Firm Profile > Elliott Duffy Garrett > Belfast, Northern Ireland
Elliott Duffy Garrett Offices
40 LINENHALL STREET
BELFAST
BT2 8BA
Northern Ireland
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Elliott Duffy Garrett > The Legal 500 Rankings
Dispute resolution Tier 1
A ‘mid-size practice that punches above its weight’, Elliott Duffy Garrett is a leading name in the areas of product liability claims and insolvency. Name partner Christopher Duffy leads the team and handles cases covering all areas of insolvency, debt recovery and enforcement, including obtaining injunctive relief. The team is also skilled in the real estate and construction sectors, focusing on claims relating to employer’s liability, contractual breaches and health and safety. Procurement and energy disputes, largely led by Marie-Louise Lowry, are another area of expertise.
Practice head(s):
Christopher Duffy
Other key lawyers:
Marie-Louise Lowry
Testimonials
‘This is a mid-size practice which punches above its weight. It has a very strong team of lawyers and excellent associates which has enabled it to take on and address some very large cases.’
‘Christopher Duffy is a very skilled litigator. He is forensic in his approach and misses none of the detail in a case.’
‘Marie-Louise Lowry is well known for her formidable style and is respected by all her opponents. She is an expert in procurement challenges and company-related litigation.’
‘The Elliott Duffy Garrett team is well respected in the legal marketplace in Northern Ireland. Their professionalism is held in high esteem among their client base, fellow legal practitioners and the judiciary alike. They are noted for their legal knowledge, their teamwork, and their cool-headed and pragmatic approach to commercial disputes.’
‘Christopher Duffy is a standout commercial and insolvency lawyer. He has a well-deserved reputation for attention to detail, knowledge of the law and dedication to his clients. Marie-Louise Lowry is also a commercial litigator of particular note, with vast experience of procurement, planning and licensing matters.’
‘This practice puts clients at the centre of its operations and delivers extraordinary client care.’
‘Good solicitor/client relationships achieved by the application of judgement and experience.’
‘Where necessary, advice is given and outcomes indicated as soon as possible so that a client may make an informed judgement as to what comes next.’
Key clients
Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman
Northern Bank t/a Danske
Choice Housing Ireland Limited
SEUPB
Trinity Mirror Plc
Tennent’s (NI) Limited
Budget Energy Ltd
Andras House Group
Connswater Credit Limited
Premium Credit Limited
Personal tax, trusts and probate Tier 1
Elliott Duffy Garrett is well versed in trusts and estate administration work, noted by clients for its 'professional yet friendly and empathetic approach'. Overseeing the practice is Neil Mulholland, who is 'a great probate lawyer with very strong technical knowledge'. He is supported by property specialist Stewart Nash.
Practice head(s):
Neil Mulholland
Other key lawyers:
Stewart Nash
Testimonials
‘The team all have a professional yet friendly and empathetic approach which is very important in dealing with this type of work.’
‘Neil Mulholland provides an excellent service, he is very thorough and detailed in his legal advice but also has a commercial and pragmatic view which clients find very helpful.’
‘EDG are a long well established firm of solicitors with a very strong reputation for expertise and more than that trust. Their customer services is excellent, legal expertise great and their ability to know you as a client makes it all a very personable experience. They really make you feel that they care about your issues, transaction etc. I know at least 6-7 of the staff including Partners and more junior members and their honesty and integrity is cultural.’
Employment Tier 2
Elliott Duffy Garrett is best known for its expertise in contentious employment matters, with a recent workload consisting of discrimination and harassment claims, unfair dismissals and employer's liability cases. The team is also skilled in non-contentious matters, including day-to-day advisory issues. Managing partner Adrienne Brock leads the practice, bring a wealth of 30 years of experience to the team and handles both litigation and mediation. Another key name in the team is Julie Anne Clarke, who is noted for her expertise in advising on employee exits and data protection matters.
Practice head(s):
Adrienne Brock
Other key lawyers:
Julie Anne Clarke
Key clients
Special EU Programmes Body
Ulster Bank Limited
United Dairy Farmers Limited
Waterways Ireland
Musgrave Group
Assumption Grammar School
Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman
Energia Group NI Holdings Ltd
DHL
The General Council of the Bar of Northern Ireland
Banking and finance Tier 3
Elliott Duffy Garrett undertakes a wide range of banking and finance work for clients such as corporate borrowers, registered housing associations, banks, building societies and credit unions. Its team's varied workload includes restructurings of Northern Irish loan portfolios, covered bond programmes and securitisations, as well as the provision of regulatory advice. In addition, other work spans project finance, corporate lending and debt restructuring. Kevin McVeigh has over 30 years of experience acting for banks and other financial institutions. Another key individual is Cathy Murphy, who is dual-qualified to practise as a solicitor in Northern Ireland and England and Wales. Patricia Beckett is the head of the banking and finance practice.
