Employment, Immigration & Reward

Ciara is a partner in Lewis Silkin’s Employment, Immigration and Reward division based in Belfast where she manages the office and a growing employment team. Ciara is dual qualified and advises on all aspects of employment law in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

She has significant experience of advising clients on all manner of employment issues including complex disciplinary and grievance issues, bullying and harassment matters, equality matters, including equal pay claims, large scale redundancies and reorganisations as well as sensitive executive severances and enforcing restrictive covenants.

Ciara also advises on TUPE in the context of business transfers, insourcing and outsourcing and provide guidance and support to the HR team through the consultation process and on negotiating warranties and indemnities.

Ciara has particular expertise of advising on NI and ROI cross border matters and employment related litigation in both jurisdictions. She works with a variety of sectors and has particular experience in the construction and infrastructure sector.

Ciara regularly speaks on a range of employment issues at internal and external events and delivers bespoke training to clients on the differences between NI and ROI employment law.

Partner at Tughans for 8 years - 2007-2014

Partner and Head of employment at C & H Jefferson for 3 years - 2015-2017

Partner at DWF for 1 year - 2016-2017

Senior Partner at Jones Cassidy Brett for 4 years - 2017-2021

Partner and head of Belfast office at Lewis Silkin since August 2021

Member of the Employment Lawyers Group and was the first NI Representative for the Employment Lawyers Association from 2017. Member of Legally Able and a legally qualified chairperson of the Appeals Tribunals NI.