The Legal Trailblazers for 50 Years and Counting

Adrienne Brock, Partner at Elliott Duffy Garrett solicitors

The most up-to-date figures suggest that Northern Ireland’s employment rate has returned to its pre-pandemic peak and figures from NI Chamber’s last Quarterly Economic Survey suggest that 74% of companies are recruiting.

Elliot Duffy Garrett, one of NI’s most prominent law firms and indeed a leader in the local Northern Ireland commercial legal sector, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year with a sense of pride and gratitude.

Founded on April 1st 1973, the firm emerged as a pioneer in the sector, defying the odds during the tumultuous era of the Northern Ireland Troubles to set up a practice with a focus on commercial law and a commitment to cross-community collaboration –a first here during that era of political conflict.

Adrienne Brock, Managing Partner at Elliott Duffy Garrett, says the company’s genesis was down to the visionary ambition of its three founding members; the late James Elliott, Gerard Duffy and Brian Garrett.

“Jimmy Elliott was a very distinguished solicitor who also served as a coroner in Belfast and as the director of the Institute of Professional Legal Studies ” she begins. “Gerry Duffy, was a highly respected and renowned property lawyer who also served as coroner, and Brian Garrett, a prominent corporate lawyer with a high profile in media and the arts.

“In the midst of the Troubles, they made a courageous decision to create a commercial law practice, despite the limited commercial activity in Northern Ireland and the challenging social and economic conditions at the time. They were original and forwardthinking individuals who were deeply committed to social causes. To them, Elliott Duffy Garrett was more than just a professional service business; it was a social venture,” she continues.

“We are indebted to their prescience during that time. Their pioneering spirit helped pave the way for the normalisation of cross-community collaboration, a precious legacy that endures today.”

The early years of the firm were marked by rapid growth. The junior solicitors who joined the firm during that period eventually became partners who helped establish the ethos and build the firm’s reputation and acted as mentors to today’s partners, including Adrienne who joined the firm in 1990.

She fondly recollects the influence of Mr Duffy on those who worked with and trained under him and Brian Garrett, who she was delighted to welcome to the firm’s 50th celebration event, and Harry Coll, who established the firm’s Employment department, which Adrienne now leads.

Elliott Duffy Garrett has practised through significant political, social and economic change, including challenging times.

“The late ‘80s and ‘90s witnessed a property boom in Northern Ireland, followed by the economic crash of 2007/2008, which led to the first-ever redundancies amongst many law firms of all sizes in the region.

‘We have since become a jurisdiction of choice for a number of global. London and Dublin firms who entered the market post-Good Friday Agreement.

“More recently came the uncertainties surrounding Brexit, the disruption caused by the global pandemic, consequences of geopolitical tensions such as the war in Ukraine and the current cost of living crisis.

“Uncertainty impacting our clients can be one of the most difficult issues for us. That’s what Brexit brought about, but if the Protocol issues can be resolved, we see a tremendous potential opportunity for Northern Ireland to really benefit from our advantageous position. I think we should seize and not waste that opportunity.”

Elliott Duffy Garrett specialises primarily in commercial law, offering corporate and commercial law services, banking and finance, dispute resolution, property, employment, professional regulation and private client matters.

With a diverse clientele encompassing manufacturing, retail, logistics, agri-food, social housing, education, professional bodies and the voluntary sector, the firm caters to a broad spectrum of sectors in Northern Ireland.

Adrienne emphasises the firm’s commitment to client relationships.

“As a locally owned and independent firm, we place a high premium on building strong connections with our clients and providing a dedicated and attentive partner-led service. We have the resources to provide a comprehensive legal service to our primarily commercial client base but are not so large that we lose the personal aspect of the solicitor/ client relationship, which for us is an important element of our ethos and our job satisfaction,” she says.

Looking ahead to the next 50 years, Elliott Duffy Garrett aims to embrace technological advancements in the legal industry. The firm recognises the importance of leveraging technology, such as AI and ChatGBT where possible to improve efficiency and enhance service provision and is currently exploring how to use and manage these tools in its practice, in order to best serve the firm’s operations for the benefit of clients and staff while adhering to its obligations as a regulated profession.

Adrienne says that identification and management of risk will be crucial to using these technologies by lawyers, where client confidentiality and output accuracy will be the main concerns.

She also refers to the importance of engaging with clients in relation to their issue of technology, mentioning, in particular, a recent discussion with a client in the health tech sector in relation to rapid developments there and in relation to Human Resources activities, where she is conscious of risks involved in the use of such technology in decision making and security of information.

“The evolving landscape of the workplace and working practices postCovid and the well-rehearsed challenges associated with recruitment and retention are also current issues for the legal sector,” Adrienne adds, describing a determination to maintain a modern practice that remains rooted in its core values.

And as the firm commemorates its 50th anniversary, Adrienne says: “The firm’s founders were pioneers during a period of adversity, who were visionary and brave enough to establish a commercial law practice in Belfast amidst the Troubles. We are proud of our history and pay tribute to our founding and past partners. Today we focus on the future as we adapt to market forces, the evolving legal landscape and embrace modern and working practices, guided by our values and an enduring commitment to excellent professional service delivery.”