The Belfast office was established in 2021 when Lewis Silkin joined forces with Belfast-based employment law specialists Jones Cassidy Brett, before merging the following year with tech-focused Northern Ireland firm Forde Campbell.
Five years on, the office now comprises eight partners and a team of 74 lawyers, paralegals and support staff, spanning employment, immigration, intellectual property, corporate, tech, media and data specialisms.
Ciara Fulton, Partner and head of the Belfast office says that this rapid expansion is a result of the team’s dedication to Lewis Silkin’s core values and specialisms.
“Since day one we have focused on protecting the most important assets of any business, its ideas and people, while doing so in a way that stays true to Lewis Silkin’s core values of bravery and kindness. That’s what has been driving us forward over the years and has not only helped us build our reputation as experts at what we do, but also as a great employer."
“Central to our success is our commitment to growing our own talent. We have built a genuine culture of progression where people are supported to develop their careers.”
That commitment to growing talent is reflected in a strong track record of internal promotions and a thriving trainee scheme, alongside a number of senior appointments across the office's specialisms in recent years, including Partner Olivia O'Kane, who leads the firm's media law offering across Belfast and Dublin.
The Belfast team has also made its mark beyond the office. In May, the UK Supreme Court handed down its decision in "Dillon and Others" - a major judgment concerning the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023. The team acted for the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) as intervener respondent, in what was one of the most high-profile and complex constitutional and human rights law cases concerning Northern Ireland's legacy framework.
Its impact extends beyond its casework too, with the team playing an active role in the firm's global DE&I strategy and supporting causes including Pride initiatives in the local community. Belfast Partner Paul Gillen, who was appointed Lewis Silkin's Global Chair of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in 2025, has long championed Pride and equal marriage causes in Northern Ireland.
Ciara continues:
"We want the momentum of the last five years to continue. We plan to build on the strength and depth of expertise we have established, and to keep innovation central to our operations by continuously trialling and adopting new tools to deliver smarter, more cost-effective services for clients, including through our growing e-billing team, based here in Belfast."
"Belfast has become increasingly strategically important to Lewis Silkin, and we work as one team with our colleagues in our offices in Dublin, London, Oxford, Manchester, Leeds, Cardiff, Glasgow and Hong Kong. This allows us to offer a tailored and unique service with international reach and expertise, while providing value to our clients."
