News

Insurance risk and commercial law specialist firm BLM has announced a series of promotions across its Belfast and Derry offices as part of a promotions round across Britain and Ireland. Rachel Keenan has been promoted to partner in Belfast, while Andrew McCorry and Rory Potter in Belfast and James K

Three new commissioners have joined the Law Reform Commission for a five-year term. The new commissioners are Mr Justice Maurice Collins of the Court of Appeal, Mr Justice Richard Humphreys of the High Court and Dr Andrea Mulligan, a barrister and assistant professor of law at Trinity College Dublin

A review of Ireland's spent convictions regime, which is likely to lead to the broadening of the range of convictions that are considered spent, has begun with the launch of a government consultation. The consultation, launched by Justice Minister Helen McEntee yesterday, invites views on issues suc

Fresh cuts to legal aid for international protection applications will further limit access to justice for vulnerable people, lawyers have warned. The new legal aid scheme includes dramatic cuts, such as reducing the fee for preparing submissions for an application by 58 per cent from €730 to &

Legislation intended to safeguard records from the commission of investigation into mother and baby homes has been approved by ministers. Children's Minister Roderic O'Gorman yesterday received government approval for the text of the Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain rel

Fiona Ryan has been appointed as Commissioner for Survivors of Institutional Childhood Abuse (COSICA) for a five-year term beginning in December. The establishment of the new independent office fulfils one of the recommendations of the inquiry chaired by the late Sir Anthony Hart, which was publishe

Ronan Hynes, partner at Sellors LLP, considers the accelerated growth of litigation technology arising out of Covid-19. The recent call for action by the Restaurants Association of Ireland to deal with commercial landlords (some of whom continue to charge their tenants full rent rates during the Cov

In the third of his articles on free speech, Benjamin Bestgen stresses that freedom of expression must be examined in context. See his last piece here. In many societies worldwide, people need to be cautious with their personal expressions, be it through speech, fashion, lifestyle choices, hobbies o

Female interns at the International Criminal Court (ICC) are "particularly vulnerable" to unwanted sexual advances from senior male staff, according to an independent report. The expert review of the court found "many accounts" of bullying and harassment at the ICC and an absence of mechanisms

Lawyer, pro-democracy campaigner and avid civil rights activist Hina Jilani is the recipient of the 2020 Stockholm Human Rights Award – bestowed annually by the Swedish Bar Association, the International Bar Association (IBA) and the International Legal Assistance Consortium. Ms Jilani grew up

A gynaecologist who worked at a Dutch hospital fathered at least 17 children using his own sperm and without telling the parents, it has emerged. Jan Wildschut, who has since died, worked at Isala Hospital in the city of Zwolle between 1981 and 1993.

The High Court has held that a ward is not entitled to a costs order against the Health Service Executive (HSE). Background

International law firm DAC Beachcroft has announced the appointment of five insurance partners in Belfast, all joining from rival firm BLM. The appointment of Peter Campbell, Fintan Canavan, Alison Cassidy, Paul McAllister and Aine Tyrell significantly increases the firm's footprint in Northern Irel

Embattled Supreme Court judge Mr Justice Séamus Woulfe met three of his judicial colleagues last Friday to discuss the consequences of the Denham report, it has emerged. In a report published last Thursday, former chief justice Susan Denham said Mr Justice Woulfe should not have attended a co

Specialist law firm Beale & Co has announced the promotion of insurance defence lawyer Seán O'Halloran to associate in its Dublin office. Mr O'Halloran, who joined the firm's employer liability and public liability team last October, specialises in insurance defence work for both insurers