DAC Beachcroft adds five partners in Belfast in latest expansion drive

Published 6 October 2020

International law firm DAC Beachcroft is pleased to announce that it has hired a team of five insurance partners in Belfast, significantly increasing the firm’s footprint there and further positioning it as the go-to insurance firm in Northern Ireland.    

Peter Campbell, Fintan Canavan, Alison Cassidy, Paul MacAllister and Aine Tyrell have all joined the firm from BLM as partners.  The team brings considerable experience in advising insurance clients on complex policy indemnity issues, first and third party fraud concerns, clinical negligence, catastrophic and large loss injury claims, motor claims, professional indemnity claims, abuse claims, and construction and property claims.

“Our focus continues to be on strategic growth for the benefit of our insurer and commercial clients,” said Craig Dickson, CEO of DAC Beachcroft’s Claims Solutions.  “Adding this team, with its capabilities and reputation as the premium insurance team in the market, will help us continue to deliver on our commitment to providing quality advice and bespoke solutions to our clients.”

DAC Beachcroft launched in Northern Ireland in July 2019 after joining forces with McKinty and Wright and taking on that firm’s highly regarded insurance business.  The move, which came in direct response to client demand for DACB to have a presence in all UK jurisdictions, gave the firm litigation, professional negligence and risk management capabilities in Belfast and cemented its name and position in the Northern Irish market. 

Sean McGahan, partner and Belfast Location Head, said, “We are delighted to welcome Peter, Fintan, Alison, Paul and Aine to DACB.  We have made no secret of our ambitious plans to grow our presence and capabilities quickly in Belfast.  Just a year after our launch, we have doubled our partners from six to 12 and expanded our reach in Belfast into new areas, such as historic abuse claims.  This latest development firmly positions us where we want to be in the market:  the insurance law firm of choice in Northern Ireland.” 

Since launching in Belfast last year, DAC Beachcroft has expanded its presence across key UK locations.  The firm launched an England & Wales litigation unit in Scotland after a hiring spree which saw six partners join its Glasgow office.  It also welcomed new partners in Manchester and Birmingham, bolstering its top-ranked national Claims Solutions business and positioning DACB to deliver the ‘everything, everywhere’ services insurer and commercial clients are increasingly demanding.