatic’ Steven Cockcroft, David Leitch and Richard Dickson are the key figures.

Commercial property is a core focus for Kearney Sefton, with Victor Sefton the key partner.

Practice head Aleric Turtle joined McCartan Turkington Breen from Carson McDowell. Recent work includes representing CBRE Investors on a prime property purchase; and Edinburgh House on acquiring a mall in County Antrim.

Bill McCann at Mills Selig is acting on three supermarket instructions, and recently advised on a £3m property sale. The practice notably represents harbour and waterways authorities.

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