Annual Review of Employment Law NI 2024 - Online and In Person

Programme

To view our full long programme with session descriptions click here.

Short Programme:

Testimonials

"The annual review of employment law is undoubtedly the premier gathering of HR practitioners in Northern Ireland and an unrivalled opportunity to build connections in the industry." Alexander Redpath, Senior Associate, Kennedys

"It was very well organised and staff were very helpful. It was good to be able to choose sessions.  The delegate pack is very useful." Emma Stinson, HR & Compliance Manager, Orthoderm Clinic 

"Good opportunity to network with peers and to get an up date summary of employment legislation, case law and best practice." Brendan Burdock, Senior HR Business Partner, Radius Housing Associtaion

"The knowledge and experience of the speakers was clear to see and they provided insights into a wide variety of key topics which are incredibly relevant in the world of HR at the moment and for the future." Maeve McFlynn, HR Consultant, Willis HR Consulting

"The ability of each presenter to share key material in such an engaging way is invaluable." Robert Magee, HR Manager, Oxfam Ireland

"I have attended this event for over 15 years now and look forward to it every year." Jacqui Dornan, Hinch Distillery 

"Speakers and topics were excellent and attending the event was very beneficial" Oonagh Moore, Group HR Manager, Profast

Organisations represented included:

Presenters

• 

  Christine Swail Director & Co-Founder

  People Management Solutions

  Christine is Director and Co-Founder of People Management Solutions, an award-winning HR Consultancy with offices in Belfast and Dungannon. Christine works with small to medium sized organisations putting best practice HR in place as well as working with larger multi-nationals on specific HR projects and complex workplace disputes.  Christine has worked in HR throughout Ireland for over 25 years with some of the leading and most innovative companies. Key areas of expertise include workplace investigations, mediation, employee relations and HR related training. Christine was recently awarded the CIPD NI HR Consultant of the Year award.

• 

  Ciara Fulton Partner, Head of Office

  Lewis Silkin LLP

  Ciara Fulton is partner and Head of Lewis Silkin (NI) LLP.

  Ciara is dual qualified and advises on all aspects of employment law in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. She has significant experience of advising clients on the full range of employment issues including complex discrimination issues, bullying and harassment claims, disciplinary and grievance matters, business reorganisations, senior executive severances, restrictive covenants, employment related litigation and TUPE.

  Ciara’s approach is to partner with clients providing practical, commercial advice to resolve HR issues whether contentious or non-contentious. Ciara works with a variety of sectors with particular experience in the construction and infrastructure sector.

  Ciara regularly speaks on a range of employment issues at internal and external events and delivers bespoke training to clients on the differences between NI and ROI employment law. Ciara is a member of the Employment Lawyers Group and the NI Representative for the Employment Lawyers Association. Ciara is also a legally qualified member of the Appeals Tribunals NI.

• 

  Ian McFarland Partner

  Eversheds Sutherland

  Ian is a Partner in Eversheds Sutherland's Belfast Employment Law team. He has over 10 years of knowledge and expertise in employment law, particularly in complex matters for high-profile clients. Ian's work since the onset the pandemic has been varied and often urgent, including significant collective redundancy exercises (affecting 500+ employees) and all associated issues, advice in relation to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and hybrid/home working arrangements.

   

• 

  Jason Elliott Lecturer in Law and Barrister

  Ulster University

  Jason Elliott was called to the Bar of Northern Ireland in 2013 and is the Associate Head of School of Law at Ulster University.  As a practising barrister, he has developed a largely civil practice representing individuals, companies and public bodies in litigation.  This covers a wide range of areas including personal injuries, wills and employment law. In terms of employment law, he has represented both applicants and respondents in the Industrial Tribunal. At Ulster University, Jason lectures extensively on the civil areas of practise such as Equity and Trusts and delivers employment law lectures for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. 

• 

  Louise McAloon Partner

  Worthingtons Solicitor

  Louise leads and manages the employment department, which is currently the largest employment law practice in Northern Ireland.