Practice head(s):
Patricia Beckett
Other key lawyers:
Kevin McVeigh; Cathy Murphy
Key clients
Northern Bank Limited t/a Danske Bank
Ulster Bank Limited
Leeds Building Society
Bank of Scotland plc
Feniton Property Finance DAC
Premium Credit Limited
Tennent’s NI Limited
Choice Housing Ireland Limited
Connswater Homes Limited
Lloyds Banking Group
Commercial property Tier 3
Elliott Duffy Garrett attracts a strong flow of work from clients such as property developers, private and institutional investors, funders and retailers. Stewart Nash leads the property team, whose experience is brought to bear in the social housing, mining and minerals and agri-food industries, among others. Nash, who is dual-qualified to practise in England and Wales and Northern Ireland, has 25 years of commercial property experience. He works with Leo Brown, whose expertise includes commercial and residential development schemes, insolvency-related property work, site assembly and redevelopment. Brown is particularly sought after by local housing associations for advice on the provision of social and affordable housing. Pierre Boitel-Gill is also a key individual in the group, as is associate Niamh Warnock.
Practice head(s):
Stewart Nash
Other key lawyers:
Leo Brown; Pierre Boitel-Gill; Niamh Warnock
Testimonials
‘I have worked with the property team in EDG for many years. They provide a professional, cost effective service with outstanding industry knowledge and a practical approach.’
‘Niamh Warnock and Leo Brown are both exceptional ambassadors for EDG. Both bring experience, a pragmatic approach and solid knowledge.’
‘I have worked with Elliott Duffy Garrett for many years and have relied on their advice in many cases which I found to be excellent and insightful.
‘I would have no hesitation in recommending this firm and their varied services.’
‘My main contact within Elliott Duffy Garrett is Leo Brown who has always provided clear, unbiased and professional guidance which has been invaluable in a number of difficult cases.’
Key clients
John H Lunn Limited
McGinnis Group
Eglinton Developments Limited
The Baird Group Limited
Jenkins Shipping Company Limited
Ebrington Leisure Holdings Limited
Oasis Group
Corporate and M&A Tier 3
Elliott Duffy Garrett's recent work has included a number of transactions in the agri-food sector; the firm also works with clients in manufacturing, construction, charities and pharma. The firm has a particular focus on working with family-owned SMEs, but is also member of TAGLaw, an international alliance of independent law firms, which allows for increased access to cross border and multi-jurisdictional matters. Kevin McVeigh leads the team - he advises on all aspects of corporate transactions and commercial agreements.
Practice head(s):
Kevin McVeigh
Testimonials
‘The team respond very quickly to all our requests. We have used them over the last 40 years for acquisitions and disposals.’
‘I have found them to be very reliable and also easily available when I need to speak to someone. They are more down to earth than others, which suits me best – from answering the phone to the partner I deal with.’
‘My dealings with the practice was for a single transaction. The partner in charge took personal charge; was attentive to correspondence and phone calls and always provided follow up to every query raised. The transition was efficiently handled; nothing was too much trouble – the practice managed to make the team feel like a very personal service.’
‘Consistent reliable and timely support always delivered with exceptional courtesy in the most demanding circumstances.’
Insolvency and corporate recovery Tier 3
Elliott Duffy Garrett's multidisciplinary team, which is jointly led by Christopher Duffy and Kevin McVeigh, is sought after by commercial lenders and insolvency practitioners for advice on all aspects of formal and informal insolvency procedures. The group's wide-ranging experience includes restructurings, bankruptcies, administrations, receiverships and liquidations. Duffy has over 25 years of experience of contentious insolvency matters, while McVeigh is known for his focus on transactions, restructurings and other non-contentious work. Leo Brown and Ian McFarland are among other names to note.
Practice head(s):
Christopher Duffy; Kevin McVeigh
Other key lawyers:
Michael Wilson; Patricia Beckett; Leo Brown; Ian McFarland
Testimonials
‘The insolvency team in EDG are technically very experienced and have access to incredible resources and experience.’
‘The Elliott Duffy Garrett team is well respected in the legal marketplace in Northern Ireland. Their professionalism is held in high esteem among their client base, fellow legal practitioners and the judiciary alike. They are noted for their legal knowledge, their teamwork, and their cool-headed and pragmatic approach to commercial disputes.’
