Carson McDowell's exceptional lawyers highlighted in legal rankings.

Lawyers at Carson McDowell are pleased to receive top honours in the 2024 Legal 500 rankings for 8th consecutive year.

Overall, 38 of the firm's lawyers have been recognised among the leaders in their respective practice areas, of which:

• 11 are listed in The Legal 500 Hall of Fame which distinguishes individuals who are widely recognised for continued excellence and highly praised by clients. Four Carson McDowell Partners have been added to the Hall of Fame this year - Dawn McKnight, Commercial, who was praised for being ‘methodical, approachable and clear’; Stuart Murphy, Construction, described as ‘very experienced’; Rachel Penny, Employment, defined as ‘An exceptional legal mind coupled with pragmatism and a personality that is endearing’ and Roger McMillan, Managing Partner and Head of Healthcare joins his colleagues in the hall and is noted as ‘very well regarded and one of the leading lawyers in this area of practice’.

• 9 lawyers achieved ‘Leading Individual’ status thanks to their strong market-leading position, long-established reputation in their field, as well as exceptional, widespread endorsement from clients and peers. Partners Hilary Griffith, Emma Cooper, Dawson McConkey, Gerard Armstrong, Jacqueline McAleese, Darren Toombs, and Dawn McKnight continue to be awarded this status with the addition of Peter Guzhar, Intellectual Property and Grant McBurney, Planning and Environmental, this year.

• Corporate Partner Paul McGuickin and Employment Partner Sarah Cochrane join Partners Catherine Carton, Chris Phillips, and John Dugdale on the Next Generation Partners list, with 5 senior lawyers recognised as Rising Stars.

Of these exceptional lawyer rankings, 28% are new or improved rankings. An extensive list of Carson McDowell’s lawyer rankings, recommendations and mentions is available here.

Commenting on the team’s strong performance, Roger McMillan, Managing Partner, said,

“I am very proud to see our team secure continued recognition in The Legal 500 directory, and a particular congratulations goes to those colleagues who have been individually named for their efforts in delivering expert legal advice in their fields. Such significant results confirm Carson McDowell’s continuous commitment to attracting and advancing top talent and is testament of the quality of our work and the strength and depth of our specialist expertise.”

The Legal 500 directory is an extensive legal referral guide. The rankings are published annually based on clients' independent opinions and in-depth research conducted by an experienced team of editors. Along with individual lawyers' exceptional performance, Carson McDowell achieved the top ‘Tier 1’ ranking in 11 practice areas in the 2024 edition, continuing to outrank all other Northern Irish law firms. The firm is also home to the only Northern Ireland Planning and Environmental legal team to receive the prestigious ‘Tier 1’ ranking for the fourth consecutive year.

"Thanks to our exceptional team of lawyers Carson McDowell continues to go from strength to strength, providing a premium service and advising our clients on important strategic transactions throughout the region and farther afield," said Neasa Quigley, Senior Partner. "This recognition reflects our market-leading capabilities and further solidifies our position as the leading law firm in Northern Ireland. I am very grateful to all our clients and referees who took the time to participate in the research and provide such positive feedback and testimonials.”