McIldowies

McIldowies is a distinguished law firm based in Belfast, with our roots tracing back to 1886 when we were established as George McIldowie & Sons. With over a century of experience, we have cultivated a rich reservoir of knowledge that we utilize in conjunction with an innovative and client-focused approach. Our dedication to client service has earned us a formidable reputation for delivering high-quality, practical legal advice within a commercial framework.

Our primary practice areas encompass commercial litigation, alternative dispute resolution, banking disputes, procurement challenges, corporate law, property law, and private client services. We take pride in our expertise in construction law, having established ourselves as leaders in the Northern Irish market, recognized for our result-driven advice and highly rated by Chambers and Partners UK across multiple major practice areas.

Our team of highly skilled professionals is dedicated to providing a full legal service to both commercial and private clients. We have extensive experience in advising local and national companies, builders, developers, not-for-profit organizations, and other government-funded entities alike.

Our People

Our leadership is spearheaded by Nigel Brown, our firm's principal, who has a keen interest in construction litigation, banking disputes, and procurement litigation. Nigel joined McIldowies in 1996 as an assistant solicitor and rose to principal in 2004. Under his stewardship, the firm has thrived and expanded into one of Northern Ireland's leading commercial litigation practices, serving many of the region's top companies and developers.

Nigel's accolades include being an accredited Adjudicator with the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and serving as a lecturer at Queen's University Belfast, the University of Ulster, and the Construction Employers Federation. He is also a member of the Commercial List Liaison Committee.

Our litigation team is fortified by the presence of Gerry Ward, who honed his skills as an in-house constitutional lawyer and legal editor in London for four years following his graduation from Lancaster University. Gerry qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales in 2003 and is also on the roll as a solicitor in the Republic of Ireland. His primary areas of practice include Construction Litigation, Adjudication & Arbitration, Commercial Litigation, and Insolvency, with additional expertise in employment-related matters.

Kara Anderson adds to our team's prowess with her focus on commercial litigation, conveyancing, and probate matters. She is well-versed in acting on behalf of commercial clients in banking matters and challenging personal guarantees. Kara graduated from Queens University Belfast in 2007 and joined McIldowies as a trainee solicitor, qualifying as a solicitor from the Institute of Professional Legal Studies in 2009.

Julie Maxwell contributes her expertise in construction litigation, insolvency, and alternative dispute resolution. She also handles conveyancing transactions on behalf of purchasers and vendors. Julie graduated from Queens University Belfast in 2010 and joined McIldowies as a trainee solicitor.

Our Services

At McIldowies, we offer a diverse array of legal services to both private and corporate clients. Our main practice areas include, but are not limited to:

• Alternative Dispute Resolution: Adjudication, Arbitration, and Mediation
• Conveyancing: Commercial and Residential
• Banking Disputes
• Commercial Litigation
• Construction Litigation
• Debt Recovery
• Employment
• Insolvency
• Judicial Review
• Land & Property Disputes
• Defamation
• Procurement Challenges
• Probate & Wills