‘Christopher Duffy is a stand out commercial and insolvency lawyer. He has a well deserved reputation for attention to detail, knowledge of the law, and dedication to his clients. ’
‘Very competent and good attention to detail.’
‘Personal approach.’
Key clients
Northern Bank Limited T/A Danske Bank
Keenan Corporate Finance (Insolvency Practitioners)
BDO Belfast
HNH Group
Ennis Property Finance DAC
Feniton Property Finance DAC
KPMG
McKeague Morgan (Insolvency Practitioners)
Premium Credit Limited
Tennent’s NI
Elliott Duffy Garrett > Firm Profile
Elliott Duffy Garrett is one of the leading commercial law firms in Northern Ireland, providing a broad range of legal advice and services to commercial, public, professional and private clients based, or doing business, in this jurisdiction.
The firm: Elliott Duffy Garrett was founded in Belfast in 1973 to provide a full range of legal services to commercial and private clients. It has a well established reputation for advising and representing a variety of clients, which include public bodies (NI Ombudsman), banks (Danske Bank), listed companies (C&C Group plc), SMEs (McAvoy Group), education bodies (St Marys University College, Victoria College Belfast), housing associations (Choice Housing Ireland) and charities (NI Hospice).
A skilled and experienced team, Elliott Duffy Garrett places great emphasis on core values of service, quality, integrity and professionalism. The firm prides itself on taking the time to understand clients’ needs and objectives so that it can help them to avoid problems. It also has strong worldwide connections through its membership of TAGLaw, which enables it to effectively assist clients who are seeking to achieve international growth. It hosted the TAGLaw European Regional Conference in Belfast in 2016.
Types of work undertaken
Banking and financial services: Elliott Duffy Garrett offers a dynamic and effective service for banks, building societies and other financial institutions, both local and international. Its banking lawyers provide bespoke lending and security documentation and give advice on regulatory and compliance matters including banking codes and consumer credit. The firm also works alongside lawyers in other jurisdictions on international financing transactions.
Corporate and commercial: the firm is focused on its clients’ commercial aims and objectives. Its corporate and commercial lawyers are dedicated to providing expert advice and practical solutions, and represent family-owned businesses, SMEs and major corporates alongside public sector and voluntary sector bodies. The team has worked on many of the largest corporate transactions in Northern Ireland.
Employment: Elliott Duffy Garrett provides advice on all aspects of the employment relationship including recruitment, contracts, training, policies, disciplinary matters and litigation, including in the areas of grievance, equality, tribunals, policies and procedures, and TUPE and restructuring. The firm’s employment lawyers have an exemplary track record and reputation for providing an efficient and reliable employment law service to a range of clients across the public, private and third sectors in Northern Ireland.
Insolvency: the firm offers expert legal advice on all matters relating to insolvency and business recovery. Its insolvency lawyers advise secured creditors on the pre-appointment process, and also act for administrators and receivers in the disposal of assets and businesses. Clients include financial institutions, directors, shareholders and accountancy firms. Specialist areas include administration; liquidation; receivership; recovery; and rescue.
Commercial property: the commercial property team provides a comprehensive range of legal services covering all aspects of property and real estate in Northern Ireland, including development, landlord and tenant, housing, retail, planning and environmental law. The firm has played a key role in some of the most significant property transactions throughout Ireland and the UK in recent years. Its reputation in the field is outstanding and clients include major property developers, retailers, funders, private and institutional investors.
Dispute resolution and litigation: the team has an excellent track record in handling complex litigation at all levels, including those raising new issues of law. It uses expertise and commercial experience to advise a diverse range of clients on the most appropriate method of dispute resolution, whether negotiation, litigation, arbitration or mediation. The firm offers a partner-driven service which focuses on delivering a solution to achieve clients’ practical and commercial aims and objectives.
Family and matrimonial: Elliott Duffy Garrett’s family and matrimonial lawyers provide practical guidance and cost-effective legal advice in dealing with issues arising from the breakdown of a relationship, including divorce, ancillary relief, contact, residence, and Mareva injunctions. Clients benefit from advice based on experience, understanding, in-depth knowledge of the law and discretion.
Private client: the private client team offers expertise, specialist advice and client-orientated service in wills, trusts and succession planning. Its lawyers also handle administration of estates and residential property matters. All of its services are sensitive to the needs of clients and are provided in strict confidence.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior partner | Michael Wilson | ||
| Banking | Kevin McVeigh | ||
| Corporate | Kevin McVeigh | ||
| Employment | Adrienne Brock | ||
| Insolvency | Michael Wilson | ||
| Litigation and dispute resolution | Brian Deeny | ||
| Private client | Stewart Nash | ||
| Property | Leo Brown |