Firm Profile > Mills Selig > Belfast, Northern Ireland
Mills Selig Offices
21 ARTHUR STREET
BELFAST
BT1 4GA
Northern Ireland
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Mills Selig > The Legal 500 Rankings
Corporate and M&A Tier 2
Mills Selig has longstanding experience advising on IPOs, and acts for one of the few Northern Irish plcs. The team handles complex, high-value transactions for a number of technology, waste management and energy companies. Chris Guy, who 'has a very good reputation, especially for corporate finance', leads the practice. Senior associate Glenn Watterson is noted for his energy expertise. Kathryn Walls moved to an in-house role.
Practice head(s):
Chris Guy
Other key lawyers:
Dispute resolution Tier 2
Mills Selig acts for large local and international clients, including one of Northern Ireland's few plcs, in commercial litigation, and is also strong in the real estate and construction sectors, acting for retail landlords, property developers and social housing providers. The team has developed niche specialisms in claims relating to regulatory, charity and media law (particularly social media). The 'outstanding' Emma Hunt leads the team.
Practice head(s):
Emma Hunt
Other key lawyers:
Maeve Fisher; Kirsten Magee
Testimonials
‘A boutique commercial firm which has an excellent reputation in dispute resolution and licensing.‘
‘Emma Hunt is an extremely capable practitioner and an excellent communicator, practical and pragmatic when necessary.‘
‘Maeve Fisher is very strong on licensing issues.‘
‘The team at Mills Selig are renowned in this jurisdiction for the consistently high standard of their work as commercial lawyers. Diligent preparation of cases, excellent client care and outstanding ability as lawyers have enabled them to be among the leaders in commercial work and especially in dispute resolution.‘
‘Emma Hunt is an outstanding partner. She is hugely respected by her peers, a very good advocate and has the confidence to know when to compromise.‘
‘Senior associate Richard Craig is an excellent lawyer with a great ability to distill large volumes of material into core items and to present a case in a compelling, concise manner.‘
‘Solicitor Rachel Kelly is a very promising addition to the team who has already demonstrated an ability to deal effectively with complex legal issues.‘
Key clients
First Derivatives
Bank of Ireland
Total Produce
Warrenpoint Harbour Authority
Murdock Property Group
3T Power Group
Channel 4
Ducales Capital
ITV Group
Personal tax, trusts and probate Tier 2
Mills Selig has a strong track record of advising high-net-worth individuals on tax planning, as well as the drafting of wills and trusts and succession planning. The team also regularly acts for vulnerable individuals in Office of Care and Protection matters. Senior associate Fiona McFall leads the team; she is 'approachable' and 'very knowledgeable on private client matters', with particular expertise in disabled person's trusts and personal injury trusts.
Practice head(s):
Fiona McFall
Testimonials
‘The team has total commitment to client service and extremely efficient turnaround times, good interchangeability between team members to cover client requirements. There is a dedicated private client department, which is a rarity in most legal firms.‘
‘Fiona McFall is great with clients and has an excellent work ethic with quick turnaround times. She is always willing to go the extra mile to deliver client satisfaction, and is very easy to work with.‘
‘The level of expertise and understanding that Fiona McFall demonstrates is of the highest level. At all times her thoroughness and speed of response is exemplary.‘
‘Fiona McFall’s key strengths are her professionalism, openness and friendliness. She makes everything clear to the client and invites questions.‘
Banking and finance Tier 3
Mills Selig is primarily active on the borrower side of transactions; its areas of focus include energy finance (particularly advising on the funding of anaerobic digestors and wind farms), real estate finance, and development and acquisition finance. The team counts a number of manufacturing and hospitality sector companies among its clients. 'Fantastic' and 'very strong' senior associate Naomi Gaston joined from Carson McDowell to lead the team; she has particular expertise in asset-based lending and loan sales.
Practice head(s):
Naomi Gaston
Testimonials
‘Mills Selig is commercial, client focused, pragmatic, friendly to deal with, solutions driven and cost conscious.’
Key clients
Whiterock Capital
Bank of Ireland
First Derivatives plc
Ortus Secured Finance
Danske Bank
Charities Aid Foundation Bank
Privilege Project Finance
Close Leasing
Commercial property Tier 3
Mills Selig has been highly active advising on sales, acquisitions and leasing, particularly in the retail and hotel sectors. The team also advises local developers, housing associations and government bodies on major residential and hotel developments and regeneration schemes. The 'excellent' Anne Skeggs leads the team, which also includes energy specialist Anna-Marie McAlinden.
