The Legal 500

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

Carson McDowell’s ‘partners and associates take a very flexible and committed approach to getting 
to know your business and identify your needs’. Recent activity focused on corporate finance and contract 
work, such as acting for Wrightbus Ltd on negotiations with Transport for London regarding a design, maintenance and manufacturing contract for a new 
public bus; Dalradian Resources Inc’s on its IPO on the Toronto Stock Exchange; and Vertical Wind Energy on a series of funding rounds. Other clients include Invest NI and SISAF Ltd. The group recruited Neasa Quigley from Tughans. Practice head Michael Johnston is ‘commercial and trustworthy’; Dawn McKnight is ‘prompt, resourceful and creative’; and David Jamison is also recommended.

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

Carson McDowell provides ‘excellent service and generally very good response times’. It acted on construction disputes for clients such as JH Turkington & Sons, Tesco and University of Ulster, and handled debt enforcement actions for various lenders. Declan Magee and his team are ‘very flexible and committed’, and Stuart Murphy inspires ‘great confidence’ and ‘has great business acumen’. Professional indemnity expert Sandra Crawford joined from McKinty and Wright.

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

Carson McDowell advises banks and building societies on financing and restructuring, and is credited as providing ‘invaluable assistance’. It won panel appointments with HSBC and NAMA, while other clients include Anglo Irish Bank, Bank of Ireland, Barclays and JPMorgan Chase Bank. Practice head Tom Adair has ‘unsurpassed knowledge across specialist and general lending’, and corporate and project finance expert Michael Johnston is also recommended, along with associates Graeme McKee and David McAleese.

Within Insolvency, Carson McDowell is a third tier firm,

Carson McDowell advises banks and building societies as lenders on debtor restructuring. David Jamison is the key contact.

Within Employment, Carson McDowell is a first tier firm,

Demonstrating ‘a professional, client-centred approach’, Carson McDowell represents employers on contentious and non-contentious matters, including defending one client in a tribunal alleging disability discrimination, constructive dismissal and victimisation. Recent clients have included McDonald’s and Royal Mail. Orlagh O’Neill (‘technically very good’, with ‘good client skills’) heads the practice.

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

Carson McDowell advises on wills and trusts, estates and property; wealth management; and mental capacity issues. Numerous recent instructions relate to the administration of estates of high-net-worth individuals. Team head Neil Bleakley is highly 
regarded.

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

Carson McDowell is advising University of Ulster on procuring consultants for the Greater Belfast Development project; Quinn Group as one of two remaining bidders for SwaMP2008 waste project; and NIE plc on its planning application for the North-South electricity interconnector. New clients include ESB Wind Development and TCI Renewables. Michael Johnston heads the corporate finance group; Neasa Quigley and Emma Cooper lead on energy matters; and Gary McGhee on planning matters.

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

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.

Within Construction, Carson McDowell is a first tier firm,

Carson McDowell provides ‘an excellent level of service’; it represents many housing associations on construction procurement, notably via instructions from Apex Procurement and Maintenance Partnership Group, and is representing Tesco in disputes concerning new stores. University of Ulster is a major client, including for advice on its ongoing £250m Belfast development and for defect claims. Practice head Stuart Murphy ‘brings good clarity to complex legal issues; he has great business acumen’.

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

Carson McDowell is advising on planning permissions for the cross-border electricity interconnector; represents Tesco on planning matters; and has been retained to advise on a large gas storage project. Gary McGhee is ‘a good planning lawyer’.

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

Carson McDowell’s IP team is ‘very good and very responsible, and gives quick and excellent advice’. It is advising University of Ulster on licensing matters; defended Seagate Technologies against a High Court patent infringement claim brought by Siemens; and represented Goodyear Dunlop in bringing a trade mark infringement claim. Declan Magee, who leads on contentious matters, is ‘very commercially astute, and gives good advice which is legally accurate and practical’. Dawn McKnight heads the non-contentious side, and is ‘incredibly efficient and intelligent’; she ‘has an in-depth knowledge of the law, and is a great negotiator’.