Eversheds Sutherland caters to a high profile roster of major clients, including PayPal, Sky UK, and Sportsdirect. Team lead Ian McFarland specialises in redundancy processes, with additional expertise in TUPE, and employment aspects of commercial transactions. McFarland joined the group from Elliott Duffy Garrett in January 2023. Associate Laura McManus has particular strength in contentious issues, and acts as the group’s primary point of contact for tribunal matters in the jurisdiction.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'The team offer pragmatic and commercially minded legal advice, quickly and efficiently. We sometimes find it frustrating that some law firms do not match our pace and expected delivery timelines, but Eversheds Belfast consistently delivers.'
  • 'Laura McManus offers expert legal advice, can work to tight timelines and is readily available.'
  • 'There is a personal element to the service and flexibility to look beyond straight forward advice and move into business solutions.'
  • 'Really professional and flexible.'
  • 'Laura McManus has been a profound professional throughout all dealings.'

Key clients

  • Aviva
  • BA Kitchen Components
  • Brinks Cash Ireland Limited
  • Capita Business Services Limited
  • CDE Global Limited
  • Countrywide Freight Logistics Limited
  • Crown Packaging
  • DFS
  • Edgewater Contracts
  • EshopWorld
  • Expedia
  • Global Pay
  • GXO Logistics
  • Hannon Transport Limited
  • ITW Limited
  • Johnson Controls
  • Kestrel Thermoplastics Limited (client for 10 years)
  • Kingfisher plc – B&Q (client for 5 years)
  • Kingspan Water & Energy Limited (client for 6 years)
  • Lloyds Banking Group
  • Marks & Spencer plc (client for 9 years)
  • Mediahuis
  • Northern Ireland Hospice
  • PayPal
  • Riggotts
  • Sky UK (client for 17 years)
  • Specsavers
  • Sportsdirect
  • Statsports Group Limited
  • Sysco (formally Brakes / Pallas Foods)
  • Walsin Limited
  • Westrock
  • Whitemountain Quarries Limited

Work highlights

  • Represented CDE Global Limited in seeking an emergency interim injunction to prevent an employee joining a direct competitor.
  • Advising a multinational corporation in defending a claim for unfair dismissal and age discrimination, including an appeal to the Court of Appeal and tailored advice regarding DSAR and legal/litigation privilege.
  • Advised a private equity consortium on all employment aspects relating to a majority share purchase in a group of NI recycling businesses.

Lawyers

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Ian McFarland

Other key lawyers

Laura McManus