Dawn McKnight > Carson McDowell > Belfast, United Kingdom > Lawyer Profile

Carson McDowell
MURRAY HOUSE
MURRAY STREET
BELFAST
BT1 6DN
United Kingdom

Work Department

Corporate finance.

Position

Dawn is a partner in the corporate and commercial team at Carson McDowell. She has extensive experience in advising on a wide range of company law and commercial law issues for clients operating in a variety of sectors, including mergers and acquisitions, management buy-outs and buy-ins, private equity transactions, company reorganisations and spin-out projects. Dawn has particular expertise in the fields of both partnership law and non-contentious intellectual property. As a result she works extensively for clients in the Technology Sector, advising regularly in connection with spinouts, new business ventures, technology licences and collaborative development projects. Dawn heads the firms Commercial Contracts Team. Her extensive experience in commercial work helps her deliver effective contractual arrangements for her clients. She is adept at focusing in on the commercial needs of clients so as to deliver a bespoke, cost effective and insightful service which is not only addresses immediate needs, but also anticipates issues and areas that will need to be addressed going forward.

Career

Trained Carson McDowell; qualified 2001; joined corporate finance team; associate May 2007; partner February 2010 to date. Worked as an IFA for four years before deciding to pursue a career in law.

Memberships

Association of Partnership Practitioners; Institute of Directors; Law Society of Northern Ireland; Northern Ireland Corporate and Commercial Lawyers Group; Northern Ireland Intellectual Property Association.

Education

Antrim Grammar School; Queens University Belfast (1992 Combined Honours Bachelor of Social Science (BSSc) (Business Economics and Information Management) 2(1), 1999 LLB 2(1), 2001 Certificate of Professional Legal Studies).

Leisure

Running and hill walking.

Lawyer Rankings

Northern Ireland > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property

(Leading individuals)

Dawn McKnightCarson McDowell

Carson McDowell has expertise in both contentious and non-contentious IP matters, and is highly active across UK jurisdictions and internationally. Declan Magee and Dawn McKnight co-lead the department. Magee leads on IP disputes, and has particular expertise in the electronics and engineering sectors, while McKnight heads the non-contentious group, and specialises in the manufacturing, technology, and life sciences industries. Peter Guzhar is a key name for contentious IP matters, with experience in the prosecution and defence of trademark and patent infringement proceedings. Senior associate Helen Cosgrove is a name to note.

Northern Ireland > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > IT and telecoms

(Hall of Fame)

Dawn McKnightCarson McDowell

Carson McDowell‘s cross-disciplinary team acts for prominent clients in a range of contentious and non-contentious matters. The department has particular strength in the area of cybersecurity, and provides thought leadership in this area. Litigator Declan Magee co-leads alongside Dawn McKnight, who is a cybersecurity expert with experience in the negotiation of ICT contracts and software development agreements. Peter Guzhar is a key contact for contentious commercial, corporate, and IT matters. Senior associate Helen Cosgrove specialises in contractual telecommunications disputes.