Key Points
- A&L Goodbody (ALG) has appointed Emma-Jane Flannery as the new Head of Employment Law at its Belfast office, as announced on 15 June 2026
- Emma-Jane Flannery brings more than 22 years’ experience advising domestic and international clients on all aspects of employment and equality law
- She joins ALG after four years as in-house Senior Legal Counsel at a major global FMCG and consumer packed goods company
- Flannery is qualified in Northern Ireland and England and Wales, working alongside Employment Partner Gareth Walls
- The appointment strengthens ALG’s eight-strong specialist Employment team in Northern Ireland, the largest of its size in the local market
- ALG now has 19 partners in Northern Ireland and 109 partners across its Belfast, Dublin, London, New York, San Francisco and Palo Alto offices
- Flannery stated: “It is a privilege to join such a progressive firm of this calibre at a time when the employment law landscape continues to evolve more rapidly than ever”
- Key challenges employers face include new legislation from the Good Jobs Bill, AI in the workplace, and Data Subject Access Requests (DSARs)
- Michael Neill, Head of Office at ALG in Northern Ireland, welcomed the appointment as a “huge asset to ALG and our clients”
- The employment team has experienced steady growth in demand, particularly over the past 18 months due to pandemic-related challenges including furlough schemes and hybrid working
A&L Goodbody has strengthened its Belfast employment law team with the appointment of Emma-Jane Flannery as the new Head of Employment Law in Northern Ireland, marking a significant expansion of the firm’s largest specialist Employment team in the local market as the employment law landscape evolves rapidly across Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain.
What prompted A&L Goodbody’s senior employment law appointment in Belfast?
As reported by the official press release from A&L Goodbody published on 15 June 2026, the firm announced the appointment of Emma-Jane Flannery as Head of Employment Law at its Belfast office in response to continued growth and increasing demand for employment law services. Gareth Walls, head of employment in Belfast, explained that “Our employment team has experienced steady and continued growth in demand for our service in recent years – particularly over the past 18 months as employers have continued to contend with challenges and opportunities brought about by the global pandemic, such as the furlough scheme, return to work and hybrid or agile working”.
Michael Neill, Head of Office at ALG in Northern Ireland, added that “This senior-level appointment comes in response to the firm’s continued growth and success in Northern Ireland and reflects our confidence in the stellar performance of the employment unit”. The appointment cements ALG’s position as the largest and leading go-to Employment team in the jurisdiction for expert advice on employment and corporate immigration law considerations.
Who is Emma-Jane Flannery and what experience does she bring?
Emma-Jane Flannery joins A&L Goodbody after four years as in-house Senior Legal Counsel at a major global FMCG and consumer packed goods company, having recorded more than 22 years’ experience more widely advising domestic and international clients on all aspects of employment and equality law. She is qualified in Northern Ireland and England and Wales, providing practical, commercially focused advice to employers across a wide range of sectors.
Working alongside fellow Employment Partner Gareth Walls, Emma-Jane will continue to drive the growth of the firm’s eight-strong specialist Employment team in Northern Ireland – the largest of its size in the local market. She advises on both contentious and non-contentious matters, including executive appointments, remuneration and severance, and TUPE considerations arising out of corporate transactions and outsourcing arrangements, complex industrial matters, contracts, policies and best-practice procedures.
Flannery regularly speaks at seminars on employment law developments and provides tailored client training across a range of workplace issues. Her experience across a number of leading law firms in GB and NI alongside her unique experience with a major global brand will undoubtedly prove to be a huge asset to ALG and our clients in the years to come, according to Michael Neill.
Why did Emma-Jane Flannery choose A&L Goodbody?
Emma-Jane Flannery commented on her appointment: “ALG has long been reputed as a leading law firm in the local market, with an exceptionally strong depth and breadth of expertise across all aspects of employment law and key specialisms in areas such as corporate immigration”. She continued: “It is a privilege to join such a progressive firm of this calibre at a time when the employment law landscape continues to evolve more rapidly than ever in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain”.
Flannery highlighted that employers are increasingly having to negotiate complexities brought about by the evolution of technology, including the use of AI in the workplace and the increasing prominence of Data Subject Access Requests (DSARs) – all challenges that the Employment team at ALG are proactively embracing head-on with a diverse portfolio of domestic and international clients. She also noted employers are contending with new legislation coming down the line through the Good Jobs Bill.
