MKB LAW - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Associate Director / Employment
- Associate Director and Head of Employment
Andrew Lightburn is an Associate Director and Head of Employment at MKB Law. Andrew has over 20 years' experience practising exclusively in employment law. He is dual-qualified in England and Wales and Northern Ireland.
He has particular expertise in employment litigation especially high value and complex whistleblowing and discrimination claims. He has acted in a number of high-profile claims for clients ranging from PLC's to SME's, football clubs, as well as high profile individuals in the music, sport and technology sectors.
Andrew is also instructed by companies or senior executives to advise and represent them in negotiating high value severance packages often with associated shareholder matters. He also regularly supports on corporate transactional work as well as insolvency matters, and his expertise in TUPE in relation to these matters is frequently called upon.
Anne Marie Kelly heads up the Family Law Department at MKB Law. She is one of the founding partners of the firm in 2003 alongside Gordon McElroy.
Anne Marie acts for clients in Divorces both defended and undefended. She assists partners, including company directors of family businesses, to achieve agreement on a division of assets through negotiation and if necessary, court proceedings. She drafts pre-nuptial agreements in marriages and civil partnerships.
Anne Marie assists parents to draw up residence and contact arrangements for children. This includes advising them on the provisions of the Children's Order and applications to the Family Proceedings Court.
As a member of the Northern Ireland Children Order Panel and Guardian Ad Litem Agency Panel, Anne Marie represents children in public law including Care Order proceedings and Freeing for Adoption. Anne Marie's highlights include:
Job Titles:
- Trainee Solicitor
- Trainee Solicitor in the Private Client
Caitlin Mulholland is a trainee solicitor in the Private Client department at MKB Law. Having studied Law with Spanish at Queens University, Caitlin completed her studies in 2021 and spent two years working as a Legal Professional in the Belfast office of a global law firm. At MKB Law, Caitlin assists with clients wishing to make a will and provides advice on residential conveyancing matters.
Caitlin is set to commence her studies at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies in January 2024, with a view to qualifying as a Solicitor in September 2025.
Chloe Stewart is a trainee solicitor at MKB Law, having completed her undergraduate in Law and Professional Practise at Ulster University in 2021. She has previously worked in Project Management for an Alternative Legal Services firm and in the Employment Department at the Ministry of Justice. At MKB Law Chloe is a member of the Corporate team assisting in a range of commercial matters.
Chloe is set to commence her studies at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies in January 2023 and hopes to qualify as a solicitor in September 2024.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director
- Associate Director in the Dispute Resolution
Christopher is dual-qualified in Northern Ireland and England & Wales. Since qualifying as a solicitor in 2013, Christopher has practised exclusively in litigation and dispute resolution, with a particular interest in commercial disputes, and he has a wide range of experience in this area. Christopher also acts for clients in respect of various types of property disputes.
Christopher enjoys getting to know his clients and is keen to fully understand his clients' businesses and objectives so that the most efficient and effective solutions can be achieved.
Céadhra Cummings is a solicitor within the Family Law Department at MKB Law. Céadhra advises on a variety of family law matters such as divorce, separation, domestic violence, children's contact, public law Care Orders and financial settlements. Céadhra assists parents in drawing up residence and contact arrangements for children. This includes advising them on the provisions of the Children's Order and applications to the Family Proceedings Court.
David McAlinden is a Director at MKB Law, having previously been the Sole Practitioner in McAlinden Solicitors which merged with MKB Law in October 2016. He heads up the firm's Debt Recovery and Insolvency department, acting for a range of commercial clients ranging from commercial businesses, insolvency practitioners and financial institutions. David also acts to enforce security and assists with asset recoveries. He is also heavily involved in advising businesses and individuals in relation to insolvency and debt related matters.
David's highlights include:
David is a Tutor at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies based at Queens University in Belfast, where he lectures students on all areas of debt recovery and insolvency. David has also authored material prepared for Credit managers on the debt recovery process.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director
- Associate Director / Family Law
Emma Jamison is an Associate Director specialising in family law. She is dual qualified in England and Wales and Northern Ireland. In 2022, Emma returned to Northern Ireland where she is originally from, having trained and worked alongside the top-ranked family lawyers in London.
Emma advises on a wide range of family matters including divorce, financial relief, emergency injunctions and private law child matters. She also advises on pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements, and cases that feature allegations of coercive control. Emma is adept at working with both international and domestic clients from a wide range of backgrounds. She deals regularly with complex financial disputes involving high-value business assets, offshore assets, trusts and inherited wealth.
In August 2022, she was awarded the prestigious runner-up prize in the International Academy of Family Lawyers European Chapter Young Lawyers Award 2022.
Emma is known for her empathetic approach to her clients and being committed to achieving the best possible outcome.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director / Residential Property, Commercial Property
- Associate Director in the Property
Emma Smyth is an Associate Director in the Property department at MKB Law and undertakes all aspects of residential conveyancing. This includes: buying and selling in a chain, buying and selling due to divorce or separation, sales under Controllership Orders, equity releases, transfers of equity, equity purchases and right to buy schemes, re-financing and new developments.
