The Legal 500

Within Corporate and M&A, A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland is a first tier firm,

The ‘exceptional’ team at A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland ‘knows what it is doing’, and is ‘on top of the game’, providing specialist advice with deep business acumen. ‘Excellent’ practice head Mark Thompson has ‘outstanding, down-to-earth communication skills, and a common-sense, commercially focused approach’. It advises Invest NI on corporate and commercial matters; and also advised Clarendon Fund Managers Limited in its negotiations with Invest NI on the establishment of Co-Fund NI, a new co-investment fund. Peter Stafford is widely recognised and respected within the local business community, and is ‘a high-quality lawyer with a quiet, reassuring approach that gives clients confidence’. Alastair Keith joined from Arthur Cox, and is ‘very knowledgeable and personable, with unswerving dedication to getting something over the line’.

Within Dispute resolution , A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland is a first tier firm,

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.

Within Banking and finance, A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland is a first tier firm,

A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland is a noted ‘one-stop shop’ for banking matters. The team advised Northern Bank in relation to its first use of a loan market association form in the refinancing of non-distressed Almac Group’s worldwide facilities from Bank of America. Louise Bailey provides ‘a sense of commercial reality to deal structures, and innovative solutions’. Judith Brown is able to offer ‘practical and realistic solutions, and clearly communicates potential risks’. ‘Technically excellent’ insolvency expert Michael Neill provides ‘sensible, commercial advice with a collaborative approach’. Ciaran McAlinney is also recommended.

Within Insolvency, A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland is a first tier firm,

A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland advises on complex contentious and non-contentious matters, including corporate restructurings. Michael Neill is ‘a clear leader in the field’, and recently drafted the approved company-led restructuring CVA for Quinn Group Limited. The team is also advising PwC as administrators in the watershed administration of Taggart Group, and advised Northern Bank Limited as lead creditor in the contested administration of Assetco plc.

Within Employment, A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland is a first tier firm,

The ‘excellent’ team at A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland is ‘commercially aware and gets the “total picture”’. It is representing Willis Group Limited in relation to suspected breaches of a senior executive’s restrictive covenants, and the Quinn Group on various matters. Practice head Gareth Walls has ‘expert knowledge balanced with a practical, commercial approach’, and is currently representing Combined Insurance Company of America in defending eight related employee claims with multi-jurisdictional implications.

Within Regional review, A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland is a first tier firm,

Resonating across many practice areas covered in this chapter is the sinking of Seán Quinn, the former richest man in Northern Ireland, who has entered into voluntary bankruptcy with the Quinn Group of companies entering into a CVA and being restructured. Seán Quinn is represented by Napier and Sons, while other law firms involved include Tughans, which has been representing Irish Bank Resolution Corporation in related litigation; A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland, which drafted the CVA for Quinn Group and is representing it in various other matters; Arthur Cox, which is acting for Barclays Bank as agent for a syndicate of banks in connection with the Quinn Group restructuring; Cleaver Fulton Rankin, which is advising Invest NI in relation to the administration of Quinn Insurance Limited; and Carson McDowell, which is acting for the administrator of Quinn Insurance Limited in relation to the separation and sale of the Slieve Rushen wind farm.

Within Project finance and PFI, A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland is a second tier firm,

A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland has a ‘solid’ projects and energy practice, and is noted for its collaborative approach with clients. It acted as local counsel to Barclays Corporate on the refinancing and licensing of the Kilroot Power Station, including advising on EU directives on industrial emissions. It is also advising the Irish Football Association on the redevelopment of Windsor Park, and advised Mutual Energy on its maintenance and emergency response contract for the Scotland/Northern Ireland pipeline. Kevin Feeney heads the project finance practice, while Mark Thompson leads on the energy and natural resources side.

Within Commercial property, A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland is a second tier firm,

The ‘excellent’ team at A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland provides ‘solid, expeditious advice at dependable rates’. Recent work includes representing the Irish Football Association in the redevelopment of Windsor Park, and CBRE Global Investors Limited on its purchase and management of a mixed-use building. Team head Mark Blair is ‘very clear and concise, and able to put things in layman’s terms’, and offers ‘sensible solutions to a variety of legal issues’. Associate Judith Corbett joined from McGrigors Belfast LLP, and is ‘diligent and accessible, with detailed property knowledge’.

Within Construction, A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland is a first tier firm,

A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland’s construction team acts in mediation and litigation, as well as handling non-contentious matters. New clients include the Irish Football Association, Northern Ireland Water, and Accord Maintenance Procurement Group; the firm has been advising the latter, a group of five housing associations, on the procurement process in a Part A services tender to be procured by restricted procedure. Brendan Fox is recommended.

Within Intellectual property, A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland is a first tier firm,

A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland’s team is ‘hardworking, honest, and good value for money’, and advises on contentious and non-contentious IP matters. It recently advised Iconi Software on IP issues arising out of its deal with a London-based company to deliver and develop a web-based customer management system. New client wins include Omnisoft, and Sentel Independent. Mark Thompson is ‘very commercially minded’. Brendan Fox heads the team.

Within IT and telecoms, A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland is a second tier firm,

A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland provides ‘clear, informative, and timely’ advice. It is advising on the grant of software distribution rights with provision for ‘white-label’ reselling, licensing and suspended licences in telecoms transport systems; and advised Iconi Software on IT issues in a deal to develop and deliver a web-based customer management system. Team head Brendan Fox and senior associate Ivan Waide are recommended.