DEPARTMENT PROFILE

Carson McDowell

Real Estate

4 ranked lawyers

Band 1

Northern Ireland

UK 2022 View ranking table

chambers review

department information

Ranked Lawyers

Chambers Review

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What the team is known for

Represents a number of blue-chip clients on the full gamut of property transactions. Possesses expertise in relation to acquisitions and sales, as well as site assembly and licensing matters. Regularly offers expert advice to clients in the energy, transport, retail and leisure sectors. Frequently acts for vendors, purchasers and funders on real estate transactions.

Strengths

A client says: "We have had a very good experience working with the firm. Even during remote working their responsiveness has been seamless, and the work that they do is excellent."

Work highlights

Advised Belfast Harbour Commissioners on the disposal of Amazon's Northern Irish logistics base for £27 million.

Notable practitioners

Dawson McConkey heads the firm's real estate department and has a broad commercial practice with particular focus on investment transactions. He also has specialist expertise in the energy sector and related property matters.
"He is insightful, responsive and can easily identify issues and provide clear advice on them." "He has very good commercial acumen."

Emma Cooper regularly acts for investors and developers on significant acquisitions and site assembly matters. Her clients span both the public and private sectors.
"She is astute, knowledgeable and very good at communicating on behalf of her clients."

Richard Dickson is head of the firm's commercial property department. He is noted for his ability to advise clients on developments in the retail sector.

Rosemary Carson is a consultant with the firm and an experienced practitioner in the real estate field. She has notable expertise in the retail sector, particularly on development and site assembly matters.
"Rosemary is a very strong real estate lawyer." "She is fantastic."

Department Information

This content is provided by Carson McDowell.

Overview

Carson McDowell has the largest, most experienced real estate team in Northern Ireland. All our long-term partners are ranked by Chambers as leaders in their field, a distinction which no other local firm enjoys. We also benefit from more specialist sub-teams than our competitors, including licensing, planning, construction and property litigation. Thanks to the experience and diverse range of skills within the team we are able to handle large and complex transactions efficiently and speedily.

Our main specialities are:

High Level Investment Transactions – the team has been involved in most major transactions within NI in recent years, whether acting for vendor, purchaser or funder
Site Assembly & Development Work – we offer a full service from site assembly onwards, drawing on the expertise of our planning and environmental and construction teams to provide a “one stop shop” service
Retail Sector – Carson McDowell’s experience in this sector is unrivalled, acting for the landlords of many shopping centres and retail parks and an ever-growing stable of retail tenants
Energy Sector - we have some of the most experienced property lawyers involved in the sector, enabling us to service some of the most active energy clients working in the province across AD, biomass, solar, wind and emerging technologies
Leisure/Food and Drink and Transport sectors – we act for a wide range of key players in these sectors

Carson McDowell was the Legal 500 Law Firm of the Year in 2014 and 2017.