Leading figures from the legal, medical and financial sectors have gathered in Belfast for a major specialist conference examining best practice and emerging challenges in personal injury and healthcare litigation in Northern Ireland.
Hosted by O’Reilly Stewart Solicitors at the Hilton Hotel, Belfast, the one‑day conference, Promoting Excellence in Personal Injury and Healthcare Litigation, brought together practitioners working at the forefront of high‑value and complex civil claims.
The bespoke event featured expert-led sessions on the negotiation and settlement of financial loss claims, forensic accountancy evidence, and the fast‑evolving area of psychiatric injury in litigation. Speakers included James Rowley KC, former Chair of the Personal Injuries Bar Association; Nicola Niblock, Partner and Head of Sumer NI’s Forensic Accountancy Practice; Dr Caroline Donnelly, Consultant Psychiatrist; and Martin Wolfe KC of the Bar of Northern Ireland.
The programme explored the increasing sophistication of personal injury and medical negligence litigation, with a strong focus on evidential standards, valuation of claims, expert evidence and recent judicial developments. Delegates also heard practical insights into managing expert meetings, testing quantum, and securing fair and proportionate settlements.
Speaking following the conference, Patrick Mullarkey, Head of Healthcare at O’Reilly Stewart Solicitors, said “This was a highly engaging and valuable day, bringing together outstanding expertise from across law, medicine and forensic accountancy. The discussions reflected the reality of modern litigation, where collaboration and rigorous evidence preparation are essential to achieving just outcomes for all parties.
“From complex financial loss claims to the assessment and proof of psychiatric injury, the sessions provided practical guidance and strategic insight for practitioners dealing with some of the most challenging areas of civil litigation today.”
The event reinforced O’Reilly Stewart Solicitors’ commitment to professional development and leadership within the personal injury and healthcare litigation sector, offering practitioners timely expertise and a forum for interdisciplinary discussion as the legal landscape continues to evolve.