Appointments

Belfast-based MKB Law has appointed Kelly Shaw as its new head of family law, succeeding director Anne Marie Kelly who has retired. Ms Kelly, who qualified in 1985 and co-founded MKB Law in 2003 with Gordon McElroy, will continue to support the firm in a consultancy role.

Matheson partners have unanimously elected Darren Maher to succeed Michael Jackson as managing partner next year. Mr Jackson, who has led the firm since 2016, will hand over at the beginning of 2026 to Mr Maher, head of the firm's financial institutions group and co-head of its corporate depart

Gateley has welcomed Catherine Heyes, Chris Jennings and Chris Francis to its Northern Ireland legal team. Both joining the firm's residential property and conveyancing team, Ms Heyes has been appointed as legal director and Mr Jennings as solicitor.

Lavelle Partners LLP has appointed Paul McCutcheon as a partner and head of housing within the firm’s property team. This strategic appointment enhances the firm’s property practice, bringing additional depth in the area of residential real estate development.

Mason Hayes & Curran has appointed Ursula McMahon as a partner in its charity and not-for-profit team. At a time when charities face heightened scrutiny and evolving regulation, Ms McMahon's proven judgment and governance expertise will empower clients to protect their reputation and manage comp

Sir Donnell Deeny has been awarded an honorary degree by Trinity College Dublin. Trinity awards honorary degrees each year to recognise exceptional achievements by individuals in their respective fields. The other recipients were Linda Ervine, the driving force behind the Turas Irish language centre

Northern Ireland personal injury firm JMK Solicitors has appointed 13 new associate directors across a number of departments. Steven Gilliland and Karl O’Hagan have been appointed as legal services associate directors.

Philip Lee has launched a new financial services and investment funds offering through a strategic partnership with Aquest Advisory. The new practice will offer expert legal advice on a wide range of matters relevant to the financial services industry, including asset management, investment funds, f

Legal and tax advisory firm Orbitus has announced four appointments as part of the "first wave" of a major expansion. The firm has welcomed Eoin Casey as head of litigation and Carmel O’Shea Maloney as head of legal for Beam, the firm's online conveyancing product.

Professor Jennifer Schweppe has been appointed as editor-in-chief of the Irish Judicial Studies Journal, with Dr Una Woods as deputy editor. The Irish Judicial Studies Journal is part of the central fabric of Irish legal scholarship, publishing two standard volumes and one special edition per year.

Mason Hayes & Curran has promoted 18 lawyers to senior associate.

A&L Goodbody has appointed Kevin Murphy as partner and head of its real estate department in Belfast. Mr Murphy brings over 18 years' experience advising on all aspects of commercial property, with particular expertise in land acquisition and disposals particularly in renewable energy developmen

A new chairperson and two new ordinary members have been appointed to the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO) council. Ann Duffy, who has served as an ordinary member since January 2021, has been appointed as chairperson of the council.

Solicitor Jill Laughlin has been appointed as a non-executive member of the Northern Ireland Audit Office's advisory board. Ms Laughlin is an experienced corporate and commercial solicitor with a career spanning over two decades. She is a qualified solicitor in both England and Wales and in Northern

Dame Vera Baird DBE KC has been appointed as interim chair of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), the body which investigates potential miscarriages of justice in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The CCRC has not had a chairperson since January, when Helen Pitcher KC OBE resigned amid t