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Shaping The Future Of The Law Society In NI
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Shaping The Future Of The Law Society Of Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland’s Law Society, which represents and regulates the solicitor profession, holds a unique distinction amongst its counterpart Law societies in England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.
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Its current President, Brigid Napier, is the tenth woman to hold the office since solicitor Thomasina McKinney was elected president back in 1978.
The other Societies can only point to six women presidents over the same period at best.
Brigid Napier, an insolvency, and commercial litigation specialist at her own firm Napier Solicitors in Belfast, has made a significant impact since taking on the chain of office last November.
She is a third-generation lawyer whose grandfather served in the same role back in 1959.
“In my Presidential year I’ve focused on a number of key priorities,” she says. “One of my priorities has been to positively build on how the Law Society is viewed both by our members and wider audiences.
The Society must be relevant to today’s legal and business landscape and that means spotlighting how important the legal profession is to the Northern Ireland economy.”
“To further this work we commissioned a major report on the sector’s economic impact which we published to coincide with its recent one-day conference entitled Shaping Our Future Together held at Belfast Hilton on 23rd September 2022”.
“We’ve also been working hard to grow our engagement with our members, and the findings from the survey will be of great interest to them.,” she says.
“The survey is timely and necessary, and this is reflected in the 43% ofour members who responded which is remarkably high for a survey.
“I have also been focusing on addressing the issue of those women solicitors particularly those in their 30’s who are leaving the profession.
Our survey has highlighted the continuing loss of some women members from the solicitor profession even though, in overall terms, 53% of the Law Society’s members here are women. That is a long way from how things used to be only a couple of decades ago. “When the Society was formed, the profession was entirely male,” she smiles.
“Since the start of the year, I have made it a priority to reach out to members in person through a series of ‘Road Show’ events to allow me to hear first-hand the issues facing our members and their clients.
This has been a particularly useful exercise allowing me to speak directly to members from across Northern Ireland.”
One of the emerging findings from the survey is that the solicitor profession in Northern Ireland is now much more inclusive and diverse than it was one hundred years ago.
The Society is now more proactive in its engagement with members from diverse backgrounds as evidenced by its recent involvement in Belfast Pride.
“We have to be more open, we have to be more transparent, and we have to make sure that we represent everyone,” she adds. “And we must engage with a wider audience and make our views known on wider issues when it’s important and relevant for us to do so.” As with previous years the Law Society has been supportive of local charities and this year, under Brigid Napier’s leadership, and through events including the Society’s ‘Legal Walk’ they have managed to raise £18,000 for Leukaemia & Lymphoma NI.
Brigid Napier has served as Law Society President at a critical time for women in the legal sphere.
Northern Ireland has a female Lord Chief Justice in Dame Siobhan Keegan, a female Attorney General in Dame Brenda King and a female Justice Minister in Naomi Long.
“The legal sector in Northern Ireland is very significant,” says Brigid Napier. “Outside of the range of firms and solicitors we represent, the region has become a major centre for legal services work, a sector that provides employment for thousands of people.”
Northern Ireland is home to major back-office operations run by leading international firms like Allen & Overy, Baker McKenzie, Axiom and Shoosmiths.
This year marks the Law Society’s Centenary, and many events are taking place. In June, the Society launched a new book looking back at its 100 years from the establishment of the Society to the present day. The book was launched during the Summer at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, at a ceremony attended by over 120 members of the legal profession and senior members of the Judiciary.
Among those attending was solicitor James Russell, who celebrates his own centenary in November, and James Doran (94), the Society’s senior Past President.
A popular President amongst the Society’s members, Brigid Napier will continue to serve until November 2022 when elections to the Law Society’s Council are due to take place.
Brigid remains part of the Presidential team supported by the Society’s Chief Executive David A. Lavery CB and Senior Management Team.
In its Centenary year, Brigid says that the Society continues to punch way above its weight on the international stage.
“We continue to grow our international outreach and maintain close contacts with other Societies, representative bodies, and Governments across different countries. For a country of our size this is impressive and if you consider the work of local solicitors like Brian Speers the current President of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association and others, we maintain our importance on an international stage.”
