Solicitors in Newry, Belfast, Rathfriland, Kilkeel, Donaghadee and Newcastle
A Law Firm for You
About Us
Fisher & Fisher was established in 1898 by Alexander Fisher along with his brother John, and the firm quickly became the largest solicitor’s practice in Newry. Alexander’s two daughters, Margaret and Dorothy, were amongst the first female solicitors in Northern Ireland. Margaret Reside (nee Fisher) graduated from Queen’s University of Belfast at the age of 20 and joined the family firm qualifying as a solicitor in 1927. Her sister Dorothy qualified two years later.
Over the course of the next hundred years the firm continued to grow in size and reputation but still maintaining its local heritage in County Down.
By the onset of the Second World War, Margaret and Dorothy had taken over the running of the family firm from their father Alex, and he passed away in 1948.
In 2016 the firm was acquired by local solicitor’s Ronan McGuigan and Jacqueline Malone, who have continued to build on the firm foundations established by the Fisher family more than 125 years’ ago.
The solicitor’s firm now have six practice locations across the greater Co. Down area retaining its headquarters in Newry and establishing a presence in Kilkeel, Newcastle, Rathfriland, Donaghadee and into Co. Antrim in Belfast.
The legal practice continues to deliver trusted professional advice to individuals, families and businesses across the area and now is one of the longest established legal practices in Northern Ireland.
Meet the Team
Ronan McGuigan
LL.B. Solicitor Advocate
Ronan has had many years of local experience dealing with commercial and corporate matters, property and debt litigation. He also represents clients in high value, serious personal injury cases.
For a private consultation please email law@ffsolicitors.co.uk.
LL.B. Solicitor Advocate
Jacqueline Malone
LL.B. Solicitor Advocate
Jacqueline is a Director of Fisher & Fisher Solicitors and was admitted to the roll of Solicitors in Northern Ireland in 2003 following practicing law in London. From qualification, Jacqueline specialises in family and children law. She is a member of the Children’s Order Panel, the Children’s Court Guardian Panel and the Hague Convention Panel. Jacqueline has expert knowledge and experience of all cases relating to children, to include contact, residence, adoption, Care Orders and child abduction. Jacqueline has acted in a number of High Court cross border cases for both parents and grandparents. Jacqueline is an experienced divorce lawyer dealing with the breakdown of relationships and financial resolution. She specialises in high value divorce and Ancillary Relief cases providing a professional yet sympathetic approach to the breakdown of relationships whilst ensuring the best possible outcome for her clients. Jacqueline is qualified as a Solicitor Advocate.
LL.B. Solicitor Advocate
Donna McGuigan
LL.B. M.A Solicitor
Donna obtained her Law Degree from the prestigious Trinity College, Dublin before progressing to a Masters Degree from University of Ulster. She qualified as a Solicitor in 2000.
Donna is a leading practitioner in the field of family and children law and is a member of the Children Order panel and is a skilled mediator. Donna is a highly respected professional in the areas of divorce and financial disputes and robustly represents her clients in this field. She has a particular expertise in representing business owners and professionals in their divorce and subsequent financial cases and deals with complex property, business and pension issues.
Donna is also a litigation expert with extensive experience in all types of personal injury claims. She has a varied caseload and deals with both County Court and High Court cases involving all types of accidents. She expertly ensures maximum compensation for all her clients in all types of personal injury cases, with a commitment to client care and personal service.
LL.B. M.A Solicitor
Michael Gilfedder
LL.B. Solicitor M.I.A.T.I. T.E.P.
Michael Gilfedder has been with Fisher and Fisher Solicitors for in excess of 40 years. He was a member of the Council of the Law Society of Northern Ireland for 10 years and was a member of the Non Contentious Business Committee for nearly 30 years. He has a Tax Qualification in Membership of the Institute of Accounting Technicians of Ireland since 1992. He is also a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and is an accredited Mediator of the Law Society. Michael has delivered lectures for the Law Society in relation to Probate and has also written articles for the Solicitors Magazine ‘The Writ’. His main areas of work include Probate and Administration of Estates, Wills, Trusts and Tax, Conveyancing, Mergers and Acquisitions and various Commercial and Corporate matters.
LL.B. Solicitor M.I.A.T.I. T.E.P.
Eoin McConville
LL.B. LL.M. Solicitor Advocate
Eóin McConville was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in 2008, having completed his apprenticeship with Fisher & Fisher Solicitors. Eóin was awarded the Certificate in Advanced Advocacy in 2011, and he holds an LLM (Distinction) in Human Rights Law. Eóin is also an accredited Mediator, Collaborative Lawyer, and a Member of the Children Order Panel. In 2018, Eóin successfully completed the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) Diploma in Trusts and Estates (NI) and was awarded a Distinction, having also achieved a STEP Worldwide Excellence Award in the STEP Advanced Certificate in Estates. He also holds Certificates in Private Tenancy Law & Practice and Commercial Conveyancing. His main areas of practice include Administration of Estates / Trusts, Conveyancing (Residential and Commercial) and Litigation (Civil, Criminal and Matrimonial).
LL.B. LL.M. Solicitor Advocate
Louise Moley
LL.B. Solicitor Advocate
Louise obtained a Law degree from Queen’s University Belfast. In 2010, she qualified as a Solicitor after completing the prestigious Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Legal Studies from Queen’s University Belfast (IPLS) and was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in Northern Ireland. Recognising her exceptional advocacy skills, Louise also achieved accreditation as an Advanced Advocate in 2018.
With a primary focus on criminal defence, immigration, and civil litigation, Louise possesses comprehensive expertise in various areas, including personal injury claims, negligence (including clinical negligence), and Judicial Review cases.
