Meet the Team

‘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, and in supporting the corporate transactional  side. Neil has acted for a stellar client base over his years of practice which include The Law Society of Northern 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.”

Neil provides property and leasehold support to the firms corporate transactions, and also has experience in negotiating a broad range of B2B and B2C commercial contracts in any corporate transactional due diligence process.

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….

Andrew has 20+ years of experience in London and Northern Ireland as a Corporate Law adviser, and has an English practising certificate as well as Northern Irish. He works with start-ups and SMEs, supporting them throughout their life cycle, helping them to grow their businesses, through acquisitions and organically, at home and abroad.  He advises management and stakeholders, advising on routine business matters and in troubled times, dealing with new investors and as they exit.

Recently he has acted for buyers on successful  M&A transactions in the £10m+, whether restructuring, exit and expansion. His City firm background means he is used to negotiating with the larger corporate brands, whilst remaining as pro-active and responsive as a client needs.

Following his early years in a City firm, he became a Partner in a more suburban  firm,  repositioning and establishing it in City offices before joining a reputable Covent Garden practise. However within a few years he had founded and was growing his own Corporate Law consultancy, going on to advise in over 100 client projects on both sides of the Irish Sea (including a number of law firms) on a broad range of commercial and corporate matters.

As such he is familiar with the pressures of business and recognises his clients as business owners who are looking for solutions alongside an understanding of the corporate law technicalities

Outside his general practise, Andrew also supports Advocates for International Development, a leading London pro bono organisation whose vision is to see the law and lawyers part their part in the eradication of global poverty by targeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Since moving from London to Belfast Andrew has been coaching and generally overseeing the mini rugby at his local rugby club, working with children and young people through a community church outreach, and climbing or running the hills (ideally the Alps) when time allows.

Darren is very much a property law specialist having dealt with conveyancing, both residential and commercial, ever since qualifying as a Solicitor in 2002.

For over twenty years he has dealt with every type of house and sale and purchase and with all manner of clients from first time buyers to professional investors and property developers. In fact, it is the variety of different people and transactions which keeps him enthusiastic in the face of what can be a challenging practice area with a reputation for being stressful for clients. He is here to help with those pressures and aims to provide comprehensive advice to clients in an approachable manner.

Darren worked for many years as a Partner in a North Down firm leading an exceptionally busy conveyancing practice whilst also managing the day to day running of the overall business. It is this background that will allow Darren to contribute to the further growth of ATC Solicitors.

There is a natural overlap between property work and advising people on their Estate Planning and Darren is also an experienced adviser on Wills, Powers of Attorney and Trusts and associated taxation arrangements.

He also provides support to the firms corporate transactions, with decades of experience dealing with a wide range of commercial contracts.

In addition to his day-to-day work, Darren is a member of the Law Society NI’s Conveyancing & Property Committee which oversees property issues in Northern Ireland. He is also a part time tutor at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies (QUB) teaching trainee Solicitors on their Property Law & Practice course.