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Donnelly Neary & Donnelly Solicitors litigation - family law - wills - probate - commercial - employment law - agriculture law - all Irel Solicitors , Notary Public .

Bankruptcy Law , Family law , Medical Negligence

PM vows to tackle non-compete clausesAndy Burnham has announced plans to limit non-compete clauses in employment contrac...
10/10/2026

PM vows to tackle non-compete clauses
Andy Burnham has announced plans to limit non-compete clauses in employment contracts, arguing that they hinder innovation and job mobility. Speaking at a business summit in Manchester, the Prime Minister said such clauses often leave workers unpaid after leaving jobs and restrict firms from hiring talent. The Government is considering various restrictions, including a total ban or limits based on salary. The Recruitment and Employment Confederation has warned against “sweeping” changes to non-compete rules, saying that they play a “vital role” in protecting commercially sensitive information and client

It Doesn’t Have To Be DeathWhen people think about succession planning, they tend to think about death.But what if the r...
10/10/2026

It Doesn’t Have To Be Death

When people think about succession planning, they tend to think about death.

But what if the real problem is incapacity?

You could be perfectly healthy today and unable to work tomorrow because of:

an accident;

an unexpected illness;

a serious injury;

a period of hospitalisation;

or simply losing the capacity to manage your affairs.

Your clients don’t stop needing you because you are in hospital.

Your employees don’t stop needing answers.

Your business expenses don’t stop.

Your regulatory obligations don’t necessarily disappear.

And your family may have no idea how your professional practice operates.

That is why a proper professional continuity plan should consider more than death.

It should ask:

What happens if I am alive — but I can’t run my business?

That’s a very different question.

And one that many small professional practices have never asked.

If you’ve been injured because of someone else’s actions or negligence, understanding your rights is an important first ...
10/10/2026

If you’ve been injured because of someone else’s actions or negligence, understanding your rights is an important first step. Our guide to personal injury claims in Northern Ireland explains the process, key time limits and the evidence that may support your case. With clear advice from experienced solicitors, it helps you approach a difficult situation with greater confidence and clarity.

https://dndlaw.com/guide-to-personal-injury-claims-ni/

If You Died Tonight, What Would Happen To Your Clients?It’s an uncomfortable question.But if you run a small professiona...
09/10/2026

If You Died Tonight, What Would Happen To Your Clients?

It’s an uncomfortable question.

But if you run a small professional practice, it is one worth asking.

Imagine you died tonight.

Your family knows where your personal will is.

But does anyone know:

Who your clients are?

Which matters are urgent?

Where their files are?

How to contact them?

What information can legally be disclosed?

What insurance arrangements are in place?

What bills need paying?

What work is outstanding?

What happens to your professional email?

What happens to your website and social-media accounts?

Who knows enough about the business to start dealing with all of this?

For a large organisation, there may be a team to pick things up.

For a sole practitioner, there may be nobody.

The smaller the practice, the greater the dependency on one person can be.

That is why business continuity isn’t just an issue for large companies.

It may be even more important for the smallest ones.

Being dismissed from a job can leave you with a lot of questions - including whether the decision was fair.Unfair dismis...
09/10/2026

Being dismissed from a job can leave you with a lot of questions - including whether the decision was fair.

Unfair dismissal can relate to both the reason an employee was dismissed and the process followed by their employer. In Northern Ireland, eligibility to bring a claim can also depend on factors such as length of service and the circumstances surrounding the dismissal.

Every situation is different, so it is important to get advice based on your own circumstances.

If you have concerns about a dismissal or another employment-related matter, contact The Law Group to speak with our team:
https://thelawgroup.co

I was honoured to be invited as a guest of the Royal Dutch Association of Civil-law Notaries (KNB) at their congress “No...
09/10/2026

I was honoured to be invited as a guest of the Royal Dutch Association of Civil-law Notaries (KNB) at their congress “Notary without Borders” at Ahoy Rotterdam today, on behalf of the College of Notaries Northern Ireland.

My sincere thanks to our Dutch colleagues for their generous hospitality and for a thought-provoking programme. Topics such as cross-border heir research, divorce without a judge and the resilience of the notarial profession are very relevant to those of us practising close to the Irish border, where cross-jurisdictional work is a daily reality.

The theme of the day is a good reminder that cooperation is essential for notaries across Europe, and I look forward to strengthening the links between our professions.

Dank u wel to the KNB and everyone I met.

Your Will Is Not Your Business Continuity PlanA common misconception is that your will takes care of everything if you d...
08/10/2026

Your Will Is Not Your Business Continuity Plan

A common misconception is that your will takes care of everything if you die.

It doesn’t.

Your will primarily deals with your estate.

It doesn’t necessarily tell someone what to do about:

• your clients
• confidential files
• ongoing work
• professional obligations
• passwords and digital accounts
• professional insurance
• employees
• suppliers
• premises
• outstanding invoices
• regulatory requirements

For some professions, there may also be specific professional or ethical requirements about what happens to clients if the practitioner dies or becomes unable to work.

That is why the idea of a clinical will is so interesting.

BACP, for example, has specific guidance dealing with clinical wills and digital legacies in the counselling professions. (BACP⁠)

It raises a much wider question for every sole practitioner:

Do you have a plan for your practice — or just a will for your estate?

our brief on legal news on October 3 2026
08/10/2026

our brief on legal news on October 3 2026

Can beneficiaries challenge decisions made during the administration of an estate? In some circumstances, concerns about...
08/10/2026

Can beneficiaries challenge decisions made during the administration of an estate? In some circumstances, concerns about a will’s validity, undue influence, lack of capacity or unfair treatment may justify legal action—but strict time limits and evidence can be crucial. DND Law explains the key issues beneficiaries should consider before taking steps that may affect family relationships and valuable assets.

https://dndlaw.com/can-beneficiaries-challenge-estate-decisions/

The Will You Probably Haven’t Heard OfSomething caught my attention this week while dealing with a professional client.H...
07/10/2026

The Will You Probably Haven’t Heard Of

Something caught my attention this week while dealing with a professional client.

He works in the counselling profession and told me about the requirement he has been dealing with around having a clinical will and arrangements for what happens to his clients if he suddenly becomes unable to practise.

It stopped me in my tracks.

I have dealt with plenty of wills.

But a clinical will?

It made me think about how many other small professional practices have considered the same problem.

If you are a sole practitioner and something happens to you tomorrow:

Who knows what to do?

Who contacts your clients?

Who deals with confidential records?

Who knows which matters are urgent?

Who knows what insurance you have?

Who can access the information needed to keep things moving?

Your ordinary will deals with your estate.

But what deals with your professional responsibilities?

Perhaps every sole practitioner needs to ask themselves one question:

“If I wasn’t here tomorrow, could somebody else work out what to do?”

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Newry
BT341ED

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