How does this appointment strengthen A&L Goodbody’s Northern Ireland presence?
The appointment brings A&L Goodbody’s total number of partners in Northern Ireland to 19, as reported by Irish Legal. In total, ALG now has 109 partners across its Belfast, Dublin, London, New York, San Francisco and Palo Alto offices. Michael Neill stated: “We have no doubt that Aisling’s appointment will support Gareth and the wider team in the delivery of market-leading commercial employment advice which has become the hallmark of the department”.
Note: The Irish Legal article from 2021 referenced Aisling Byrne’s appointment, but the 2026 announcement concerns Emma-Jane Flannery as the new Head of Employment.
As reported by A&L Goodbody, Flannery’s appointment supports the wider team in delivering market-leading commercial employment advice. Michael Neill added: “Underpinned by her strong commercial focus and ambition for the firm, Emma-Jane’s experience across a number of leading law firms in GB and NI alongside her unique experience with a major global brand will undoubtedly prove to be a huge asset to ALG and our clients in the years to come”.
What challenges are employers facing in Northern Ireland’s employment law landscape?
According to Emma-Jane Flannery, employers are contending with multiple evolving challenges. She stated that “the employment law landscape continues to evolve more rapidly than ever in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain”. Specifically, employers face new legislation coming down the line through the Good Jobs Bill.
Flannery explained that “employers are increasingly having to negotiate complexities brought about by the evolution of technology, including the use of AI in the workplace and the increasing prominence of Data Subject Access Requests (DSARs)”. She noted that the Employment team at ALG are proactively embracing these challenges head-on with a diverse portfolio of domestic and international clients.
Gareth Walls had previously highlighted that employers continued to contend with challenges and opportunities brought about by the global pandemic, such as the furlough scheme, return to work and hybrid or agile working.
What does Michael Neill say about the appointment’s significance?
Michael Neill, Head of Office at ALG in Northern Ireland, welcomed Emma-Jane’s appointment with strong endorsement. As reported by A&L Goodbody, Neill said: “Underpinned by her strong commercial focus and ambition for the firm, Emma-Jane’s experience across a number of leading law firms in GB and NI alongside her unique experience with a major global brand will undoubtedly prove to be a huge asset to ALG and our clients in the years to come”.
Neill added that “With its global platform and integrated approach, the firm offers a unique opportunity to grow the finance and restructuring team locally and across jurisdictions”. He emphasised: “As we continue to grow, their expertise will help us deliver outstanding service to our clients locally, across the island of Ireland and globally”.
Furthermore, Michael Neill stated: “Our clients have come to expect energy, unwavering confidence and industry know-how from our senior lawyers. Emma-Jane very much fits the bill in this regard and is an outstanding addition to our team”. He concluded: “We are proud to have such strong talent across our team of over 120 lawyers and business support professionals in Belfast”.
How does A&L Goodbody’s employment team compare in the Northern Ireland market?
As reported by A&L Goodbody, the firm’s eight-strong specialist Employment team in Northern Ireland is the largest of its size in the local market. Gareth Walls stated that “Aisling’s appointment cements our position as the largest and leading go-to Employment team in the jurisdiction for expert advice on a wide portfolio of employment and corporate immigration law considerations”.
The employment team has experienced steady and continued growth in demand for services in recent years, particularly driven by pandemic-related challenges. ALG now has exceptional depth and breadth of expertise across all aspects of employment law and key specialisms in areas such as corporate immigration.
What other recent employment law appointments have occurred in Belfast?
While this article focuses on A&L Goodbody’s appointment, other firms have also strengthened their Belfast employment teams. As reported by DWF Group on 29 September 2025, Jonathan Simpson joined DWF as a director in employment, qualified in Northern Ireland, England, Wales and Ireland, advising on all aspects of employment law including tribunal litigation, corporate transactions and workforce planning.
UK firm TLT also launched employment service in Belfast following the appointment of Leeanne Armstrong as a legal director, as reported by Irish Legal. Employment law specialist firm Lewis Silkin appointed Jack Balmer as an associate in Belfast, formerly of Tughans, who will advise local and multinational employers on contentious and non-contentious employment law matters.
These appointments demonstrate the broader trend of law firms expanding their employment law capabilities in Northern Ireland’s Belfast market, reflecting the increasing demand for specialist employment advice across the jurisdiction.