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Northern Ireland
Annual Review of Employment Law 2025
Thursday, 13 November 2025
09:00 - 16:30 ( 7 hours 30 mins )
Hybrid
The Annual Review of Employment Law is the ultimate gathering for HR practitioners seeking to elevate their knowledge, skills, and connections in the ever-changing world of employment law and HR. Significant changes in employment law are on the horizon in NI - This is a critical opportunity for HR leaders to stay informed and prepared!

Choose your booking option:

In Person Early bird
£515.00 + VAT
Virtual Early bird
£415.00 + VAT
Looking for Charity or Small Business rates? View all pricing options
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Event details
About the event?
-
Full Day Conference Duration
13th November -
Hybrid Crowne Plaza Belfast and Online
£515.00 + VAT Early bird ends 2nd October 2025 at 5:05pm. Standard rate: £565.00 + VAT Charity and Small Business rate also available
Sponsored By
Overview

Northern Ireland's HR Event of the Year...

The Annual Review of Employment Law returns in its hybrid format once again on 13th November 2025! Join us at the Crowne Plaza, Belfast or live online for a day filled with learning, networking, and inspiration at our flagship event. 
 
Secure your place and stay ahead of employment law developments! 
 
Significant changes in employment law are on the horizon — from recent Supreme Court decisions to a proposed ‘Good Jobs Bill’. This is a critical opportunity for HR leaders to stay informed and prepared.

Join us for a full day of expert insights, featuring leading voices from the field, including Ciara Fulton, Partner, Lewis Silkin (NI) LLP, Jason Elliott BL, Patricia Coulter, Labour Relations Agency and more! We are also pleased to welcome back Mark Devenport, Journalist and Broadcaster, as Chair of the event.

This event is designed to support your strategic planning and ensure you remain at the forefront of HR practice in Northern Ireland.

Connect with peers, gain practical knowledge, and strengthen your leadership as the landscape continues to evolve.

Programme

Here's what to expect on the day so far...

Learn more about our confirmed sessions and check back regularly for more updates!

Time
Session

Confirmed Sessions So Far...

NI Employment Law: The 2025 Debrief

With Patricia Coulter, Employment Relations Manager, Labour Relations Agency

Patricia coulter 2024
Patricia Coulter Knowledge Manager, Labour Relations Agency
What’s Next for NI Employment Law

With Ciara Fulton, Partner, Lewis Silkin (NI) LLP

Ciara fulton 2021
Ciara Fulton Partner & Head of Office, Lewis Silkin (NI) LLP
Top NI Employment Cases of 2025: Insights and Implications

With Jason Elliott BL

Jason elliott new
Jason Elliott BL Barrister & Lecturer of Law, Ulster University
Can organisations REALLY maintain a zero-tolerance stance on workplace discrimination?

With Paul Gillen, Partner and Chair of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Lewis Silkin LLP

Paul Gillen 2025
Paul Gillen Partner, Lewis Silkin
Employment Law at 11 LIVE!

With Seamus McGranaghan, Director, O’Reilly Stewart Solicitors and Christine Quinn, Knowledge Partner, Legal Island

Seamus mcgranaghan 2021
Seamus McGranaghan Director – Commercial, Education, Employment & Licensing, O'Reilly Stewart Solicitors
Christine Quinn
Christine Quinn Knowledge Partner, Legal Island
AI Revolution: HR’s on-going Earthquake

With Barry Phillips, Chairperson, Legal Island

Barry Resized
Barry Phillips Chairperson, Legal Island
Regulating AI in Northern Ireland Workplaces – Key Strategies for HR Leaders

With Sarah Cochrane, Partner, Carson McDowell

Sarah Cochrane 2025
Sarah Cochrane Partner, Carson McDowell
Testimonials

Feedback that speaks volumes...

Here's what previous attendees of the Annual Review of Employment Law had to sY:

"Content was exactly what I needed in this very moment. Lunch was great to network. Organisation was impeccable. Nice touch to offer fruit - didn't get any but appreciated this. Also loved that this was a zero waste event. Well done."
Katrina Deas General Manager, Tara Centre
"It was extremely well organised and the presentations were pitched perfectly. I found it a very useful overview of the developments in employment law over the last 12 months with informed insight into what expect in the next 12."
Suzanne McKeown Legal Officer, Equality Commission for NI
"Terrific and relevant event - really well organised, loads of fun, tons or learning and takeaways. [Great] pointers on what's coming next, allowing me to plan ahead."
Scott Alexander Mediator, Scott Alexander Mediation Plus
"An established, well-run and informative event, with plenty of event staff available. Sessions ran on and kept to time, excellent range of topics and speakers. I really liked that the digital materials, speakers slides/notes were immediately available."
Adele Davidson Diversity Inclusion & Staff Wellbeing Manager, Queen's University Belfast
"Once again an excellently put together event. Kudos to the LI team for making it all run so smoothly. [Lots of] relevant topics and engaging presenters."
Robert Magee HR Manager, Oxfam Ireland
"Another excellent Annual Review of Employment Law. Wouldn't miss it, look forward to it every year! I recommend Legal Island to all of my HR colleagues."
Jacqui Dornan Group HR Manager, Hinch Distillery
Presenters
Explore the presenters on the day
Sarah Cochrane Partner, Carson McDowell
Sarah Cochrane Partner, Carson McDowell
Sarah Cochrane 2025

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 & Pensions Team in 2009.

