Appointments

Barrister Patrick Barrett BL has joined the Irish Writers Centre's board of directors. Mr Barrett is one of seven new directors spanning the literary, financial, legal, healthcare, sustainability, publishing and cultural sectors.

Employment law firm Watershed has appointed Rachel Richardson as an employment lawyer and solicitor (England and Wales). Based in Belfast, Ms Richardson will play a key role in expanding the firm’s work in Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

Northern Ireland firm McCay Legal has promoted Gillian Smyth to operations manager following a period of growth. Ms Smyth has been part of the team since McCay Legal acquired AD McClay & Company Solicitors two years ago.

Solicitor Martin Sisk has been appointed as chairperson of the Marine Institute. The Marine Institute is Ireland’s national marine research agency, established under the Marine Institute Act 1991.

AIB group general counsel Miriam Nagle has joined the bank's executive leadership team. Ms Nagle, who became group general counsel in January 2025, will continue to provide legal counsel to the group and lead the legal function, as well as assuming additional accountability for third party managemen

International law firm Addleshaw Goddard has appointed Jack Kennedy as partner in its construction and engineering practice in Ireland. Mr Kennedy, the second partner to join the team this year, brings a wealth of experience advising on non-contentious construction law, development financings, and p

Koulla Yiasouma has been appointed to chair the advisory council of Young Ireland, the Irish government's national policy framework for children and young people. Ms Yiasouma is an established leader in the area of children's rights and youth justice and previously served as Northern Ireland's commi

Co Cork firm Adams Donnelly Solicitors has welcomed solicitor Sarah Moore to its team. Ms Moore qualified as a solicitor in 2011 and brings a wealth of expertise in property and probate law.

Business law firm Mason Hayes & Curran has announced the return of Keith Newman as a partner in its energy team. Mr Newman returns to the firm after three years as lead in-house counsel at a major global technology company, where he focused on construction and energy matters across EMEA. During

TLT has appointed commercial real estate expert Jonathan O’Hagan as a partner in the firm's Belfast office. Mr O'Hagan joins TLT from DWF, bringing over 10 years' experience in the real estate sector, and has been hired to help meet growing client demand for cross-jurisdictional real esta

Mayo-based J.V. Geary Solicitors has moved to a formal partnership structure, with principal solicitor John Geary welcoming his long-standing colleague Ita Feeney as a partner in the firm. The firm, based on Linenhall Street in Castlebar, was established by Mr Geary in 2010 and has since grown to a

Senior figures in Northern Ireland's criminal justice and human rights sectors are among the newest cohort in the Centre for Democracy and Peace Building's fellowship programme. This year's 28 fellows include Anna McClung of the Department of Justice, Rhyannon Blythe of the Northern Ireland Human Ri

Employment lawyer Anna Beggan has been appointed as an independent lay member of the senate which governs Queen's University Belfast. Ms Beggan was a partner and head of employment at Tughans before last year joining TLT's Belfast office as a legal director.

Former charity CEO Joe McVey has been appointed as Northern Ireland's new commissioner for victims and survivors. Mr McVey, who led Northern Ireland charity Brain Injury Matters (BIM) from 2019 to 2023, will take up his post on 6 October 2025 for a period of four years.

McCann FitzGerald has appointed Ciara O'Leary as partner in the firm's investment management group. Ms O'Leary focuses her practice on investment funds, advising fund promoters and fund service firms on all matters relating to the establishment, authorisation, operation and ongoing maintenance of fu