Committee 
David Andrews
Committee Member
Lorraine McKeown
Institute Representative
Claire Reid
Immediate past chair
The Committee
These are the elected committee members for the year 2009/10.
John-A.Greer, Bank of Ireland - Chair
John read law at Queens University and graduated with 2:1 Honours in Law & Accountancy in 2001. He subsequently obtained his professional qualification at the IPLS in Belfast graduating with Distinction.
After training and practicing with Wilson Nesbitt Solicitors John spent 3 years managing the Litigation Department at McManus Kearney.
He now works in-house at Bank of Ireland advising the Bank on all aspects of its business. Away from work he enjoys most sports and outdoor pursuits. John has served on the NIYSA comittee since 2004.
Email: john.greer@boini.com
Laura Baker, Forde Campbell LLP - Vice chair
Laura was educated at Queen’s University Belfast where she obtained a 2:1 LLB in Law and Accounting.
She completed her training contract with Millar McCall Wylie Solicitors and graduated from Queen’s University Institute of Professional Legal Studies with a distinction. She now works for Forde Campbell LLP in their corporate department.
Laura has been a member of the committee since 2005.
Ciaran Fegan, Graham Construction - Treasurer
Ciarán was educated at Queen’s University, Belfast, graduating with a Joint Honours LLB in Law and Accounting. Having completed his legal training at the IPLS, he spent several years with a general practice firm, based in greater Belfast, working mainly in the fields of Judicial Review and Public Administrative Law.
Ciarán is now employed as In-House Solicitor by the GRAHAM Group, which offers services to a wide range of public and private sector clients in the UK and Ireland within three operational business units — Construction, Asset Management and Project Investment.
Tel: 028 90 891 880
Email: ciaran.fegan@graham.co.uk
Conor Houston, John J Rice & Company Solicitors - Secretary
Conor Houston graduated in 2004 from QUB. Attended the European Public Law Group Academy in Greece before studying a Masters in Human Rights Law (Cross-Border) between QUB and NUI Galway. Conor is a Solicitor with John J Rice & Company Solicitors in Belfast. He has an Interest in criminal, family, judicial review and human rights law.
Recently, Conor was a finalist in the Irish Times Debate and 2008 winner of the world final at the Louis M. Brown International Client Counseling Competition in Bangalore, India.
Tel: 028 90 313 888
E-mail: chouston@johnjricesolicitors.com
Micheal Graham, Cleaver Fulton Rankin - Membership Secretary
Michael is a graduate of the University of Newcastle upon Tyne and he undertook his professional training in London. He qualified as a solicitor in July 2002.
Michael is currently an Associate Solicitor in the Private Client Department of Cleaver Fulton Rankin Solicitors in Belfast. He is also the Secretary of the Northern Ireland Branch of the Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners.
Maria McCloskey, Napiers Solicitors - CPD Co-Cordinator
Maria graduated from Queen’s University Belfast in 2003 with a 2:1 honours degree in Law and Politics. In 2003 she was elected to the Executive Committee of Queen’s Students’ Union and in 2004 was elected President.
Maria then gained a training contract with Napier & Sons Solicitors and graduated with distinction from the Institute of Professional Legal Studies in September 2007. She now works in the firm’s litigation department.
Richard Craig, Mills Selig Solicitors - Committee Member
Richard was educated at Royal Belfast Academical Institution, University of Dundee, Institute of Professional Legal Studies. Richard trained with Johnsons Solicitors and qualified as a Solicitor in September 2004.
He spent four years specializing in Defence Civil Litigation before joining the Litigation Department of Mills Selig in July 2008.
Tel: 028 90 243 878
Email: richard.craig@nilaw.com
Lorraine Keown, McCallion Keown Solicitors - Committee Member
Lorraine graduated in Law from the University of Ulster in 2008 having worked part-time throughout her course with Bogue & McNulty and then McCallion Keown Solicitors when the firm changed ownership in January 2006.
On graduating from the University of Ulster Lorraine took up a place at the IPLS starting in September 2008, continuing to work with McCallion Keown Solicitors as an apprentice solicitor in various areas of law.
As well as being the IPLS representative on the NIYSA Committee, Lorraine is also a member of the IPLS Social Committee, helping to organise many social and fundraising events for trainees at the Institute.
Tel. 028 9074 0457
Email: lorraine@mccallionkeown.co.uk
David Andrews, Committee Member
After graduating from UUJ in Law and Economics, David went on to work as a legal executive in Wilson Nesbitt Solicitors from September 2006 – August 2007. On obtaining a place at the IPLS in 2007, David then began his Solicitor Apprenticeship with Diamond Heron Solicitors in September 2007 – June 2008 where he worked in a wide range of legal areas.
David then transferred his apprenticeship to Judith Blair Employment Solicitors in Belfast in June 2008 where he now works in a more specialised firm. As well as being the IPLS representative on the NIYSA Committee, David also captains the successful IPLS soccer team, and has organised numerous social/fund raising events for his peers at the Institute.
Claire Reid, McKenna Sweeney McKeown Solicitors - Immediate past chair
Claire was educated at the University of Ulster where she obtained a 2:1 LLB in Law and Government. She then went on to study a post graduate diploma in Law and Administration at the University of Ulster. After completing her training contract at Mills Selig Solicitors and graduating from Queens University Institute of Professional Legal Studies, Claire took a working holiday in Australia for 9 months. She now works in MSM Solicitors in their Property Department, specialising in residential conveyancing and property.