Sarah is dual qualified in England & Wales and Northern Irish law. She provides practical employment advice to employers from a wide variety of industries throughout the UK. This advice and assistance is given mainly to Human Resource officials and management and ranges from day to day ad hoc issues to more detailed, complex advice and project work. Sarah acts for clients in defending claims in the Industrial Tribunal and Fair Employment Tribunal. Sarah also assists Carson McDowell’s Corporate Team by providing employment advice in relation to mergers and acquisitions.

Sarah is a committee member of the Employment Law Group for Northern Ireland and a member of the Employment Lawyers Association.

Patricia Coulter Knowledge Manager, Labour Relations Agency
Patricia Coulter Knowledge Manager, Labour Relations Agency
Patricia coulter 2024

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.

Mark Devenport Journalist & Broadcaster
Mark Devenport Journalist & Broadcaster
Mark devenport 1

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.

Jason Elliott BL Barrister & Lecturer of Law, Ulster University
Jason Elliott BL Barrister & Lecturer of Law, Ulster University
Jason elliott new
LinkedIn

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.

Ciara Fulton Partner & Head of Office, Lewis Silkin (NI) LLP
Ciara Fulton Partner & Head of Office, Lewis Silkin (NI) LLP
Ciara fulton 2021
LinkedIn

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.

Paul Gillen Partner, Lewis Silkin
Paul Gillen Partner, Lewis Silkin
Paul Gillen 2025

Paul is a partner in Lewis Silkin’s Employment, Immigration and Reward division based in Belfast. He is qualified in England & Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. He provides cross jurisdiction and comparative law advice to clients throughout the UK and Ireland. Paul advises clients on contentious and non-contentious matters, including HR support, mergers & acquisitions, restructuring, executive management, performance management, TUPE, outsourcing, discrimination law, and a full range of employment litigation.

Prior to training as a lawyer Paul had more than a decade of experience working in in-house HR roles, including being Head of HR, across sectors covering retail, construction, manufacturing and logistics.

Paul is a Band 1 ranked Employment Partner in Northern Ireland, Chambers noting his ‘wealth of experience assisting clients with a broad range of employment matters including TUPE and post-acquisition restructuring, in addition to day-to-day HR support.’

Seamus McGranaghan Director – Commercial, Education, Employment & Licensing, O'Reilly Stewart Solicitors
Seamus McGranaghan Director – Commercial, Education, Employment & Licensing, O'Reilly Stewart Solicitors
Seamus mcgranaghan 2021
LinkedIn

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.

In addition to having contributed at Legal Island’s Education Updates since 2010, Seamus in association with Legal Island provides a live “Employment Law @ 11” webinar on the first Friday of each month, dealing with all aspects of Employment law affecting Northern Irish employers.

Barry Phillips Chairperson, Legal Island
Barry Phillips Chairperson, Legal Island
Barry Resized
LinkedIn

Barry Phillips (CEO) BEM founded Legal Island in 1998. He is a qualified barrister, trainer, coach and meditator and a regular speaker both here and abroad. He also volunteers as mentor to aspiring law students on the Migrant Leaders Programme.

Barry has trained hundreds of HR Professionals on how to use GenAI in the workplace and is author of the book “ChatGPT in HR – A Practical Guide for Employers and HR Professionals” 

Barry is an Ironman and lists Russian language and wild camping as his favourite pastimes

Christine Quinn Knowledge Partner, Legal Island
Christine Quinn Knowledge Partner, Legal Island
Christine Quinn
LinkedIn

Christine joined Legal Island in June 2021 and is a qualified (non-practising) employment solicitor in both NI and GB. She has a wealth of experience in the legal, voluntary and in-house sectors, as a solicitor and paralegal, in both London and Northern Ireland. She trained at a leading London human rights firm and qualified into their employment and discrimination department, before joining the BBC’s in-house employment law team. Christine subsequently worked representing members of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) before taking a career break to run her own small business. Her return to law saw her join the Law Centre (NI) as interim Head of Employment law, before her move to Legal Island.

Pricing

Simple, transparent pricing...

In Person
Early bird offer
£515.00 + VAT Standard Rate: £565.00 + VAT Early bird ends 2nd October 2025 at 5:05pm
Early bird offer ends in:
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More
Virtual
Early bird offer
£415.00 + VAT Standard Rate: £465.00 + VAT Early bird ends 2nd October 2025 at 5:05pm
Early bird offer ends in:
- days
- hours
- minutes
- seconds
More
More Charity & Small Business pricing
In Person Standard Rate: £465.00 + VATEarly Bird: £415.00 + VAT (Ends 2nd October 2025 at 5:05pm)
More Charity & Small Business pricing
Online Standard Rate: £365.00 + VATEarly Bird: £315.00 + VAT (Ends 2nd October 2025 at 5:05pm)