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.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Orlagh O'Neill provides bespoke legal services with particular emphasis on employment practices liability disputes for one particular account.’
‘Orlagh O'Neill is very engaging and always responds to any queries raised in a timely fashion. Orlagh has an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the insurance legal environment in Northern Ireland, and in particular Employment Practices Liability matters. Through active engagement with both the insured and insurers, Orlagh has successfully achieved a resolution on a number of cases.'
‘The service provided by Carson McDowell has been so good that I have not had to look else where. The wealth and depth of experience of the people within Carson McDowell, together with the to the point advice.’
‘Rachel Penny is easy to get hold off, quickly understands the query at hand, and will set out a clear pathway of how to deal with the query.’
‘All outstanding, but Orlagh O'Neill is the star’
‘Enthusiastic, confident, strong professional knowledge, clear advice and very responsive.’
‘The team at Carson McDowell have come alongside us to understand our business, our sector and our ethos and have become a critical partner is the achievement of our objectives. The company works with us to deliver pragmatic solutions rather than just interpreting the legal position.’
‘I have dealt with Orlagh O’Neill over many years and have received sound legal advice and support to navigate and overcome complex issues. Orlagh's interpersonal skills and reliability augmented with a practical and pragmatic approach are highly valued.’
Key clients
- 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
- Santander PLC
- Davy Private Client
- British Medical Association
- SHS Group
- Eakin Healthcare Group
- Currys Group
- TJX UK Limited
- Hovis Limited
- Mitie Group
- Paypal UK Limited
- Glan Agua (UK) Limited
- Countrywide Freight Group Limited
Work highlights
- Acted as legal advisors to William Fry LLP in connection with the sale of Liberty Mutual’s businesses in Ireland, Spain and Portugal to Italian insurance company, Generali.
- Provided employment advice to Ardeelin Holdings Ltd in respect of its acquisition of 25.1% of the issued share capital of Instil Software Limited.
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Practice head
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Orlagh O’Neill