  With over 18 years’ experience in employment law, Louise’s knowledge and attention to detail provide an innovative approach that her clients appreciate in relation to complex areas of Public Interest Disclosure, Equal Pay, Discrimination and Unfair Dismissal.  She works closely with employers across the public, private and third sectors and regularly advises on restructuring issues including individual and collective redundancies and the application and implication of TUPE. Louise has a detailed understanding of her clients’ needs and is known for her constructive and pragmatic advice on internal employment issues and providing advice and representation in defence of all categories of employment claims before the tribunals and civil courts. 

• 

  Marie Ferris Founder

  Thrive Coaching & Development

  Marie has 25 years experience of facilitating organisational and personal development programmes.

  Before establishing Thrive, Marie was Professional Development Manager at Ulster University where she was responsible for designing, developing and delivering bespoke senior leadership development and leading on the delivery of organisational development initiatives, including programmes to support organisational change and re-structuring, and enhance employee engagement and wellbeing. She successfully implemented a range of coaching programmes across the institution, including delivery of accredited coaching programmes to University staff and students, establishing and developing an internal coaching infrastructure and providing executive coaching to senior leaders. Marie won an IITD National Training Award for Excellence in Coaching for the coaching programmes and services at Ulster University and co-authored a best practice case study for the Leadership Foundation in Higher Education, based on the work to create a coaching culture in the university.

  She is passionate about the impact that coaching and development programmes can have for individuals, teams and organisations. She founded Thrive to help organisations build and capitalise on the power and impact of coaching, bringing tried and tested, proven approaches that work, but tailored to their specific needs.

• 

  Mark Devenport Journalist & Broadcaster

  Mark Devenport is a Journalist, Broadcaster and Commentator. He is a former BBC NI Political Editor, and contributor for newspapers including the Irish Times, Belfast Telegraph, Belfast Newsletter & Daily Mirror NI. 

• 

  Mary Kitson Senior Legal Officer

  Equality Commission for Northern Ireland

  Mary Kitson is employed by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland as a Senior Legal Officer.  Mary qualified as a solicitor in 1992 and after 1 year working in a commercial law firm joined the Fair Employment Commission in 1993.

  Mary commenced employment with the Equality Commission in 1999.  Her role involves providing advice and assistance to people who believe that they have been subjected to unlawful discrimination and to help the Commission choose appropriate cases to support.

• 

  Patricia Coulter Knowledge Manager

  Labour Relations Agency

  Patricia Coulter is a Chartered Member of CIPD and has worked with the Labour Relations Agency for almost 30 years, having begun her career in HR Management in the Shipbuilding & Railway Industries. She is currently in the Role of Knowledge Manager and has extensive experience in advising on Employment Law matters and in delivering training on a wide variety of employment law topics. During her time in the Labour Relations Agency Patricia has also managed the Conciliation Service, including overseeing the introduction of Early conciliation, has conciliated on collective disputes, delivered facilitations and as a qualified workplace mediator has facilitated both group and individual mediations.  

• 

  Sarah Cochrane Partner

  Carson McDowell

  Sarah Cochrane joined the Employment Team at Carson McDowell in 2012. Sarah attained a degree in law (LLB Honours) from Queens University in 2005 before embarking on the Legal Practice Course (LPC) at the College of Law in Chester later that year. Sarah trained with DAC Beachcroft LLP in Manchester and qualified as a solicitor into the Employment & PensionsTeam in 2009.

• 

  Seamus McGranaghan Director - Commercial

  O'Reilly Stewart Solicitors

  Seamus McGranaghan qualified as a Solicitor in O'Reilly Stewart Solicitors in 2003 and is an experienced Commercial Lawyer dealing with employment, commercial and education cases.

  He has experience in the Industrial Tribunal representing both Claimants and Respondents and has provided seminars in relation to particular areas of employment law. Seamus is the only member of the Education and Law Association in Northern Ireland. He specialises in advising schools and colleges on policy matters, employment issues and student welfare. He is also responsible for the Education Law Quarterly Review.