Our People

J A Berkeley White MA (Oxon)

Admitted in Northern Ireland in 1997 and the Republic of Ireland in 2000

Educated at Oxford, trained by the renowned London City firm Allen and Overy LLP and a Notary Public, this firms ethos and experience as a boutique highly diversified legal practice is very much the brain child of J A Berkeley White.

With over a decade of experience he has carved a formidable reputation within the Insolvency/Bankruptcy field. His commercial minded and creative approach to finding cost effective solutions has won the praise of our wide client base.

Experienced in representing clients in all types of criminal proceedings and in civil actions, Berkeley qualified as a solicitor advocate in 2009.

• Admitted in England and Wales in 1995, in Northern Ireland in 1997 and in the Republic of Ireland in 2000
• Certificate in Polish Language – Szkoła Językowa Polskiego w Sopocie.
• Notary Public in 2006
• Solicitor Advocate in 2009
• Mowi po polsku (Polish speaker)

In addition, J A Berkeley White is very much the driving force behind our Private Client Department. He specialises in conveyancing, in all areas of relationship breakdown including high value financial matters, complex children disputes with particular emphasis on international jurisdiction cases. He is accomplished in preparing and advising on pre nuptial and co-habitation agreements. His practice also includes advising clients in the areas of Wills and Trusts, Enduring Powers of Attorneys and administration of complex estates.

Marie Bell

Accounts Manager

Marie joined Berkeley White in 2000 having worked in various commercial and legal accounts departments.

She utilizes over 25 years of financial experience to advise the firm in all aspects of accounts management.

Kiará Tarrant LL.B LL.M

Admitted in Northern Ireland in 2007

Kiará is part of our Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department at Berkeley White. She has a broad, commercial-based litigation practice with particular expertise in large scale commercial contractual disputes, partnership and property related disputes and professional negligence cases.

Acting on behalf of wide spectrum of clients in both the public and private sector including individuals, partnerships, companies, directors, and trustees in bankruptcy she advises on all aspects of insolvency. In addition she has particular expertise in advising our government clients in matters which range from fraud investigations to complex cross-border insolvency matters including request for recovery cases under the EU Council Directive of Mutual Assistance.

Prior to joining Berkeley White Kiará gained extensive experience in complex head, spinal and clinical personal injury litigation whilst working in house for a government body in South Africa advising in the defence of high value catastrophic litigation matters. She also obtained a LLM Masters in Impact Litigation from the University of Pretoria, South Africa before returning to Northern Ireland to graduate from the Institute of Professional Legal Studies at Queen’s University with distinction in 2007.

Kelly Donnelly

Senior Legal Executive

Kelly heads the legal support team for the firms Property Department.

She brings 27 years of experience in an array of fields including conveyancing, matrimonial and probate. Over the last ten years Kelly has focused her experience in the Conveyancing Department and specialises in providing tailor made services in all aspects of commercial and residential conveyancing. She advises a broad range of clients from private clients to developers on the disposal and acquisitions of freehold and leasehold properties, on landlord and tenant issues and on all aspects of property finance and mortgages.

Having an established rapport with our clients and a sound understanding of the environment within which they operate enables her to provide valued services them and to produce efficient cost effective results within tight deadlines.

Adam Kirkpatrick LL.B

Apprentice Solicitor

Educated at Queens University, Adam joined the firm as an Apprentice in 2008.

Having specialized in Medical Law at undergraduate level he is currently enjoying his seat within the Litigation Department, in advance of taking up his place at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies in January 2009.

Kathleen Haughey

Senior Legal Executive

Kathleen heads the legal support team for the firm’s Litigation Department. With 22 years experience Kathleen is a valuable member of the team having considerable experience in all aspects of litigation including general commercial disputes. Kathleen also has a wealth of experience in residential conveyancing.

Kathleen now concentrates primarily on personal injury, public and employer’s liability and commercial litigation matters in both the High Court and County Court. Providing services to both plaintiff and defendants she is valued by clients who like her pragmatic and efficient approach to what can often be complex and traumatic cases.