ATC SOLICITORS - Key Persons
Declan is the lead solicitor in our litigation department. Declan has almost 20 years experience in a wide range of Disputes covering commercial litigation, professional negligence, commercial property litigation and catastrophic injury cases.
Having studied at Queen's University Belfast Declan had worked for many years in England and has recently returned to Northern Ireland joining ATC solicitors in December 2021.
Declan has a pragmatic and professional approach to litigation and understands the financial and emotional aspects of his clients' needs. Declan prides himself on his friendly and sympathetic nature and his hardworking ethic.
Ellen is an integral part of our property team with experience in a wide range of property matters from residential sales, to new developments and commercial property transactions.
She has an excellent technical understanding and high level of professionalism, which has seen several prominent property developers choose to work with her on their large-scale residential development schemes - seeing things through from acquisition of the site to completion of the final home.
Ellen is extremely organised and solution-focussed; that alongside her friendly, approachable nature, gives her clients confidence that they are in safe hands. She has proven time and time again that she has all the attributes to provide a fantastic legal service to her clients, and the number of referrals and repeat business that come through only further reinforces this.
In her spare time Ellen enjoys reading, swimming and travelling. Her main focus is to continue to progress her career and gain more experience in all areas of property law in the coming years.
Grace completes hundreds of property transactions for the firm, year on year; as such, she is a hugely valuable member of our property team.
Grace has a strong understanding of property law and is very dedicated to her work and her cases. She is highly motivated and will go above and beyond to achieve the optimum result for her clients. Grace's clients continually commend her all-in, 100% service.
Grace has a very calming nature which, in this line of work, is extremely important. Dealing with what can on occasion be highly stressful situations calls for a cool, level head and Grace is a pro at keeping not only her clients, but all other interested parties, at ease during these difficult times.
Grace loves to read a good book - fictional or educational - and lockdown has given her a new hobby of jigsaw puzzles and family game nights. Her ambition is to continue to learn and progress her career to senior level in the coming years.
‘Neil is a one-stop shop for all types of property related matters.
Neil has a wealth of experience in both non-contentious and contentious property matters and regularly advises both private and public sector clients on a whole range of property transactions, issues and disputes. From buying and selling residential property, to large multi-faceted commercial transactions, no property matter is too big or too small for Neil.
What sets Neil apart, is his wealth of experience in property disputes, which serves to compliment his transactional practice. Neil has litigated property disputes in all Courts in the jurisdiction - County Court, High Court and the Court of Appeal. Neil is also regularly involved in mediations, arbitrations and adjudications and has had much success in these forums.
Neil is equipped with a wide range of tools to serve his clients' diverse range of interests.
Neil heads up the property team at ATC Solicitors and works hard to ensure his team is working effectively to provide a cost effective, efficient and highly skilled service to his clients. Neil has acted for a stellar client base over his years of practice which include The Law Society of Norther Ireland, The National Trust, Translink, Tesco Stores Limited, Belfast Harbour Commissioners, First Title plc, Almac, Belfast International Airport & FP McCann Limited.
Neil has received regular recognition from the Chambers & Partners Legal Directory. A Band 1 ranking, the Directory notes Neil's glowing feedback from commentators: "… He is client-focused and hard-working … He would get you a deal and he would go the extra mile."'
Richard joined ATC solicitors as a partner in 2012 and during that time he has overseen tremendous growth in the firm. Richard continues to work on the development of the firm and in particular, he is driven by a desire to provide clients of the firm with the service which makes them rightly believe that their interests are being protected by the best solicitors using the best software underpinned by the best processes.
Richard is a family man and brings those family values to the firm's DNA. In providing a workplace which is built on mutual respect and human understanding the team at ATC solicitors look out for each other in the same way as they look out for their clients. It is that teamwork and appreciation of values such as decency, humility and compassion which embodies everything that we do at ATC solicitors.
As a lawyer Richard has had years of experience in winning cases throughout the courts and tribunals of Northern Ireland. In combining his technical understanding with a drive and ambition to win Richard, time and again, has delivered successful results on his clients' behalf.
Outside work Richard doesn't have an of a lot of time to do much else other than to enjoy time with his wife and family….