The Law Society of Northern Ireland - Presidential and Chief Executive Team 2011-2012

PRESIDENT - MRS IMELDA MCMILLAN

Imelda McMillan was educated at Sacred Heart Grammar School in Newry and studied law at Queens University, Belfast.  After graduating in 1987 she spent two years in community work in West Belfast as a project co-ordinator. Subsequently, in 1989, she became a trainee solicitor to Garrett O`Reilly of O`Reilly Stewart Solicitors, Belfast. She graduated from the Institute of Professional Legal Studies in 1991.

In 2000, Imelda became a Partner in O`Reilly Stewart and is currently the Staff Partner, responsible for all personnel matters within the firm. She is Head of the Property Department and specialises in Reconstruction of Title, house building developments, apartment schemes including site acquisitions and all aspects of property law.

She was Chairperson of the Non-contentious Business Committee and is a long-standing Council member of the Law Society, having previously served on the Home Charter Committee, the Library Committee and the Family Committee. She is currently a member of the Clients Complaints Committee and the Access to Justice Committee.

Imelda is married, with two children and lives in Jordanstown. She is actively involved in her church, serving on the Finance Committee and is an ardent fundraiser for a number of Northern Ireland charities, previously raising £10,000 for the Friends of Montgomery House.

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT - MR BRIAN H. SPEERS

He was educated at Bangor Grammar School and Southampton University. He undertook his vocational training at Institute of Professional Legal Studies from 1980 – 81 and was apprenticed to John G Neill Solicitor in the firm of Eric Morrow & Co – now CMG Solicitors.

He is the managing partner at CMG and is based in their Belfast office where he undertakes work in relation to house building development, planning agreements and enquiries, landowner consortia, apartment schemes, commercial property and commercial disputes and resolutions.

Brian is acknowledged as a leading mediation solicitor and has undertaken and delivered the SLS/Law Society Mediation Training programme jointly with David Gaston and Alva Brangam Q.C.  He regularly lectures on mediation and arbitration both locally and internationally.

In 2002,Brian became a member of the Council of the Law Society and he has been instrumental in many committees not least as Chair of the ADR Committee and as Chair of Education Committee. Over the last number of years he has been very much at the heart of Society’s Education Review Working Group which has completed a review of vocational training for solicitors.  Their recommendations have recently been approved by Council

He was a founding member of the Northern Ireland Young Solicitors Group and was Chair from 1988 – 1990. He is the first Chair of the Young Solicitors Group to become the President of the Society.

JUNIOR VICE PRESIDENT - MR MICHAEL ROBINSON

Michael Robinson was educated at Annadale Grammar School and undertook his primary Law Degree at Queens University in Belfast before undertaking his vocational training at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies.

Following completion of his vocational training he began work in the practice of Harrison, Leitch & Logan based in Belfast where he trained and specialised in defence litigation. 

In 1986 he was invited to join Cunningham & Dickey in Belfast City Centre where he has remained, becoming a partner in 1989.

Michael continues to practise in public liability and employer’s liability defence litigation as well as the broad range of services offered in general practice including high-value matrimonial/civil partnership property matters, plaintiff clinical negligence litigation and commercial and residential property matters.

He has unique experience of defending public bodies and their staff in unlawful death investigations and criminal and civil proceedings consequent thereon.

In 2005, he was elected to serve on the Council of the Law Society of Northern Ireland. Since becoming a Council Member he has been proactive in the Society’s work serving as chair to a variety of committees. 

Most recently he has been Chairman of the Law Society Client Complaints Committee and was instrumental in drafting the Solicitors (Client Communication) Practice Regulations 2008 and the client retainer letters and in house complaints procedures mandated under those Regulations.

In 2005 Michael undertook the Law Society/National Institute for Trial Advocacy, advanced advocacy course and this year completed the Law Society Mediation course delivered by the current Senior Vice President, Brian Speers and his colleagues.

Outside of his work Michael is Registrar at The Cathedral Church of St. Anne, Belfast and has a great interest in the performing arts. He has served as Board Member and Chairman of "Kabosh" an award-winning independent theatre company and is currently a Board Member and Director of Ulster Youth Orchestra which is the national youth orchestra in this Jurisdiction.

Chief Executive - Mr Alan Hunter

Alan Hunter, a solicitor educated at Queen’s University Belfast, was appointed Chief Executive of the Law Society of Northern Ireland in October 2007.

Previously he held a series of key positions in the Senior Civil Service including the Director of Legal Aid, Director of Judicial Services and Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission.

Working with Presidents and the Council of the Law Society of Northern Ireland he has led the development and delivery of an engagement strategy with members and key interested parties including members of the Northern Ireland Assembly and others in civic society.

He has also been involved in overseeing the return of the Law Society to the new Law Society House situated in the heart of the legal quarter in Belfast city centre.