Arthur Cox hikes Belfast with Carson McDowell corporate hire

The Belfast office of Dublin heavyweight Arthur Cox has hired equity partner Alan Taylor from the corporate group of rival Carson McDowell.

The lateral move is a rare event in the Belfast market, but follows the exit of three partners from Arthur Cox last year (The Lawyer, 20 March), when trio Peter Stafford, Mark Thompson and Patricia Johnston left the firm to form corporate and commercial boutique STJ Legal.

However, last month the partners quit the boutique to join Dublin-headquarted firm A&L Goodbody at its Belfast office.

The hire of Taylor by Arthur Cox is a response both to this move and the growing commercial importance of Northern Ireland.

"Us bringing Alan on board marks a change in the Belfast market," said Arthur Cox managing partner Pádraig "'Ríordáin. "His arrival completes our restructuring of the corporate department."