The A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland LLP employment team offers strong services spanning the whole range of employment law, including tribunal cases, internal investigations, and immigration matters. With the firm’s all-Ireland presence and strong relationships with London law firms, the practice has built up a strong international client list. The ‘exceptional’ Gareth Walls leads the practice. Walls is a CEDR qualified mediator and looks after an extensive portfolio of financial services clients. Aisling Byrne specialises in data protection. Of counsel Shirley Blair often defends employers in tribunals concerning discrimination. At the associate level, Rob Tubman is a key contact for corporate immigration work, while Johanna Cunningham supports the practice on the full range of employment issues, including employment aspects of acquisitions.

The employment team at Carson McDowell provides a wide range of contentious and non-contentious advice for some of Northern Ireland’s leading employers, including the Royal Mail Group and Queen’s University Belfast. The team is led by Orlagh O’Neill, who is praised for her ‘in-depth knowledge and understanding’ of the insurance market. Rachel Penny particularly excels in TUPE and handling senior executive benefits and compensations, while Sarah Cochrane provides strategic and corporate employment advice to some of the firm’s largest employment clients. Associate Hannah McGrath provides employment support on various M&A transactions.

Lewis Silkin has established itself in Belfast following the 2021 takeover of Jones Cassidy Brett. The employment, immigration and reward team offers a full spectrum of employment work to large employers, like Uniqlo, ASOS, and Kainos. Ciara Fulton heads the team; she is well experienced in complex disciplinary actions and employment related litigations. Paul Gillen, tri-qualified in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and England and Wales, advises clients on DEI strategy and litigations, whereas Adam Brett is particularly adept at handling industrial relations and union work. Associate Kevin Gallagher regularly supports the team in defending employers in industrial tribunals.

The employment and pensions team at Arthur Cox Belfast has a long track record of in providing clients with advice regarding senior terminations, departures, employee relations, and employment-related matters arising from M&A transactions. Practice head Rosemary Lundy has over thirty years of experience in defending clients in employment tribunals and court cases. Chris Fullerton supports Lundy on various litigations, including matters of unfair dismissal, breaches of working time, and unlawful deduction from wages. At the associate level, Madison Bowyer is a key individual to note.

Cleaver Fulton Rankin handles a wide range of contentious and non-contentious employment matters, with a particular strength in M&A support and immigration matters. The ‘excellent practitioner’ Michael Black regularly advises both private and public clients on all aspects of discrimination law and provides assistance on disciplinary processes and dismissal of employees. Suzanne Keenan is experienced in providing training to employers on both contentious and non-contentious matters, including redundancy, unfair dismissal, and contracts and handbooks.

The ‘dedicated’ employment team at Elliott Duffy Garrett is well-equipped to provide advice to clients in a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, retail, and construction, among others. Practice head Adrienne Brock is an ‘exceptional’ practitioner who often advises clients concerning breach of contract and discrimination litigation, while also working with the firm’s corporate department on the employment aspects of corporate transactions. Meanwhile, Julie Anne Clarke is experienced in a wide range of matters, including TUPE, union recognition, and harassment.

The employment team at Eversheds Sutherland is active across a wide variety of both contentious and non-contentious matters. The ‘extremely accommodating’ Ian McFarland heads the team. McFarland and associate Laura McManus both frequently represent large employers in the financial services, retail, and manufacturing industries in tribunal claims, as well as advising on non-contentious matters. The Belfast office often collaborates with the wider firm’s offices in London, Dublin, and Cambridge - and further afield - on the employment aspects of high value corporate transactions.

The Pinsent Masons Belfast LLP employment team is well-versed in offering businesses high-level employment-related corporate support. Craig Patterson leads the practice and looks after corporate clients on the employment aspects of various acquisitions and corporate restructuring transactions. On the contentious side, the practice is capable of dealing with both executive and employee disputes, which involve whistleblowing and discrimination allegations. Andrea Hewitt-Sims and associate Rubymarie Rice often supports Patterson on both contentious and non-contentious matters.

Based in Warrenpoint, Rosemary Connolly Solicitors Limited and its practice head, Rosemary Connolly, are well-known for their claimant focused employment litigation practice which caters to high value individuals and small to medium companies. Connolly frequently represents claimants in court, tribunal, and mediation concerning matters such as discrimination and commercial mediation. Meanwhile, solicitor Leanne Murphy handles commercial advice for small to medium enterprises, including drafting share purchase transactions, drafting of shareholder agreements, and employment contracts.

The ‘readily available and responsive’ Tughans employment team collaborates well with their market-leading corporate practice to provide clients with extensive employment support during M&A transactions. The ‘solution-focussed and commercial’ Patricia Rooney leads the team and specialises in TUPE and outsourcing matters. Rejoining the firm from Lewis Silkin in October 2023, legal director Jack Balmer frequently represents employers in employment tribunals. Associate Emma Doherty provides support on various employment related disputes.

The ‘extremely knowledgeable’ employment team at Worthingtons regularly represents small to medium businesses at employment tribunals. The practice also often acts as panel solicitors for legal expense insurance companies regarding employment advice. The ‘outstanding' Louise McAloon leads the team and has strong experience in defending industrial tribunal claims, while partner Toni Fitzgerald Gunn often acts for private and local government employers on disciplinary matters, whistleblowing investigations, and union negotiations.

Millar McCall Wylie LLP provides clients with both contentious and non-contentious employment advice, including the provision of training to corporate clients. Jan Cunningham, the head of the department, specialises in representing respondents at employment tribunal negotiations, and is highly regarded for his expertise in sporting law. David Mitchell, associate director, focuses on unfair dismissal and discrimination law, providing guidance on employment aspects of corporate transactions.