Arthur Cox

Managing Partner: Lynsey Mallon

Chair: Catriona Gibson

Number of partners: 14

Number of other fee earners: 36

UK Offices: Belfast, London

International Offices: Dublin, New York, Silicon Valley

Contacts:

Banking & Finance: Stuart Mansfield, Colm McElroy

Banking Litigation/Financial Regulation: Catriona Gibson, David Black

Commercial Litigation: Catriona Gibson, Chris Ritchie, David Black

Commercial Property/Real Estate: Alastair Todd, Mark Jameson

Construction: Cahal Carvill, Chris Ritchie

Corporate/Commercial: Lynsey Mallon, Richard Armstrong

Dispute Resolution: Catriona Gibson, Chris Ritchie, David Black

Employment: Rosemary Lundy, Chris Fullerton

Energy: David White

Environment & Planning: Alastair Todd, Cahal Carvill

Insurance Litigation: Chris Ritchie

Insolvency & Restructuring: Stuart Mansfield, Catriona Gibson, Colm McElroy

Intellectual Property: Lynsey Mallon, David Black

Media: Lynsey Mallon

PFI/PPP/Projects: William Curry, Cahal Carvill

Public & Administrative Law: Rosemary Lundy, Chris Ritchie

Private Equity: Lynsey Mallon, Richard Armstrong

Procurement: William Curry

Sports Law: Lynsey Mallon

Telecoms: Lynsey Mallon, William Curry

Arthur Cox continues to set the standard for legal excellence in Northern Ireland, offering unparalleled expertise across a wide range of sectors. Its commitment to client service, innovative solutions, and cross-border capabilities ensures its continued premium position. The firm has a longstanding reputation for excellence across commercial law, M&A, banking and finance, projects and procurement, commercial property and construction, commercial and finance litigation, energy, employment, licensing and information rights.

Arthur Cox is at the forefront of legal developments helping a wide client base turn change into advantage and opportunity. Established in Dublin in 1920 the firm now has more than 600 partners and legal staff, with offices in London, New York and Silicon Valley.The Arthur Cox partnership in Belfast was established in 1996 and quickly gained a reputation for excellence, due to its breadth of expertise, national and international reach, and a client-focused approach that attracts both local and global clients. The firm’s authoritative reputation is based on proven professional skills, a thorough understanding of client requirements, sound judgement and a practical and sustainable approach to solving legal and commercial problems.

Banking & Finance

Arthur Cox is home to Northern Ireland’s largest and most experienced banking group, consistently ranked in the top tier of banking teams in the jurisdiction. The team is widely commended for its deep expertise in domestic and cross-border transactions, acting for leading banks, financial institutions, and borrowers. Clients praise the firm’s ability to handle complex, multi-jurisdictional matters with an international perspective, further consolidating its market-leading position.

Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Arthur Cox is the firm of choice for some of the most high-profile, sensitive, and complex disputes in Northern Ireland, trusted by major commercial and financial organisations. The firm’s litigation practice is consistently recognised for its breadth of expertise, including commercial litigation, insolvency disputes, and judicial reviews. Clients highlight the team’s strategic approach and success in managing high value, complex and contentious litigation.

Corporate/Commercial

Arthur Cox's corporate practice in Belfast is widely regarded for its market-leading expertise in mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, and cross-border transactions. The team regularly advises on high-profile, complex commercial deals, representing a range of prominent local and international clients. Known for its client service and technical expertise, the group plays a significant role in most of the large M&A transactions in Northern Ireland, offering seamless support for inward investment, cross-border and all-Ireland transactions.

Employment & Pensions

Arthur Cox provides comprehensive employment law advice, representing both private and public sector clients on matters ranging from discrimination and equal pay to fair employment and all aspects of termination disputes. The firm is particularly noted for its expertise in handling employment issues arising in M&A transactions, with clients valuing its practical and commercial advice in navigating these challenges.

Energy

Arthur Cox acts for major companies in both the public and private sectors within the energy industry, offering expert advice on financing, regulatory compliance, and energy market restructuring. The firm’s energy practice is highly regarded for its involvement in complex infrastructure and market transactions across Ireland, with clients benefitting from its robust understanding of the sector’s evolving legal landscape.

Insolvency & Restructuring

The insolvency and restructuring practice at Arthur Cox is a trusted advisor to insolvency practitioners, financial institutions, and corporate entities, providing full-service support on business rescue, reorganisations, and creditor disputes. The firm has a multi-disciplinary group of specialists who provide advice to insolvency professionals, funders, creditors and businesses across the various relevant areas of law.In Northern Ireland, it also acts extensively for international investment banks, lending banks, insolvency practitioners, national and international companies and individual creditors.

Intellectual Property

Arthur Cox’s intellectual property team stands out for its expertise in advising innovative companies and research organisations across Northern Ireland and internationally. The team is frequently sought after by US and European companies operating in Northern Ireland, Great Britain and Ireland. The firm continues to demonstrates a pragmatic, business-driven approach to managing IP portfolios, protecting rights, and resolving disputes in a wide array of sectors.

Media

The firm’s media practice is a leader in the jurisdiction, advising clients across the industry, including broadcasters, publishers, advertising agencies, record and talent companies, production companies, and telecommunications firms. Arthur Cox is known for its strong capabilities in media and entertainment law, with clients praising its strategic advice on content distribution, regulatory issues, and IP matters.

PFI/PPP/Projects & Construction

Arthur Cox is the market leader in advising on PFI/PPP and major infrastructure projects across Northern Ireland. The firm’s specialist projects team is the advisor of choice for the public sector, having played a pivotal role in numerous high-value infrastructure and ICT projects. Clients particularly value the group’s depth of expertise and practical solutions in navigating complex, multi-stakeholder projects.

Public & Administrative

Arthur Cox provides expert advice on a wide range of public and administrative law issues, representing both commercial and public sector clients. The group has earned a strong reputation for its work on high-profile judicial reviews and advising on matters such as data protection, freedom of information, and public law compliance.

Procurement

Arthur Cox’s procurement practice is unparalleled in Northern Ireland, with a dedicated practice advising on all aspects of public and utilities procurement law. The firm’s expertise in procurement litigation is particularly noteworthy, with clients recognising the team as the firm of choice for complex procurement disputes and regulatory advice.

Commercial Property / Real Estate & Environmental & Construction

The firm’s commercial property group is recognised as one of the leading practices in Northern Ireland, having advised on many of the jurisdiction’s most significant real estate transactions. With unrivalled experience of the local commercial property market, the practice acts for a wide range of clients, from private developers to public bodies. Having advised on most of the major commercial property projects of recent years the practice offers expertise across all areas of property law, environmental regulations, and construction projects.

Sports Law

Arthur Cox is the leading firm for sports law in Northern Ireland, advising on some of the jurisdiction’s largest and most complex sports infrastructure projects, including the redevelopment of Casement Park, Windsor Park, and Ravenhill. The group’s experience and understanding of the sports sector makes it the advisor of choice for key stakeholders, including governing bodies and public sector clients.

Telecoms

The Arthur Cox technology and communications group advises clients operating in technology industries and availing of technology services on all aspects of the law. With leading specialists in IT and communications law, intellectual property, privacy and data protection, outsourcing, e-commerce and m-commerce, media and entertainment law and gaming law, Arthur Cox offers comprehensive legal support for businesses and public sector bodies active in the sector.