There are many reasons to invest in Northern Ireland, from our highly skilled workforce, our advanced infrastructure, our competitive costs, our access to markets, our business supportive environment and our developed legal system. Northern Ireland is one of the most cost-efficient business environments in Europe, with our capital city Belfast being named as Europe’s most business-friendly city of its size in 2016.
Our firm has unrivalled knowledge covering all the legal aspects of foreign direct investment into Northern Ireland, having worked alongside international businesses investing in the region for over 30 years. We offer a full service to meet your specific legal requirements including advice on employment law, real estate, commercial agreements, corporate structuring, government funding and corporate finance.
We also work beyond Northern Ireland through strategic alliances with international law firms, carefully managing the process to ensure continuity of client care, as well as delivering local expertise at every stage of the transaction.
We recognise that most businesses find it helpful to have an overview of the legal landscape before finalising their investment plan. Many businesses have similar initial queries relating to corporate, real estate and employment law issues. In response, we have compiled a guide to provide a high-level introduction to some of the key legal topics of interest to companies doing business in Northern Ireland. If you have any specific queries please get in contact with one of our team.
Our Corporate Department has significant expertise advising on all aspects of corporate law. We work with international clients from across the globe who are seeking to establish and grow operations in Northern Ireland. We regularly advise on establishment, structuring and reorganisation transactions, as well as acquisitions and disposals by international companies through their Northern Ireland businesses. Our team also advises on corporate governance and compliance requirements under Northern Ireland law, and can provide Company Secretarial services if required.
We regularly review agreements, offer letters and documentation from investment agencies, including Invest Northern Ireland. Our dedicated contracts and technology team can advise on commercial contracts, as well as intellectual property, data protection and privacy law.
Our experienced Banking and Finance Department regularly acts on complex multi-jurisdictional transactions alongside our corporate department, and has unrivalled experience of acting on finance and M&A transactions with internationally based investors and purchasers.
Within our dedicated Contracts and Technology Department we have market-leading expertise in negotiating distribution, reseller, agency and OEM agreements and software licences working with leading global organisations. We also provide assistance and advice concerning the protection and exploitation of intellectual property, and data protection regulations.
Property costs in Northern Ireland compare very favourably with other regions in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Prime office rents are among the lowest in Western Europe. New, purpose-built and fitted-out office space costs are more affordable within Northern Ireland.
Our Real Estate Department, which is the largest dedicated commercial real estate team in Northern Ireland, regularly work with foreign businesses investing in Northern Ireland on all aspects of real estate acquisition and investment including portfolio management, strategic office relocations and commercial landlord and tenant work.
Please download our real estate brochure for full details of our teams specialisms
For further insight into real estate law in Northern Ireland and how it compares to your jurisdiction, please see the Northern Ireland section of the ‘International Comparative Legal Guide to: Real Estate 2018’ authored by our real estate team.
Our Employment Department has over 70 years’ collective experience and a breadth of knowledge that spans Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and England and Wales. We advise on all aspects of employment law including recruitment, employment monitoring, disciplinary procedures, long-term absence and contract enforcement.
