Carson McDowell expands litigation practice with McCloskeys deal
Northern Ireland’s largest independent law firm Carson McDowell has bolstered its litigation practice by bringing an expert team of liability lawyers in from Belfast firm McCloskeys Solicitors.
Five lawyers specialising in insurance defence litigation and six support staff from McCloskeys have joined Carson McDowell. The firm now has 40 lawyers in its litigation team working across a number of disciplines, making it the largest litigation team in Northern Ireland.
Carson McDowell recently announced it had taken over another floor of its city centre office building Murray House to accommodate more than 30 new staff recruited over the past year at Partner, Associate, Solicitor and Trainee level. The company currently employs 133 staff, including 78 lawyers and expects to recruit for a further six jobs before the end of 2015.
McCloskeys, which will now become part of Carson McDowell, was formed in 1965 and is one of Northern Ireland’s leading defence litigation practices. It specialises in the defence of professional negligence claims in Northern Ireland and in defending insurance litigation claims brought against individuals, partnerships, companies and government bodies in Northern Ireland.
Michael Johnston, Managing Partner of Carson McDowell, said: “McCloskeys is a firm with an established pedigree in the professional indemnity field and we are delighted they are to become part of Carson McDowell. The solicitors who are joining us are at the top of their field, acting on behalf of London underwriters, blue chip insurance companies and local insurers.
He added: “Our expansion this year comes as a direct response to the increase in demand from our clients who are investing in their own growth, making acquisitions and moving into new markets. We are the law firm of choice for many of Northern Ireland’s Top 100 companies as well as international companies doing business here and as they grow and adapt so will Carson McDowell.”
Hugh McGrattan, head of Carson McDowell’s professional indemnity team and former partner of McCloskeys, said: “This group of solicitors who are joining Carson McDowell bolsters an already very strong litigation team and adds considerable expertise in professional indemnity and defence insurance litigation. McCloskey’s has developed specialist expertise over a number of years and will make a big contribution to the firm.”
