ByrneWallace LLP is proud to announce the appointment of four new partners within the firm’s Employment Law, Tax, Banking and Finance, and Health and Social Care practices.
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Joining the firm as Employment Law Partner, Suzanne Keenan has a wealth of employment law experience having practised employment law in Northern Ireland for over 12 years.
Suzanne advises clients on best practice in employment law to safeguard business reputation, improve retention rates and minimise the risks of litigation. She advises on the full spectrum of employment matters, and with a strong background in litigation, Suzanne is well positioned to represent clients in employment disputes in courts and employment fora.
A renowned lawyer in her field, Suzanne has been honoured over the years as a finalist for a number of industry awards including Inspirational Women in Law Awards (UK) 2017, Professional Services (Small business) – Women in Business Awards (NI) 2019, and Professional Services (Corporate) – Women in Business Awards (NI) 2023.
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Andrew Feighery has joined the firm as Partner and Head of Tax Compliance.
Andrew has a broad advisory practice, working across a diverse range of sectors, with deep specialisms in family and owner-managed businesses (including wealth protection and transference of wealth over time), property and related financing activities, and inbound/onward investment structures.
He also has particular expertise advising on Irish Revenue interventions, and specialises in strategic tax planning across multiple tax heads and ensuring timely compliance under all tax heads for ByrneWallace clients.
Prior to joining ByrneWallace LLP, Andrew held the government appointed position of Tax Appeals Commissioner where he managed and adjudicated upon numerous taxation appeals across all taxation heads.
A fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, and a member of the Irish Taxation Institute, Andrew is a qualified barrister in Ireland, the UK and Northern Ireland, and has practised at the Bar of Ireland from 2014 to 2022 specialising in taxation and corporate matters representing clients before tribunals and the Superior Courts.
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Newly promoted Banking and Finance Partner Karen Outram joined ByrneWallace LLP a decade ago.
Karen has extensive experience advising a variety of domestic and international financial institutions, credit servicers, public bodies and investment funds/ICAVs on finance transactions across a wide range of sectors.
Her areas of expertise include corporate financing (both borrower and lender sides), project finance, acquisition finance, real estate finance and structured finance and she has significant experience in managing complex multi-jurisdictional high-value transactions.
Karen has a particular focus on green and sustainable finance and renewable energy finance, and has a keen interest in other environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives. Her experience includes advising on one of the first green loans in Ireland which was used to finance the construction of a sustainable distribution centre.
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Partner Louise McDarby has joined the firm’s Health and Social Care team.
Louise has over 16 years’ experience advising in the area of child care law, at District, Circuit, and High Court level.
She advises the Child and Family Agency in respect of its statutory obligations under the Child Care Act 1991, and has also acted for Respondent parents and guardians Ad Litem in child care proceedings. This has given her all-round experience of this sensitive and nuanced area of law.
Louise has brought applications for wardship and secure care orders in the High Court and has successfully defended Judicial Review proceedings.
She also has extensive experience in the areas of complex child care and healthcare litigation, medical negligence litigation, child mental health law, judicial review, public law, court advocacy and alternative dispute resolution. She utilises her strong negotiation skills to resolve complicated cases and obviate the need for protracted applications before the Courts.
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Commenting on these new appointments, Managing Partner Feargal Brennan said, “As a full service law firm, ByrneWallace LLP’s long-term strategy continues to focus on strengthening and developing our broad range of specialist services, and supporting our clients with the myriad of issues they face in this ever-changing legal market.
“2024 has been another busy year for all our practice areas with particularly strong demand for advices in employment law, tax, banking and finance, and health and social care. These appointments reflect our continued growth.
“Suzanne, Andrew, Karen and Louise have a wealth of knowledge and experience within their specialist fields. We are looking forward to working with them and drawing upon their in-depth expertise.
“On behalf of my colleagues, I would like to congratulate them on their appointments. I wish them every success in their new roles.”