Back at home, the Society is continuing to meet the demands of an ever-evolving solicitor profession. Brigid says “As a representative body we must meet and support the needs of our members and that is why we have significantly invested in redesigning Law Society House as a second office in Belfast’s Legal Quarter for our members to meet clients and attend court. Last year we opened ‘The Meeting Space’ at Law Society House, a high specification suite of meeting rooms at the Society’s Victoria Street headquarters. It is open to any business user, not just Law Society members.
We have also invested in developing a new lecture hall, a new ‘Law Club’ cafe and informal work area for our members.
We understand that solicitors often need privacy away from prying eyes and listening ears. So, our facilities offer them the chance to meet somewhere private.
These new facilities are for all members to use as they see fit.” says Brigid Napier.
As her Presidency enters its final few months, Brigid recognises that much work has been done to date, but much is still left to do.
“There are other issues of importance which need to be addressed including supporting access to justice and ensuring an appropriate justice budget in Northern Ireland.
We recognise that we are all living in difficult and demanding times, but we remain resolute in ensuring that the Law Society continues to represent our members and act in the best interests of their clients.
After 100 years the solicitor profession remains of great importance to our community, and I remain very optimistic that our best years are ahead of us”.
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Antrim estate sets out growth plans following six-figure Ulster Bank-backed investment
Ulster Bank business development manager Conor McNeill (second from left) pictured with Hillmount House management team (from left) Simon Croal, Sabrina Jamet-Harper and Andrew Brennan.
Based in Drains Bay along the scenic Antrim Coast, Hillmount House, the privately-owned Georgian manor set amongst a 10-acre estate that sweeps down towards the shoreline, has completed a six-figure investment in the development of a new, purpose-built wedding and conference centre with funding support from Ulster Bank.
With the capacity to seat up to 200 guests, it’s anticipated the latest addition to the Hillmount estate will double turnover from its events business.
Where previously the business was facilitating approximately 30 weddings per year, the new multi-functional space will provide Hillmount House with the capacity to accommodate up to 100 weddings per year.
Designed for flexibility, it represents a new direction for the business, as Hillmount House also aims to grow its presence in the corporate events space. As part of this, the business is in the process of acquiring an alcohol licence for its new art deco-inspired cocktail bar, a central feature of the conference centre, which will open up an entirely new revenue stream.
Events manager Sabrina JametHarper said: “Set in the magnificent grounds of Hillmount House, our new wedding and conference centre offers a stunning and spacious setting with an attractive terraced area for guests and delegates to take in the surroundings of the estate. Alongside the original property, which offers excellent meeting and breakout facilities for groups of various sizes, Hillmount House is equipped for all types of events, from conferences, corporate events and launch parties to that special day.”
Ulster Bank business development manager Conor McNeill said: “We’re very pleased to support the team at Hillmount House with the development of its new wedding and conference centre, which adds a premium asset to the hospitality offering in the local market unlike anything currently available. Backed up by a dedicated team, we’re confident it will act as a catalyst for growth, generating additional revenue and supporting job creation right down the supply chain as it attracts more business to the area for the benefit of other third-party suppliers and service providers operating in the events sector.”
Throughout the pandemic, the intimate Hillmount House was uniquely positioned to continue operating as wedding venue, playing host to memorable receptions and functions for the many smaller gatherings of family and friends less suited to hotels and larger spaces.
Owner Andrew Brennan said this sustained the business during the challenging period and strengthened its reputation as a flexible and highly sought-after venue.
“We initially downscaled our operation, comfortably accommodating bookings of up to 50 guests. These types of bookings were unsuitable for larger spaces and so we picked that business up. It kept us going and positioned us well to bounce back once the events industry reopened.”
He said demand is strong and now is the right time to invest and expand the offering at Hillmount House.
“Throughout that time, we helped many wedding parties create lasting memories and we built a solid reputation for the professional and personal service we pride ourselves on. Word quickly spread and as more and more enquiries started coming we found ourselves turning business away.
“We’ve banked with Ulster Bank since taking ownership of the premises and its team has always been supportive of our vision for Hillmount, so we decided now was the right time to expand to meet the demand.”
Built in 1728, the Georgian manor house was awarded Grade II listed status in the late 1970s. Over the past four years, Hillmount has been painstakingly refurbished, renovated and replanted to create the exclusive country house and estate it is today. Promising sophistication and comfort, its policy of only hosting one event per day guarantees exclusive access to the estate for event hosts and wedding parties.
Hillmount House was recently named as one of the top 100 best wedding venues in Ireland 2022/23 by One Fab Day.
