News

BHSM LLP has welcomed Hannah Kenny and Jessica Russell as newly-qualified solicitors following the completion of their training with the firm. Ms Kenny has joined the firm's real estate department, while Ms Russell has been appointed to the firm's corporate department.

Greenpeace has been ordered to pay $660 million in damages to an oil and gas company following US legal proceedings that the environmental group has described as a "meritless SLAPP". Texas-based company Energy Transfer accused Greenpeace of defamation and orchestrating criminal behaviour in relation

A judge has drawn criticism from his colleagues after filming a video of him loading several guns in his judicial chambers which he then attached to a dissenting judgment. The nearly 20-minute long video was posted to YouTube by the American judge as he dissented from a ruling upholding a California

The Law Society and Bar Council of Northern Ireland have joined international condemnation of the Trump administration's attacks on lawyers in the US and internationally. A joint statement issued this week says US sanctions on International Criminal Court (ICC) personnel and their families "constitu

A new charter has been launched to assist with court cases in Northern Ireland where one party is a litigant in person (LIP). The Law Society of Northern Ireland, Ulster University and the Litigant in Person Reference Group collaborated to create the new charter, which is designed to assist lawyers,

Ryanair has initiated a private criminal prosecution in the Spanish courts against a passenger who allegedly disrupted a flight while claiming to be a UN diplomat. The Irish airline has accused the passenger of causing a 40-minute departure delay to the flight FR2001 from Lanzaro to Santiago on 17 J

A new Ministerial Council on National Security has been established. The new council, chaired by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, will review strategic developments in Ireland's national security, and consider reports on national and international security.

The Council of Europe's secretary general, Alain Berset, has called for further efforts to implement judgments from the European Court of Human Rights. The annual report for 2024 on the execution of the court’s rulings from the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers shows that 992 ca

A former subpostmaster caught in the Horizon scandal is taking legal action in England against the Post Office and Fujitsu. Lee Castleton is the first person to sue both organisations following the biggest miscarriage of justice in UK legal history.

Belfast-based Phoenix Law has promoted Elaine Gormley to the position of chief operating officer. Ms Gormley, who joined the firm as a litigation manager in January 2020, brings over 15 years of experience in the legal sector, managing complex legal cases and leading litigation teams.

An innovative blood drive is offering free cannabis in exchange for donations. The latest in a series of "Bleed for Weed" events is taking place this weekend in Freeport, Illinois, where cannabis is legal for both medicinal and recreational use.

The Law Society of Ireland's director of representation and member services, Teri Kelly, has been appointed to the national leadership of the Public Relations Institute of Ireland (PRII). Ms Kelly has over 25 years' experience in the technology, energy, legal and financial services sectors.

The OUTLaw Network's first event of the year will take place next week to mark International Transgender Day of Visibility. Orla Hubbard and Miah Phelan Sweeny were recently appointed as co-chairs of the OUTLaw Network, which is dedicated to promoting and fostering the inclusion of LGBT+ indivi

Belfast firm O'Reilly Stewart has named NI Hospice as its charity partner for 2025. The firm will take part in fundraising initiatives throughout the year, including a number of relay teams taking part in the Belfast Marathon, an Easter bonnet competition, an annual Christmas tree decorating competi

The Bar of Northern Ireland has named Dementia NI as its charity partner for 2025.