THE Belfast legal practice embroiled in the Nama northern portfolio sale scandal has been described as a "stand-out firm" in the latest Legal 500, which rates the world's top law firms, solicitors and barristers.
Tughans, the north's largest independent law firm, is named as one of six "regional heavyweights" within the annual global guide, and 10 of its solicitors were chosen as star individual performers over the past year.
The Legal 500 directory is an independent series acknowledged as the world’s largest legal referral guide. More than four million users visit its website each year, where firms and individuals are recommended purely on merit.
Published annually, the rankings are based on the independent opinions of clients and in-depth research carried out by an experienced team of editors.
The glowing citations come as Ian Coulter, a former managing partner at Tughans, tendered his resignation as authorities probe the circumstances around the £1.3 billion sale of Nama's assets to Cerberus and claims by Independent TD Mick Wallace that a £7m offshore account linked to the northern deal was earmarked for a third party.
Tughans joins A&L Goodbody, Arthur Cox, Carson McDowell, Cleaver Fulton Rankin and Pinsent Mason among the north's highest-ranked firms.
Of the 14 categories reviewed, Carson McDowell was recommended in them all, while 23 of the firm’s lawyers received individual recommendations.
Its managing partner Michael Johnston, who was individually named in two categories, said: “We are proud to be featured once more as a regional heavyweight in the Legal 500 series.
"We have consistently achieved top tier status for the last 7 years and 11 of our partners have been individually named as outstanding in their fields of expertise..”
The full list of leading individuals in Northern Ireland as ranked by the Legal 500 is:
:: Banking & finance - Tom Adair, Carson McDowell; Angus Creed, John McKee Solicitors; Stephen Cross, Cleaver Fulton Rankin (CFR), Avril McCammon, John McKee; Kieran Mcgarrigle, Arthur Cox; Sinead Mcgrath, Carson McDowell; Kevin McVeigh, Elliott Duffy Garrett; Fearghal O'Loan, Tughans.
:: Commercial property - Phyllis Agnew, Tughans; Kathryn Collie, CFR; Jeremy Hill, Carson McDowell; Jim Houston, CFR; Peter McCall, Millar McCall Wylie; John Mills, Tughans; Tracey Schofield, Tughans; Mark Tinman, C&H Jefferson; Rowan White, Arthur Cox.
:: Construction - Sam Beckett, Pinsent Masons; Michael McCord, Tughans; Andrea Mcilroy-Rose, Pinsent Masons.
:: Corporate and M&A - Alan Bissett, Arthur Cox; Stephen Cross, CFR; Richard Gray, Carson McDowell; Michael Johnston, Carson McDowell; Paul McBride, Pinsent Masons; Kevin McVeigh, Elliott Duffy Garrett; Neasa Quigley, Carson McDowell; Peter Stafford, A&L Goodbody; Alan Taylor, Arthur Cox; Mark Thompson, A&L Goodbody; John-George Willis, Tughans.
:: Dispute resolution - Sam Beckett, Pinsent Masons; Brendan Fox, A&L Goodbody; Catriona Gibson, Arthur Cox; Gareth Jones, C & H Jefferson; David Kirkpatrick, Pinsent Masons; Declan Magee, Carson McDowell; Michael McCord, Tughans; Paul Spring, Mills Selig; Amanda Wylie, Kennedys.
:: EU and competition - Micaela Diver, A&L Goodbody; Dorit McCann, Carson McDowell.
:: Employment - Anna Beggan, Tughans; Adam Brett, Jones Cassidy Brett Solicitors; Rosemary Connolly, Rosemary Connolly Solicitors; Beverley Jones, Jones Cassidy Brett; Orlagh O'Neill, Carson McDowell.
:: Energy - Alan Bissett, Arthur Cox; Stephen Cross, CFR; Richard Murphy, Pinsent Masons; Mark Thompson, A&L Goodbody.
:: IT and telecoms - Paul McBride, Pinsent Masons; Adrian O'Connell, Tughans.
:: Insolvency and corporate recovery - Jeanette Donohoe, CFR; John Gordon, Napier & Sons; John Kearns, Mills Selig; Kieran Mcgarrigle, Arthur Cox; Toby McMurray, Tughans; Michael Neill, A&L Goodbody.
:: Intellectual property - Paul McBride, Pinsent Masons; Paul Spring, Mills Selig; Alan Taylor, Arthur Cox.
:: Personal tax, trusts and probate - Neil Bleakley, Carson McDowell; Michael Graham, CFR.
:: Planning and environment - Karen Blair, CFR; Gary Mcghee, Carson McDowell.
:: Project finance and PFI - Adrian Eakin, Pinsent Masons; Michael Johnston, Carson McDowell; Mark Thompson, A&L Goodbody.
