Northern Ireland

Human rights protections came under severe strain in Northern Ireland during 2025, according to Amnesty International’s annual report, The State of the World’s Human Rights, published today.  Legacy issues, unlawful PSNI surveillance, attacks on press freedom and record levels of ra

Cleaver Fulton Rankin director Sinead Stewart has been presented with the Professional Services Excellence award at the Women in Business NI Awards 2026. The award recognises women who consistently exceed expectations in a professional services environment.

JMK Solicitors has been ranked as Northern Ireland's most active personal injury law firm for a 12th consecutive year. The latest figures from the compensation recovery unit (CRU) within the Department for Communities show that JMK managed 2,414 cases in 2025, more than any other firm.

District judges in Northern Ireland are set to be given power to impose fines of up to £50,000 for water pollution offences. Northern Ireland's Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has published responses to two separate policy consultations which will inform the dr

Tughans lawyer Aoife Murray has been appointed as chair of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Northern Ireland Young Planners Committee. The committee supports early career planners across Northern Ireland through professional development, networking and knowledge‑sharing initiatives.

Another bespoke facility designed to ensure vulnerable witnesses do not come face-to-face with defendants in the Northern Ireland courts has been officially opened. The new remote evidence centre (REC) in Craigavon will complement and enhance the services already available to assist and support vuln

Law Centre NI's head of social security, Owen McCloskey, has been appointed to the UK government's Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC). Mr McCloskey, a practising solicitor specialising in social security law, leads a dedicated team at Law Centre NI which provides vital legal advice and repres

Solicitor Fiona Derry has been appointed to the board of Invest NI. Ms Derry is co-owner and director of legal, compliance and HR at Derry Group Ireland, which operates north and south of the border with a footprint in Armagh, Dublin and Cork.

Northern Ireland firm Carson McDowell has been shortlisted for the top legal prize at the British Business Awards 2026.

A second group of Northern Ireland solicitors have completed a course designed to provide practitioners with the necessary skills to work effectively with vulnerable individuals in all legal settings.

Belfast-based Elliotts Legal has promoted John McElrone and Keara Powell to partner. Mr McElrone yesterday became a partner in the firm's corporate and banking department, while Ms Powell became partner in the litigation and dispute resolution department.

Northern Ireland barrister Ronan Lavery KC has joined 23es Chambers as a door tenant. Mr Lavery has been practising as a barrister for 33 years, 15 of which have been in Silk. His fields of practice are "unusually diverse which demonstrate his versatility and experience as an advocate", 23es said.

Rosemary Connolly, one of Northern Ireland's leading employment lawyers, has retired after 42 years of practice.

Pinsent Masons has promoted Anna Flanagan to partner and Sarah-Louise Baird and Jennifer Lee to legal directors in its Belfast office. Ms Flanagan is an information law expert, while Ms Baird is an all-Ireland energy expert and Ms Lee is a construction advisory and disputes lawyer.

Northern Ireland firm Mills Selig has announced a "strategic partnership" with Hospitality Ulster, the membership organisation for Northern Ireland's hospitality industry. The Belfast-based independent commercial law firm said the collaboration will strengthen its support for the region's hospitalit