Practice head(s):
Anne Skeggs
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Herbert Group/Kirk Bryson Limited
Murdock Property Group/Lotus Group
Ducales Capital
Galliard Homes Limited
Marcol Group Limited
IMC Cinema Group
ITV Group plc
Clanmil Housing Association
Total Produce Limited
Quinn Industrial Holdings
Waterways Ireland
A P Wireless Ireland Investments Limited
Quicklet Properties Limited
Construction Tier 3
Mills Selig is known for its strength in the social housing sector, advising local housing associations on major residential developments, as well as representing them in construction disputes. The team also advises funders, developers and contractors on office, retail and other commercial developments, and has been highly active in the energy sector, advising on anaerobic digestion and wind farm projects. Practice head Adrian Kerr has expertise in contentious and non-contentious matters.
Practice head(s):
Adrian Kerr
Key clients
Clanmil Housing Association
Radius HousingAssociation
Warrenpoint Harbour Authority
Privilege Finance
AES Kilroot and Ballylumford Power Stations
Graham Construction
BSG Civil Engineering
CAF Bank
Lotus Homes
GEDA Construction
Employment Tier 3
Mills Selig acts for a number of large employers, including leading Northern Irish companies and SMEs, on general HR matters; TUPE issues arising from M&A transactions; data protection; and exit arrangements for senior executives. The team has particular expertise in matters involving restrictive covenants and acts for several major local recruitment companies. Practice head Kiera Lee handles a range of non-contentious and contentious employment matters.
Practice head(s):
Kiera Lee
Testimonials
‘Kiera Lee is totally responsive and attentive to the client’s needs and both skillful and creative. Not only is the team at Mills Selig distinguished by its superior legal skills, but also by its highest level of personal integrity and complete dedication to client service.‘
‘Everyone at Mills Selig is incredibly responsive and knowledgeable. Kiera Lee can provide intelligent and practical guidance immediately on a host of issues.‘
‘Kiera Lee has a charming manner combined with a strong sense of what is practical for small businesses.‘
Key clients
Warrenpoint Harbour Authority
Golf Holdings Limited
Devenish Nutrition Limited
Arjo UK Limited
Crossroads Care NI
Dunnes Stores
Law Society Of Northern Ireland
FSCom
First Derivatives Plc
DCC Energy Plc
Energy Tier 3
Mills Selig advises on the acquisition, financing and disposal of energy projects, including biomass, hydro, geothermal and wind energy developments. The team also assists with contracts for the supply of energy, including natural gas and electricity generated by wind turbines. Clients include conventional and renewable energy generators and distributors. Practice head Anna-Marie McAlinden specialises in the property aspects of energy projects.
Practice head(s):
Anna-Marie McAlinden
Insolvency and corporate recovery Tier 3
Mills Selig is particularly noted for its strength in personal insolvencies. The team also acts for insolvency practitioners in relation to company receiverships, liquidations, voluntary arrangements and administrations, and advises financial institutions on enforcement procedures. Clients include major local banks, accountancy firms and businesses. Practice head John Kearns and senior associate Richard Craig are the key contacts.
Practice head(s):
John Kearns
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Bank of Ireland
PKF-FPM Accountants
Keenan Corporate Finance
Cavanagh Kelly Accountants
Gildernew & Co., Accountants
Liz McKeown & Company
McKeague Morgan, & Company
Hannaway & Company Accountants
Arthur Boyd & Company
O’Hagan McGlinchey & Co., Accountants
Intellectual property Tier 3
Mills Selig advises on contentious and non-contentious IP matters, and is particularly active in the technology sector, regularly assisting clients with the development, ownership and exploitation of IP assets via licensing, outsourcing and other agreements. In addition, the team advises on the protection of IP rights and handles disputes such as infringement and passing off claims. Litigator Emma Hunt leads the practice following the departure of Kathryn Walls to an in-house role.
Practice head(s):
Emma Hunt
Key clients
First Derivatives plc
Novosco Limited
Locum Match Limited
Mother Bee Limited
Devenish Nutrition Limited
Ampliphae Limited
Limitless Digital Solutions Limited
Sussd Limited
Automated Intelligence Systems Limited
One Million Steps Limited
IT and telecoms Tier 3
Mills Selig acts for some of Northern Ireland's leading businesses and technology advisory groups, as well as investors into the local technology sector; it also advises domestic technology start-ups on matters such as early-stage investment. The team also advises on M&A transactions in the technology sector and software licensing and related matters. Following the departure of Kathryn Walls to an in-house role, the team is led by litigator Emma Hunt, who specialises in social media law, and head of corporate Chris Guy.
