Business

Licensing law specialist joins McKees as new partner

McKees managing partner Chris Ross (left) with the commercial law firm’s newly appointed partner Linus Murray
McKees managing partner Chris Ross (left) with the commercial law firm’s newly appointed partner Linus Murray McKees managing partner Chris Ross (left) with the commercial law firm’s newly appointed partner Linus Murray

BELFAST-based commercial law firm McKees has appointed licensing law specialist Linus Murray as a partner in the firm’s expanding corporate and commercial team.

With an expertise in licensing and a strong track record in commercial law, he brings with more than 20 years’ experience to McKees.

His experience within the hospitality and leisure sector has been well documented, having acted for notable hoteliers, publicans, off-trade, restaurateurs and acts in the acquisition, disposal, transfer and lease of all types of licensed premises.

Chris Ross, managing partner at McKees, said: “Linus brings specialist knowledge and a wealth of skill and experience across a wide range of practice areas including corporate and commercial, leisure and hospitality, property and mergers and acquisitions.

“He is extremely driven and hungry for success, both for our clients and our own business, so I'm confident he will bolster our already highly specialised teams.

“People are our greatest strength at McKees, and high calibre appointments such as this are fundamental to our ambitious growth strategy which has included two new partners, three solicitors and three trainee solicitors in the last six months, bringing our overall headcount to 56.”

Mr Murray said he was excited to enter a new chapter in his career, adding: “McKees is a firm I have always had huge respect for, and while I have worked in competing firms for over 20 years, I’ve always regarded it as one of the best.

“Due to the nature of our industry, I have also had the opportunity to work closely with the banking team at McKees and their professionalism, expertise, legal prowess and people first culture was a big draw for me.

“A key reason for continued success throughout my career has been the calibre of clients I have worked with and the importance I place on developing client relationships. McKees shares this ethos with me and I am confident that through our combined expertise and experience, we will support both our current and new clients throughout these challenging times.

“I’m really looking forward to working with the partners to help strengthen and develop our people and the client services we offer at McKees.”