Business

KRW Law in new partner appointments and office expansion

KRW Law founder and managing partner Kevin Winters with new partners Darragh Mackin and Claire McKeegan
KRW Law founder and managing partner Kevin Winters with new partners Darragh Mackin and Claire McKeegan KRW Law founder and managing partner Kevin Winters with new partners Darragh Mackin and Claire McKeegan

BELFAST-based human rights law firm KRW Law has appointed two new partners as part of an expansion plan which will also see it lease new office space to service its rapid growth in both Dublin and London.

The firm, which has been involved in some of the most high profile and contentious litigation across Ireland, was founded in Belfast 17 years ago as Kevin R Winters & Co, with sub-offices in Armagh and Downpatrick.

And managing partner Kevin Winters said despite times of great economic uncertainty, Brexit and other variables including cutbacks to legal aid, the firm has identified continued opportunities to grow its business.

Unveiling the firm’s future vision, Mr Winters said: “Investing in youth and new talent is of paramount importance to sustain our upward curve. Not withstanding austerity, there are now great opportunities for lawyers from Northern Ireland, having honed their skills set through years of legal attrition in the home market, to transfer that experience further afield.

"We are keen to emphasise that at the core of our mission statement is the need to demonstrate that human rights can never be seen as the preserve of one sector of society.”

Ms Claire McKeegan (30) from Cushendun will become the first female partner at KRW Law while the appointment of Newry man Darragh Mackin (26) represents one of the youngest-ever elevations to partnership in Northern Ireland.

The appointments coincide with the acquisition of new office space in Belfast city centre to service the firm’s rapid growth in human rights work in both Dublin and London.

The firm's new 2000 sq ft office in Queen Street now caters for 13 members of staff dedicated to enhancing the practice’s ground breaking work in human rights and in particular its specialist work relating to dealing with the past.