Appointments

Northern Ireland firm Tughans has announced 16 appointments, including the promotion of Nadine Brennan to partner in the firm's dispute resolution practice.

Lewis Silkin has appointed Olivia O’Kane as a partner to lead its specialist media law practice in both Belfast and Dublin. Ms O'Kane has over two decades of experience specialising in media disputes related to a wide range of complex media areas.

Gateley Legal Northern Ireland has welcomed newly-qualified solicitors Kate Adair and Paul Kerr to its Belfast office. Ms Adair has joined the construction team and Mr Kerr has joined the commercial dispute resolution team following the pair's completion of their two-year training contracts with the

Whitney Moore has appointed Sean Ryan as a partner in its corporate M&A and regulatory team and head of the firm's EU and competition group. Mr Ryan joins from Eversheds Sutherland, where he built a strong reputation for guiding clients through complex transactions and regulatory challenges.

Economist Geoffrey Gray has been appointed as a member of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC). Mr Gray will join fellow CCPC members Patrick Kenny and Úna Butler, as well as CCPC chairperson Brian McHugh, with effect from 19 January 2026.

Comyn Kelleher Tobin (CKT) has announced the appointments of Barry Kelleher and Conor White as partners and Patricia Finn as chief operating officer. Mr Kelleher, who has been promoted to partner in the litigation and healthcare teams, joined the firm as a trainee in 2013.

Matheson has recruited Marie McGinley as a partner in the firm's technology and innovation group, which she will lead from the beginning of next year. A recognised leader in the technology and data protection sector, Ms McGinley’s expertise is in technology regulation, including AI, outsourcin

McCann FitzGerald LLP has appointed Stephen Tallon as a partner in its corporate transactions group. Currently based in London, Mr Tallon will join the firm’s UK office later this year before relocating to Dublin in mid-2026.

Six people including lawyers Rose Wall and Patricia Munatsi-Mangwiza have been nominated for appointment to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. Sam Blanckensee, Professor Cathryn Costello, Adam Harris, Rosaleen McDonagh, Patricia Munatsi-Mangwiza and Rose Wall have been nominated by gove

Solicitor and former Tyrone GAA manager Feargal Logan has been named as the new ambassador of the Red Hand Business Club. The Red Hand Business Club brings together business leaders and professionals to support the development of Gaelic games in Tyrone.

EY Law Ireland has appointed Gina Aherne, Olga Dursun and Susan Walsh as directors.

The head of a Northern Ireland human rights group has been elected to the leadership of the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH). Daniel Holder, director of the Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ), is one of 15 vice-presidents elected to the global human rights body's interna

KOD Lyons managing partner John O’Doherty has been re-elected as vice-chair of the National Gallery of Ireland. Mr O'Doherty has served on the board since 2019 and was first elected as its vice-chair in 2023.

McCann FitzGerald LLP has named long-standing partner Brendan Murphy as the new leader of its corporate group. Since joining the firm nearly two decades ago as a trainee, Mr Murphy has built a distinguished career advising on mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments and disposals, altern

Shirley Coulter has been appointed as chief executive of the Bar of Ireland, taking up the post from February 2026. Ms Coulter, who rejoins the Bar from the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) where she has served as chief executive since 2020, succeeds Ciara Murphy following her planned d