The Legal 500

Within Corporate and M&A, Carson McDowell is a first tier firm,

Carson McDowell acted for the shareholders of Singularity Limited in the company’s $48m sale to Kofax plc, which also involved the sale of an Indian subsidiary. Neasa Quigley has been promoted to co-head the corporate finance team with Michael Johnston, who is recommended along with Dawn McKnight. David Jamison has retired.

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Within Dispute resolution , Carson McDowell is a first tier firm,

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.

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Within Banking and finance, Carson McDowell is a second tier firm,

Carson McDowell’s ‘proactive’ team is advising NAMA on existing security relating to loans and assets acquired under the National Asset Management Agency Act 2009, including deposits held in trust by Northern Ireland banks. Practice head Tom Adair and associates Graeme McKee and David McAleese are ‘very personable and good to deal with’.

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Within Insolvency, Carson McDowell is a third tier firm,

Carson McDowell’s team has seen something of a shake-up, but recently appointed practice head David McAleese is a ‘very capable lawyer, who will no doubt grow the team to a very high standard’. He is advising NAMA, Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, and RMS McClure Watters in relation to the receivership of the Thompson portfolio of 30 properties; and NAMA in relation to the bankruptcy of Samuel Thompson and business partners.

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Within Employment, Carson McDowell is a first tier firm,

Carson McDowell provides ‘an excellent level of service, giving high-quality advice’. It is advising US companies Xilinx and CVS Caremark on employment issues relating to their respective acquisitions, and is also advising Royal Mail. Practice head Orlagh O’Neill is ‘outstanding, with real tenacity’, and associate Rachel Penny brings ‘insight and extensive knowledge’ to the table for commercial clients.

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Within Regional review, Carson McDowell 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.

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Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, Carson McDowell is a first tier firm,

Carson McDowell’s ‘excellent’ team advises on complex estate administration matters with international elements, and tax relief matters. It also advises on trusts, and is growing its offering in the mental capacity area. Neil Bleakley is ‘meticulous’, with a broad knowledge of the law, and provides ‘first-class’ advice.

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Within Project finance and PFI, Carson McDowell is a second tier firm,

Carson McDowell provides ‘prompt, appropriate, commercial’ advice. It is acting for the administrator of Quinn Insurance in separating the operational wind farm Slieve Rushen from the assets of the Quinn Group and in the sale of the same; and Infinis plc in the acquisition of onshore wind farm Slieve Divena from SSE Renewables Limited. It is also advising Energos on a PPP project, and Northern Ireland Electricity on its interconnector project with the Republic of Ireland. Neasa Quigley heads the corporate department and energy team. Project finance and PPP head Michael Johnston and Gary McGhee, who leads on planning matters, are also recommended. Senior associate Gerard Armstrong is ‘savvy, commercially aware, and always on the ball’.

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Within Commercial property, Carson McDowell is a first tier firm,

Carson McDowell’s team has ‘in-depth knowledge of the legislation combined with a commercial approach’. Its recent work includes advising Belfast Harbour Commissioners on the Dong Energy offshore wind farm project; Synter Group on the property aspects of its acquisition of the Agnew Motor Group; and Virgin Active on the Northern Ireland property aspects of its acquisition of the Esporta portfolio. Jeremy Hill heads the team, and Rosemary Carson has ‘detailed knowledge of the law and excellent communication skills coupled with the ability to cut through the legal jargon’.

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Within Construction, Carson McDowell is a first tier firm,

Carson McDowell provides ‘clear, concise advice’, and is ‘willing to go the extra mile’. It is advising Belfast Harbour Commissioners on construction matters relating to the harbour facility to be used for the erection of offshore wind turbines; and the University of Ulster on its Greater Belfast development. Stuart Murphy is ‘knowledgeable and commercially minded’, and ‘provides a high level of service’.

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Within Environment and planning, Carson McDowell is a first tier firm,

With a dedicated environmental and planning team, Carson McDowell understands the business environment and the factors that drive clients’ decision-making processes. It is representing Belfast International Airport in its opposition to the proposed runway extension at Belfast City Airport; the Port of Belfast in its proposed mixed-use City Quays development; and RES and Scottish and Southern Electricity on major wind farm proposals. Industry leader Gary McGhee has ‘encyclopaedic’ knowledge.

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Within Intellectual property, Carson McDowell is a first tier firm,

Carson McDowell’s team continues to advise Innovation Ulster on IP matters relating to several spin-out companies, including advising Performa Sports Limited on the development of Apple and Android compatible gaming apps. Dawn McKnight is recommended for non-contentious work, while Declan Magee is recommended on the contentious side.

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Within IT and telecoms, Carson McDowell is a third tier firm,

Carson McDowell advises on IT issues in the context of M&A and commercial transactions. It advised NuLogic Software Limited on licensing matters, and is advising Schrader Electronics in relation to the BT virtualisation project. Dawn McKnight is the name to note.

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