The firm (Lewis Silkin N.I. LLP) will begin operating in Northern Ireland from 2 August 2021, following ratification by the Law Society of Northern Ireland.

For almost 30 years, JCB has been Northern Ireland’s leading specialist employment law firm. The six-strong JCB team is now an integrated part of Lewis Silkin, a leading UK law firm with globally renowned employment law expertise and one of the largest employment practices operating in the UK and Ireland, as well as in Hong Kong. JCB Partners Adam Brett and Ciara Fulton become Partners of Lewis Silkin N.I. LLP with Fiona Cassidy joining as a consultant. Ciara Fulton takes on the role of Head of Office in Belfast.

In response to evolving client demand Lewis Silkin established a presence in Ireland in 2018 with the launch of its Dublin office, which now consists of a team of five lawyers and three partners providing Irish employment law and business immigration services, alongside commercial, IP and data expertise. The new Belfast offering further builds on this success and growth, supporting clients’ employment law needs across the whole of the island of Ireland.

It also represents an expansion into Northern Ireland of Ius Laboris, the world’s leading employment law practice which comprises 1,400 employment lawyers across 50 countries. Lewis Silkin is the Ius Laboris member firm for the UK, Ireland and Hong Kong.

The team in Northern Ireland will also be joined by Lewis Silkin Managing Associate Stephen O’Flaherty who will be leading a business immigration team based out of Belfast.

Richard Miskella, joint managing partner of Lewis Silkin, commented:

“JCB’s knowledge of and reputation within the Northern Irish employment law market is second to none, and we have known and collaborated with the firm for some time. Since establishing our presence in Ireland in 2018, we have seen a growing need and client demand for a seamless, market-leading employment offering across the whole island of Ireland. Joining forces with JCB is a perfect solution to this need, integrating their renowned specialist practice as part of our wider offering across the UK, Ireland and internationally. Over the longer term, we will continue to review and explore the potential for further expansion in Northern Ireland in line with evolving client requirements.”

Ciara Fulton, partner at Jones Cassidy Brett, and incoming Head of Office at Lewis Silkin N.I. LLP added:

“Becoming part of Lewis Silkin represents a truly exciting milestone in the history of our firm, which was established by Fiona Cassidy and Beverley Jones in 1992 and we’re proud to say has become one of Northern Ireland’s most respected specialist employment firms. It will enable us to continue to provide clients with market-leading local advice whilst offering an added depth of expertise to clients, including an expanded range of services such as business immigration, employee incentives, data protection and health and safety law. As part of a truly international team, we will now be able to provide an even more comprehensive and integrated offering to meet the needs of our clients. It will be of particular benefit to clients operating across the whole island of Ireland, thanks to Lewis Silkin’s presence in Dublin.”