News

Irish government plans to follow the UK in making it harder for refugees to secure permanent settlement are "deeply alarming", the Irish Refugee Council has said. Ministers will this week decide how to respond to sweeping changes announced by the UK government, which claims the UK system is too gene

Legal proceedings could be brought against the Northern Ireland Executive over its failure to respond to a report backing a public inquiry into clerical sexual abuse. No decisions have yet been taken in response to the recommendations in the report, which was submitted in July but has yet to be publ

Northern Ireland firm Wilson Nesbitt has committed to a 50 per cent reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 and a 100 per cent reduction by 2050. The law firm is the latest signatory to Business in the Community NI's climate action pledge, designed to encourage organisations to commit to reducing thei

Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh KC is to be recognised by the Irish Women Lawyers Association (IWLA) as Woman Lawyer of the Year. The award will be presented to Ms Ní Ghrálaigh at the association's annual gala, taking place at the Law Society of Ireland on 13 December.

Ireland is in breach of its obligations under EU water protection law, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has ruled. In a judgment handed down last Thursday, the court identified serious non-compliances with the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD), introduced in 2000.

Clifford Chance is cutting around 10 per cent of its business services staff in London, with the firm citing increased use of AI and shifting operational demands as key drivers. About 50 roles across finance, HR and IT are expected to be made redundant, with a further 35 roles potentially re-scoped

Northern Ireland lawyers Darragh Mackin and Gavin Booth will each receive more than €410,000 in damages after being defamed by businessman Denis O'Brien and his spokesperson, James Morrissey. A High Court jury in Dublin found on Friday that Mr Mackin and Mr Booth were defamed in a press release

A&L Goodbody has welcomed newly-qualified solicitors Catherine Sheppard, Holly Emerson, Holly Molloy, Luca StClair, Martyn Doherty and Niall O’Hare to its Northern Ireland team. The six join the firm following their completion of its trainee solicitor programme, bringing the headcount in B

Waterford firms Bowe O'Brien Solicitors and Parker Law are to join forces through a merger next week. The merger between Bowe O'Brien, a boutique private client and commercial law firm, and Parker Law, a general practice firm, will take effect from 1 December 2025.

William Fry has appointed Jason Milne as partner and head of the firm's environment and planning group. Mr Milne brings over 25 years' specialist expertise in environmental, planning, and health and safety law.

Corporate law firms BHSM LLP and OBH Partners have announced a strategic merger taking effect from next week. The new firm will be known as BHSM LLP incorporating OBH Partners and will comprise 70 legal professionals, including 40 solicitors.

An Elvis-loving judge has agreed to resign from the bench after disciplinary action for taking his love of the King too far — including by wearing an Elvis wig in court. Judge Matthew Thornhill, from Missouri, said he was trying to "help relax litigants" through his light-hearted antics, but n

Scottish lawyers may be celebrating their national football team's success in the World Cup qualifiers, but are licking their wounds after their own bruising defeat by the Bar of Northern Ireland.

Plans to train judges in AI and digitalisation have been set out by the European Commission. The Commission yesterday launched its new digital justice package, which includes a strategy for helping member states "unlock the potential" of AI and digital tools in justice systems, as well as a new judi

UK government ministers will meet next month with the families of those killed in the 1994 Chinook helicopter disaster, who are campaigning for transparency and a judge-led public inquiry. A total of 29 service personnel died when the helicopter crashed on the Mull of Kintyre en route from Northern