Appointments

Solicitor Catherine Chambers has been appointed to the board of Northern Ireland's Education Authority (EA). Mrs Chambers has over 20 years' experience as a solicitor with specialist educational law experience, having worked as a partner in private practice and subsequently as a solicitor in the Edu

Brian Kennedy SC has been appointed as the inaugural chief adjudication officer of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC). Mr Kennedy has practised as a barrister in Ireland for over 27 years, having called to the Bar in 1997 and to the Inner Bar in 2012.

Ciarán Finn has been promoted to legal counsel at I-RES following the completion of his solicitor traineeship. Mr Finn began his traineeship with the Law Society of Ireland and I-RES general counsel Anna-Marie Curry in December 2022.

Lavelle Partners LLP has welcomed four new solicitors following the completion of their traineeships with the firm. Liam Tully, now a property solicitor, has a particular focus on the acquisition, disposal, leasing and financing of both commercial and residential property.

RDJ has welcomed nine newly-qualified solicitors following the completion of their traineeships with the firm. The new solicitors are Leah Moriarty, Ellie Moloney, Shane O'Connell, Leanne Connell, Evan Fitzgerald, Steve Scanlan, Daisy Magahy Buckley, Sophie Doyle and Annmarie Buckley.

BHSM LLP has appointed Keith Doyle as partner in the firm's commercial real estate department. Mr Doyle joined the firm in 2021 as a senior associate, having previously spent a number of years in the commercial real estate department of a major Dublin law firm.

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.

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.

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.

Lawyers Denise Hunt and Gemma McKeown are among a number of new appointments to the Probation Board for Northern Ireland. Ms Hunt is a qualified barrister with over 20 years' post-qualification experience. She owned and managed the Londonderry Arms Hotel in Carnlough from 2011 until her retirement i

International law firm Simmons & Simmons has hired Declan O'Sullivan as a partner in its Dublin funds practice. Mr O'Sullivan brings three decades of experience to the firm, which he is joining from the Dublin office of a US-headquartered international law firm.

Mason Hayes & Curran has appointed Gerard Kelly as co-head of the firm's dispute resolution practice alongside Maurice Phelan. Mr Kelly, who brings a wealth of experience in business-critical litigation and arbitration, will also continue as head of the business law firm's intellectual property

Raymond McEntee has been promoted to managing partner of US firm McEntee Law Group. Mr McEntee trained as a solicitor in Dublin before relocating to Chicago in 2014 to join the immigration law firm, which was founded in 2009 by his sister Fiona McEntee.

DLA Piper has appointed Chris Jessup as a partner in the firm's litigation and regulatory practice, specialising in financial services regulation. Mr Jessup will join DLA Piper in May 2025 from A&L Goodbody, where he was a partner and co-head of the fintech group, based in the firm's Belfast off

Squire Patton Boggs has promoted Dublin-based corporate lawyers Nessa McHugh and Ciara Downes. Ms McHugh has been promoted to senior associate while Ms Downes has been promoted to the rank of associate II.