Steven Burrows, Rebekah Spence, Holly Cooper, Jack Turkington, Reece Simpson, Sarah Logan and Susanna Elliott have all taken up permanent roles across the firm, strengthening specialist teams and supporting Carson McDowell’s continued growth.

The announcement comes as colleagues across the firm continue to remember Kate Duffy, who passed away shortly after qualifying as a solicitor. Kate’s loss continues to be deeply felt by everyone in Carson McDowell who had the privilege of working with her.  

Carson McDowell has a long-established commitment to developing legal talent in Northern Ireland. Through its trainee solicitor programme, aspiring lawyers gain hands-on experience across a broad range of practice areas, work alongside recognised senior lawyers, support clients across the private, public and third sectors and build the technical, commercial and client relationship skills required for their future careers. 

The newly qualified solicitors have taken up positions across a range of firm practice areas, with Mr Burrows and Ms Spence joining defence insurance, Ms Cooper joining professional negligence, Mr Turkington joining banking, Mr Simpson joining corporate/commercial, Ms Logan joining employment and Ms Elliot joining corporate.

Commenting on the appointments, Orlagh O’Neill, managing partner at Carson McDowell, said: “We are very proud of each of our newly qualified solicitors. Qualifying as a solicitor is a significant achievement and on behalf of all partners at the firm I would like to congratulate each of them on reaching this important milestone. Throughout their training contracts they have shown commitment, resilience and a strong willingness to learn, while making a valued contribution to teams across the firm.

“We are delighted that they will continue their careers with Carson McDowell. Their development reflects not only their own hard work, but also the time, encouragement and support provided by colleagues across the firm.”

Declan Magee, senior partner at Carson McDowell, added: “These appointments represent an important investment in the future of our firm and in the service we provide to our clients. Each of our newly qualified solicitors has developed a strong understanding of our clients, their businesses and the sectors in which they operate. Our training programme is one that continues to deliver first class candidates to add to our firm. Continuing to add to our team with brilliant lawyers qualifying through this programme is an important part of our succession planning.

“Their appointments further strengthen our teams and will help ensure we continue to provide the depth of expertise, responsiveness and commercially focused advice that clients expect from Carson McDowell. Congratulations to them all.”

Mary-Kim Doherty, trainee partner at Carson McDowell, concluded: “It has been a pleasure to support this group throughout their training contracts and to see them develop into confident and capable solicitors. Their retention is a testament to their hard work, commitment and the strength of the firm’s trainee solicitor programme.

“We are delighted to see them take this next step in their careers with Carson McDowell and look forward to watching them continue to grow and contribute across their respective teams.”

Carson McDowell invests heavily in training and development of the next generation of legal talent through its summer vacation scheme, work experience programme, and its two-year trainee solicitor programme. The newly qualified solicitor appointments follow Carson McDowell recently confirming that seven trainees have also joined the firm as part of its 2026 trainee solicitor intake.