Emma also deals with commercial property transactions including acquisitions, disposals, development, letting and property management and secured lending. In addition, she has experience in the areas of banking and financial disputes. Her highlights include:
Gordon McElroy - Founder, Managing Director
Gordon McElroy is a founder of MKB Law and is responsible for overseeing the commercial and corporate business undertaken by the practice. He has undertaken some of the most extensive site assembly and development schemes in Northern Ireland and advised on all legal aspects, including: planning, of those schemes. Gordon has also led teams dealing with some of the largest M&A transactions for private businesses in Northern Ireland. As such he has become a "trusted advisor" to many local businesses and businessmen.
Most recently, much of Gordon's time has been spent advising clients on Investment Agreements and corporate structures, particularly in the renewables sector.
As a past President of the Belfast Chamber of Commerce and Trade, Gordon remains involved in the general commercial life of the City and has important personal connections which can often be of benefit to clients. Gordon is also a qualified mediator and advanced advocate.
Job Titles:
- Solicitor
- Solicitor Within the Corporate and Commercial
James Boyd is a solicitor within the Corporate and Commercial team at MKB Law. He joined MKB in July 2022 having previously practiced at a long-established, reputable firm. James is involved in all manner of corporate transactions including mergers and acquisitions, commercial contracts, shareholder matters as well as partnership agreements and disputes.
James has a particular interest in drafting and negotiating commercial leases and lease renewals having acted for a range of landlords and tenants across Northern Ireland.
Job Titles:
- Solicitor / Residential Property
- Solicitor in the Property Department
Joanne Moore is a solicitor in the Property Department at MKB Law. Joanne undertakes work for private clients and specialises in all aspects of residential conveyancing. She has amassed a wealth of experience in this area including new build purchases, co-ownership transactions, purchases under the right-to-buy scheme, transfers of equity, remortgages, and matrimonial sales/transfers.
Joanne has advised on complicated issues in relation to management companies and apartment developments. She also has a comprehensive knowledge of Land Registry and Registry of Deeds titles particularly identifying and resolving title defects.
Laura McGuckin is a trainee solicitor at MKB Law. Having completed her law degree at Ulster University in 2021, Laura worked at a mid-Ulster based law practice as a legal secretary before joining MKB Law in September 2022. She is a member of both the Debt Recovery and Insolvency Department and Litigation Department at the firm.
Laura is set to commence her studies at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies in January 2023 and hopes to qualify as a solicitor in October 2024.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director
- Associate Director in the Corporate and Commercial
Lynsey Henderson is an Associate Director in the Corporate and Commercial team at MKB Law. Lynsey works within both the corporate and commercial property departments, acting for a range of clients including individuals, developers, businesses and lenders. She is involved in all manner of corporate transactions including mergers and acquisitions, shareholder arrangements, partnership agreements and restructures. Lynsey is also heavily involved in advising both landlord and tenants in relation to commercial property matters. Her highlights include:
Maria Conway is a Director at MKB Law, working primarily in the Commercial Property Department. She has advised on all aspects of commercial property transactions, including acquisitions, disposals, development, leasing property management and all related aspects of asset and portfolio management.
Maria is widely reputed for her work in the hospitality sector and represents local publicans hoteliers and restaurant operators in the acquisition disposal, transfer, and leasing of licensed properties. Maria also advises banks and other financial institutions in relation to secured lending and other property finance matters.
Her highlights include:
Job Titles:
- Trainee Solicitor
- Trainee Solicitor in the Dispute Resolution
Michael Murphy is a trainee Solicitor in the Dispute Resolution and Litigation department at MKB Law. Having completed his Law degree at Queen's University in 2021, Michael worked in a busy high-street law firm as a Paralegal. At MKB Law, Micheal assists with a wide range of complex commercial disputes for businesses.
Michael is set to commence his studies at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies in January 2024 with a view to qualifying as a Solicitor in September 2025.
Job Titles:
- Trainee Solicitor / Employment Law
- Trainee Solicitor in the Employment and Family Law
Rachel McBrinn is a trainee solicitor in the Employment and Family Law departments at MKB Law. Having completed her law degree at Queen's University in 2022, Rachel worked in a busy inner-city Belfast firm before joining MKB Law in October 2022 as a Paralegal.
In her role, Rachel manages a number of employment disputes and has experience in providing advice to both individuals and businesses in respect of the Industrial Tribunal and Fair Employment Tribunal process. Rachel also assists in a range of Family Law matters.
Rachel is set to commence her studies at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies in January 2024 with a view to qualifying as a Solicitor in September 2025.
Job Titles:
- Solicitor
- Solicitor in the Private Client
Rachel Scroggie is a solicitor in the Private Client department at MKB Law. Rachel deals in all areas relating to the administration of estates and private client matters including applying for probate, wills and EPA, and estate planning and drafting.
Rachel is also responsible for registering Enduring Power of Attorneys and making Controllership applications to the Office of Care and Protection in the event of mental incapacity.
Job Titles:
- Solicitor in the Property Department
- Trainee Solicitor / Residential Property
Tonya is a trainee solicitor in the Property department at MKB Law. Having graduated from Queens in 2019, Tonya worked in a busy high-street firm before joining MKB Law in January 2021 as a Paralegal.