The Legal 500

Within Corporate and M&A, Arthur Cox is a first tier firm,

Energy is a major part of Arthur Cox’s corporate focus. Alan Taylor led as local counsel on Viridian Group’s £1bn disposal of NIE plc (formerly Northern Ireland Electricity) to ESB. The firm also represented AES on acquiring shares in Premier Power Ltd, and Total Produce plc on buying Fagan Fruit Ltd. Other clients include Diageo, Nord LB and Warner Chilcott. Alan Bissett (‘professional, efficient and friendly’) joined from Carson McDowell in September 2009, while Anne Gilroy moved in-house to Tayto.

Within Dispute resolution, Arthur Cox is a first tier firm,

Arthur Cox’s disputes practice ‘compares most favourably with other leading firms in Belfast’, and is ‘very professional, with excellent attention to detail’. It represented four claimants from Kingspan Group in a £100m product liability case against plastics manufacturer Borealis; and defended Anglo Irish Bank against a customer claim relating to a loan. It is also representing Bank of Ireland and Ulster Bank in enforcement actions. Amanda Wylie moved to Kennedys, with the well regarded Catriona Gibson appointed as the new practice head. Associate Ruth Glenn demonstrates a ‘thorough understanding of her area of expertise, exemplary client service, and dogged determination’.

Within Banking and finance, Arthur Cox is a first tier firm,

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.

Within Insolvency, Arthur Cox is a first tier firm,

Arthur Cox recruited the ‘excellent’ Kieran 
McGarrigle – ‘a top insolvency practitioner’ – from McGrigors Belfast LLP. The team advised the administrator on legislation to allow the Presbyterian Mutual Society into administration, and KPMG as administrator of several insolvent companies including Rowley Leisure Parks. Bank clients include Anglo Irish Bank, Barclays, Northern Bank and Ulster Bank. Angus Creed, Ruth Glenn and litigator Catriona Gibson are also recommended.

Within Employment, Arthur Cox is a second tier firm,

Arthur Cox’s disputes-oriented practice represents many of the firm’s multinational corporate clients, including financial institutions, manufacturers and foodstuff producers. Rosemary Lundy is recommended.

Within Regional review, Arthur Cox is a first tier firm,

Increasingly, the full-service firms in the province boast cross-border capabilities. Arthur Cox and A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland trade on their ‘all-island’ offering, while McGrigors Belfast LLP – the former L’Estrange & Brett – is leveraging ties to its Scottish and English offices. Carson McDowell (with one large office in Belfast), Cleaver Fulton Rankinand Tughans have strategic alliances with Dublin firms.

Within Project finance and PFI, Arthur Cox is a first tier firm,

Arthur Cox has ‘excellent knowledge on procurement law’ and is ‘very good on all fronts’ for energy matters. It advised the Department for Social Development on its £60m-plus medical services procurement, and is local counsel for Western Education and Library Board’s £250m-plus C2K IT project. Practice head Peter Curran is ‘excellent for procurement and very diligent on contracts’, and Jane Hollway is also recommended. The ‘professional, efficient and friendly’ Alan Bissett, who joined from Carson McDowell, heads the dedicated energy and natural resources team, which is chief legal adviser to arc21, and counts AES Corporation as another active client.

Within Commercial property, Arthur Cox is a first tier firm,

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.

Within Construction, Arthur Cox is a first tier firm,

Arthur Cox handles some contentious mandates – such as advising Russell Simpson Construction Co Ltd on disputes over unpaid invoices – but is primarily known for non-contentious matters; it is ‘particularly knowledgeable’ for projects and energy construction procurement. It is advising SwaMP2008 on waste treatment construction procurement. Other clients include Laing O’Rourke, NIE plc, Runwood Homes; banks as lenders; and government departments. O’Hare & McGovern Ltd and Lagan Group are new clients. Team head Ross Davidson and Alastair Todd are recommended.

Within Environment and planning, Arthur Cox is a second tier firm,

Arthur Cox remains busy on waste projects, notably arc21 and SwaMP2008, and is advising a consortium on judicial reviews relating to a proposed waste-to-energy plant. Alastair Todd now heads the team, after Claire Duffy joined the Attorney General’s office.

Within Intellectual property, Arthur Cox is a second tier firm,

Alan Taylor is the key figure in Arthur Cox’s IP team, which advises on commercial agreements, including licensing, and IP protection. Clients include B Secur, Dunbia and Kingspan. Anne Gilroy moved in-house to Tayto.

Within IT and telecoms, Arthur Cox is a first tier firm,

Arthur Cox is especially highly regarded for telecoms, with expertise including regulatory and procurement advice for public sector and large corporate clients. It advised the Department for Social Development on a £60m-plus medical services procurement project; and is local counsel for Western Education and Library Board’s £250m-plus C2K IT project. Other clients include Hibernia Atlantic Cable Systems, Hutchison 3G, Virgin Media and Vodafone Ireland. Peter Curran is ‘excellent for procurement’, and Alan Taylor is also 
recommended.