Nigel Brown is the firm’s principal with a particular interest in construction litigation, banking disputes and procurement litigation.
Nigel joined McIldowies in 1996 as an assistant solicitor and became principal in 2004. Under his guidance the firm has grown into one of Northern Ireland’s leading commercial litigation practices, advising many of the region’s leading companies and developers.
Nigel is an accredited Adjudicator with the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and has lectured at Queen’s University Belfast, the University of Ulster and the Construction Employers Federation. Nigel is also a member of the Commercial List Liaison Committee.
Gerry Ward worked as an in-house constitutional lawyer and legal editor in London for 4 years following his graduation from Lancaster University. He qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales in 2003 and remains on the roll in that jurisdiction. He is also on the roll as a solicitor in the Republic of Ireland.
Gerry joined McIldowies in 2007 and is a valued member of the litigation team. His main area of practice is in Construction Litigation, Adjudication & Arbitration, Commercial Litigation and Insolvency. Gerry also advises claimants and respondents in employment related matters.
Kara Anderson advises in commercial litigation, conveyancing and probate matters. Kara’s area of practice also involves acting on behalf of commercial clients in banking matters and challenging personal guarantees.
Kara graduated from Queens University Belfast in 2007 with an LLB Honours, having obtained medal of honour in jurisprudence. She joined McIldowies as a trainee solicitor in September 2007. She qualified as a solicitor from the Institute of Professional Legal Studies in 2009.
Julie Maxwell dedicates herself to construction litigation, insolvency and alternative dispute resolution. Julie also acts on behalf of purchasers and vendors in conveyancing transactions.
Julie graduated from Queens University Belfast in 2010 with an LLB Honours. Later that year she joined McIldowies as a trainee solicitor and attended at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies from which she graduated in 2012 placed second in her year. Following qualification, she began work as a solicitor with the firm.
Ross Clarke advises on a range of litigation cases including High Court litigation, in particular Construction Disputes, Public Procurement Challenges, Commercial Court litigation and shareholder disputes. Ross has a particular interest in Public Procurement and has acted in complex procurement challenges. Ross has also acted for homeowners concerning building defects particularly to new build houses, and has gained substantive experience in Adjudications, representing both Referring and Responding Parties. Ross is experienced with Alternative Dispute Resolution, in particular mediation as a forum for resolving complex commercial disputes.
Ross studied Law with Politics at Queens University Belfast, and graduated in 2013 before completing an LLM at University of Ulster in 2014. Ross then worked in the Belfast office of an international law firm for three years assisting with banking and construction litigation disputes before training with McIldowies as an apprentice solicitor. Ross attended the Institute of Professional Legal Studies graduating with Distinction, qualifying as a Solicitor and beginning practice as an assistant solicitor in 2020.
