Ms Griffth is a Queen’s law graduate and qualified with distinction in 1998. She is accomplished lawyer with almost 20 years’ experience, having worked as a corporate partner in one of Northern Ireland’s international law firms as well as spending a period heading up Queen’s University’s commercial legal team.

She specialises in all aspects of corporate and commercial law and has advised on numerous significant mergers and acquisitions as well as management buy-outs, fund raisings and private equity investments.

She has unique experience of the higher education, life sciences and technology sectors given her in-house experience at QUB.

Speaking after her appointment, Ms Griffith said: “I am delighted to be joining the team at Cleaver Fulton Rankin and this role presents me with an exciting challenge. Corporate is a real growth area for the firm and it has already built a solid reputation in this field.

“As Northern Irish businesses continue to grow, legal expertise such as oursis high on the agenda. We believe we have a compelling offering across the whole spectrum of legal disciplines and are looking forward to increasing our strength in depth within Corporate.”

The appointment brings the total headcount in the firm’s company, commercial and banking department, led by Stephen Cross, to 15.

Karen Blair, CFR’s managing director, added: “We are delighted Hilary has joined our Corporate Team, and we are confident that the appointments we have made in the Corporate Team leave us in a strong position to further assist our growing portfolio of clients.

“We will continue to keep our focus on corporate and banking, and increase on our already solid stable of clients. We have every confidence that the skills and experience that Hilary brings to our Corporate Team can continue that trend and its further expansion.”