Carson McDowell's team caters to prominent domestic and multinational clients, with experience in the full spectrum of employment law. The group has notable strength in contentious matters, particularly complex workplace investigations. Team lead Orlagh O’Neill has more than 20 years' experience in the practice area, and works for a diverse range of public and private sector clients. Rachel Penny, described by clients as being 'in a league of her own', is noted for her expertise in TUPE, restructuring, and senior executive recruitment, incentive, and severance arrangements. Sarah Cochrane, who is dual qualified in Northern Ireland and England and Wales, made partner in September 2022.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Carson McDowell are a pragmatic, customer driven legal firm with exceptional talent across all disciplines. They focus on relationship management, understanding the needs of the client to provide an exceptional level of quality and service.'
- 'Rachel Penny is in a league of her own. An exceptional legal mind coupled with pragmatism and a personality that is endearing. She is so focussed on the needs of the client that she has become like one of the family.'
Key clients
- The English Bar Offshore
- Translink
- Royal Mail Group Limited
- Queen’s University Belfast
- Ulster University
- Flybe
- AXA
- The Irish League of Credit Unions (via Axa)
- Lynas Foodservice Limited
- Omexom (Vinci Energies)
- Westland Horticulture Limited
- ESB / Electric Ireland
- Diageo PLC
- Currys PLC
- Santander PLC
- Davy Private Client
- British Medical Association
- SHS Group
- Eakin Healthcare Group
- Currys Group
Work highlights
- Advised Queen’s University Belfast on senior management restructuring, industrial action, the defence of numerous industrial and fair employment tribunal claims, a wide-ranging policy review, complex and sensitive investigations, whistleblowing allegations and disciplinary matters.
- Advised Bowmark Capital on the employment aspects of its investment in the Xperience Group.
- Advised SHS Group on restructuring/re-organisation projects which included collective consultation, redundancy obligations and changes to terms and conditions.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Hall of fameCarson McDowell
Rachel is a partner in the highly regarded employment team at Carson McDowell. Although she practices a broad range of non-contentious and contentious employment law, Rachel’s particular expertise is in providing clients with advice on strategic and advisory employment law matters, including sensitive investigations, executive appointment and termination, outsourcing transactions (particularly those involving the public sector), large scale ‘change management’ and redundancy programmes. Rachel is also known for her work on transactional employment matters, particularly acquisitions involving TUPE and trade union issues.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Carson McDowell
Sarah is a partner in the employment team advising clients on contentious and non-contentious aspects of employment law. She advises clients in a wide variety of industries across both the public and private sectors throughout the UK. Sarah regularly defends claims in the industrial and fair employment tribunal and advises clients on matters such as TUPE, restructuring, bullying and harassment, grievances and redundancy. Sarah also assists Carson McDowell’s corporate team in relation to the employment aspects of mergers and acquisitions.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Orlagh O’Neill