Practice head(s):
Chris Guy; Emma Hunt
Testimonials
‘The team is pragmatic, commercial and highly skilled. They understand our business very well and their advice is practical, clear and client focused.‘
Key clients
First Derivatives plc
Novosco Limited
Crescent Capital III LP
Decom Engineering Limited
Mycardiapp Limited
Ampliphae Limited
Stormharvester Limited
Sussd Limited
Automated Intelligence Systems Limited
One Million Steps Limited
Mills Selig > Firm Profile
Mills Selig provides a comprehensive range of legal services to businesses and individuals.
The firm: The practice acts for leading plcs, private equity providers, banks, private companies and businesses as well as property developers, leading retailers and national and international media organisations and publishers. It also advises on English law and is regularly involved in high-level property, corporate and commercial transactions in Ireland, Great Britain, mainland Europe and worldwide. Notable clients include First Derivatives plc, Bank of Ireland, Devenish Nutrition, Warrenpoint Harbour Authority, Associated Newspapers, ITN Limited, DCC Energy, Murdock Group, Hughes Insurance, Wine Inns Limited, SDC Trailers Limited, Crescent Capital NI Limited and Wind Energy Partnership.
The firm has experienced considerable growth over the past few years in providing legal services in the areas of restructuring, liquor licensing, banking, energy and environment.
Types of work undertaken: Banking and finance: project finance and asset-based finance acting for individuals, businesses and funders, together with all types of contentious matters.
Commercial: supply and sale of goods and services, licensing, franchising, manufacturing, online terms and conditions, property management and procurement.
Commercial property: acquisition and disposal, site assembly and development, securitisation, retail, office, industrial, hospitality and leisure lettings, as well as planning and environment matters, landlord and tenant, ports and harbour work, mining, exploration, golf courses and windfarms.
Corporate: sales and acquisitions of companies and businesses, joint ventures, private equity and venture capital, listings on AIM, corporate reorganisations and demergers, shareholder arrangements, management buyouts and buy-ins and corporate governance.
Dispute resolution: commercial matters, land and property, banking litigation, shareholder and partnership issues, injunctions, professional negligence and personal injury, including medical negligence.
Employment: employment audits, managing the exit of senior executives, and court and tribunal claims, including unfair dismissal, discrimination, unlawful deduction of wages, breach of contract, stress at work, TUPE, and other aspects of mergers and acquisitions.
Energy and environmental: advising on all aspects of renewable and non-renewable energy projects with particular experience in large corporate infrastructure projects, as well as anaerobic digestion, wind, solar and hydro projects. Mills Selig advises on all corporate, construction, planning, property, infrastructural and funding aspects of energy and renewable energy transactions, acting for a wide spectrum of clients including renewable power generators, land owners, developers, funds and financial institutions from across the UK
Intellectual property and technology: full-service advice in relation to protecting and commercially exploiting intellectual property to include copyright, trade marks and design rights through to joint venture collaborations, franchising and licensing.
Licensing: applications for new licences for public houses, hotels, off licences and restaurants, all types of renewal application, transfers, sale and purchase transactions, protection orders, amendments/additions to licence terms, objections to applications and social club applications.
Media and defamation: libel and slander, breach of confidence, privacy, reporting restrictions, contempt of court, press complaints, copyright and pre-publication work.
Private client: work ranges from wills and probate to estate and tax planning, charity law, and care homes.
Restructuring and insolvency: all types of contentious and non-contentious advice in the areas of administration, voluntary arrangements, receiverships, liquidations, investigations, directors’ duties, security advice, and sale and purchase of bankrupt businesses.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Managing director | John Kearns | ||
| Banking and finance | Anne Skeggs | ||
| Commercial | Kathryn Walls | ||
| Commercial property | Anne Skeggs | ||
| Construction | Adrian Kerr | ||
| Corporate | Chris Guy | ||
| Debt recovery | Emma Hunt | ||
| Dispute resolution and litigation | Emma Hunt | ||
| Employment | Kiera Lee | ||
| Energy and environment | Anna-Marie McAlinden | ||
| Intellectual property and technology | Kathryn Walls | ||
| Licensing | John Kearns | ||
| Media and defamation | Paul Spring | ||
| Partnerships | Chris Guy | ||
| Private client | Fiona McFall | ||
| Private equity and venture capital | Chris Guy | ||
| Residential development and property | Anne Skeggs | ||
| Restructuring and insolvency | John Kearns |
Lawyer Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
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Mr Richard Craig | View Profile | |
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Chris Guy | View Profile | |
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Emma Hunt | View Profile | |
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John Kearns | View Profile | |
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Adrian Kerr | View Profile | |
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Kiera Lee | View Profile | |
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Anna-Marie McAlinden | View Profile | |
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Fiona McFall | View Profile | |
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Anne Skeggs | View Profile | |
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Kathryn Walls | View Profile |