In Brief - February 2009 - March 2009

In Brief – February 2009

In this issue, we have included articles on a number of topical issues which we hope will be of interest to you.  Michael McCord addresses the subject of dilapidations, Ciara Dooris and Sharon McArdle look at recent developments in employment law and Fearghal O’Loan reviews the recent changes in the law relating to financial assistance.  Details of several transactions and events with which we have been involved are also included.

A very pleasing recent development in the latter half of 2008 was the firm’s high ranking in recently published, independently researched, legal directories – the Legal 500, UK Edition and in Chambers UK, a client’s guide to the UK legal profession. In the Legal 500, we received Band 1 rankings for our four main practice areas and in Chambers we were ranked in the highest band, Tier 1, in a total of eight practice areas. Sixteen members of staff were also noted in Chambers as being ‘leading individuals’ including five in our Corporate team.

On the subject of individual solicitors, I would also like to introduce you to some new members of staff who joined the practice over the Summer and start of the Autumn 2008 namely; Fionnuala Flanagan (Associate Solicitor, Property), James Pringle (Partner, Property), Gareth McCay (Associate Solicitor, Employment) and finally, Peter McGrath (Associate Solicitor, Commercial Litigation). Individual profiles are included on the final page of this newsletter.

As at previous Christmases, we chose to make a donation to charity in 2008.  Our two charities were The Lord’s Taverners (www.lordstaverners.org), with our contribution providing a specialized wheelchair to assist the charity with its transportation needs and Water is Life (www.waterislifeint.org), an international charity set up to provide fresh drinking water for villages and communities throughout Africa.  Staff were again very generous in their support of the annual Family Appeal with a total of 31 food hampers and numerous toys and gifts having been donated to St Vincent de Paul and The Salvation Army for distribution to those in need in our community.

Finally, may I take this opportunity to thank you for your business throughout the past year and to wish you and your colleagues every happiness and continuing success in 2009.  

Click here to download a copy of In Brief - February 2009.

Grahame Loughlin
Senior Partner