Louise is dedicated to criminal defence where she represents clients at both Magistrates’ and Crown Court levels. Additionally, she has a keen interest in Immigration Law, demonstrating her expertise through numerous successful Judicial Review challenges against public bodies such as the Home Office, NI Prison Service, and Health Trusts. Committed to upholding Human Rights, Louise skilfully handles cases involving Extradition, Immigration Detention, and Deportation.
LL.B. Solicitor Advocate
Meabh McArdle
LL.B. Solicitor
Meabh McArdle joined Fisher & Fisher in the summer of 2007 as a Paralegal. The following year, she began her Apprenticeship with Fisher & Fisher and qualified as a Solicitor in 2010. After 10 years at the Newry office, Meabh relocated to the Newcastle office in the summer of 2017. She currently leads the Newcastle team at the firm’s relocated offices at Causeway Road, following the acquisition of Colman R Hanna Solicitors in September 2022. Meabh’s main areas of practice include Residential Conveyancing, Commercial Conveyancing, Administration of Estates, Probate, Wills and Enduring Powers of Attorney.
LL.B. Solicitor
Linda Wright
B.A. M.Leg.Sci Solicitor
Linda joined the firm in 2014. Her main areas of practice include Commercial and Residential Conveyancing, Wills, Trusts and Administration of Estates. She also advises companies in relation to Commercial matters.
B.A. M.Leg.Sci Solicitor
Aedin Bradley
B.C.L
Aedin M. Bradley is based at the Newcastle branch of Fisher & Fisher solicitors which now incorporates Colman R Hanna solicitors.
Aedin was educated at St Louis Grammar School, Kilkeel before attending University College Dublin Institute of Professional Legal Studies. Having served her apprenticeship with the firm of Colman R Hanna, Aedin was employed as an assistant Solicitor from 1987 until 1996 when she was appointed partner. Aedin then became a consultant solicitor with the firm. Her areas of practice include Family Law – mediation; collaborative law contact; residence matters relating to children; maintenance divorce division of matrimonial property; criminal; personal injury claims and employment law.
Aedin is on the Children’s Order Panel and the Court Children’s Guardian Panel.
B.C.L
Catherine Gilmartin
LL.B. Solicitor & Chartered Tax Advisor
Catherine is a very experienced private client lawyer and specialises in probate, trust and estate planning law. She advises executors, trustees and beneficiaries on a variety of will related matters, the administration of estates and trusts. She acts for a number of high net worth individuals, farmers and business clients. Catherine also has significant cross border experience and regularly deals with complex and contentious matters including challenges to wills and on Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) (Northern Ireland) Order 1979 challenges. She advises charities and non-profit organisations. Catherine also deals with mental capacity issues for a wide range of clients including enduring powers of attorney and controllerships. Catherine is based at the Newcastle branch of Fisher & Fisher.
LL.B. Solicitor
Elaine McCullough
LL.B. Solicitor
Elaine is based in the Rathfriland and Belfast practice of Fisher & Fisher Solicitors. Elaine acts for clients in a range of legal areas including residential and agricultural conveyancing, civil injunctions, criminal, extradition and immigration in all Court tiers and Judicial Review. Elaine also represents clients who require police station assistance.
LL.B. Solicitor
Cormac Murnion
LL.B Solicitor
Cormac Murnion joined Fisher & Fisher in September 2023. Cormac is a very experienced and highly respected Solicitor working in the local area for many years. Cormac specialises in property and wills and is based in our Newcastle and Kilkeel offices.
LL.B. Solicitor
Colette Fitzpatrick
LL.B. Solicitor
Colette graduated from Queen’s University Belfast in 1985 and was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in Northern Ireland in 1988. Colette has a wide and varied practice area and has vast experience in handling all types of claims, buying and selling property, probate and family law including divorce, separation, contact issues and care proceedings relating to children. Colette is a member of the Children’s Order Panel and Children’s Court Guardian Panel. Colette is a Notary Public.
LL.B. Solicitor Advocate
Caitlin Fitzsimons
Apprentice Solicitor
Caitlin has recently joined our Newcastle Practice as an Apprentice Solicitor.
Caitlin has a LLB Law Degree from Ulster University and a LLM Master of Laws in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Queen’s University.
Caitlin worked as a paralegal within the firm for 10 months before starting her apprenticeship.
LL.B .Apprentice Solicitor
Culture at Fisher & Fisher
Fisher & Fisher has a very open and transparent culture which puts people at the heart of what we do, whether that is our clients, our team or others whom we work in partnership with.
As we recently celebrated 125 years of legal practice in Northern Ireland, we have a very clear vision for what the future of the firm should look like.
It is our Vision to be a legal practice of choice for businesses, families, and individuals across Northern Ireland. It is our Vision to be an employer of choice, offering our team the best opportunities to reach their potential and flourish in their legal career.
Company Values
We also have a clear set of values which were developed by our team and shape what we do day to day. These values of legal, authentic and welcoming are at the very heart of our legal practice in Northern Ireland.
Legal
Providing sound legal advice and support is at the heart of what we do as a team. We endeavour to provide a professional, well-informed service at all times. We are committed to upholding Democracy; Rule of Law; Respect and Tolerance; and Individual Liberty in all we do as a business.
Authentic
Our team value fairness, equality, honesty, and integrity. It is our objective as an organisation, to uphold these values and be truly authentic in everything that we do. We take responsibility for our actions and have a sense of responsibility to the team and community in which we serve.
Welcoming
Fisher & Fisher has a long history and a loyal team. We want to ensure that every member of our team feels valued and supported. We work as a team. We want to ensure that every client feels welcomed and receives a friendly, welcoming service, reflective of our longstanding reputation.
Get in Touch.
If you have a legal enquiry or would like to find out more about our services, please get in touch.