Sarah McKeown
Sarah McKeown opened McKeown and Company Solicitors on the Ravenhill Road, Belfast on 6th December 2010 and since then the Firm has gone from strength to strength, building a steady and reliable reputation for high quality legal representation by our solicitors who are committed to getting the best for our clients.
McKeown and Company offer a diverse range of services in all areas of legal advice from Personal Injury Claims and Wills to Family and Crime.
Sarah graduated from Queens University in 2003 and after interning in an American Criminal Defence Law Firm, she returned home to Belfast to specialise in Criminal Defence and Civil Rights. Over the years, Sarah has brought her considerable experience in Criminal Defence work to assist clients with police station interviews and bail applications through to Magistrate and Crown Court Hearings. Sarah also specialises in Appeals and Reviews of Public Bodies for clients as part of her Criminal Defence work.
Sarah represents a vast number of clients in both serious and non-serious criminal defence work ranging from general crime through to money laundering, drug importing, historic sex abuse claims (including internet image cases) and extradition. Sarah’s specialist knowledge allows her to personally represent clients at all court levels and her close working relationship with leading Criminal Defence Counsels ensure her clients receive the very best representation at all times.
Sarah’s unrivalled commitment to ensuring the best outcome for her clients has resulted in a number of high profile criminal defence cases which have challenged and changed our criminal defence laws. Recently, Sarah’s expertise was instrumental in challenging the definition of Dangerous Dogs and she has a number of decisions reported in our Law Reports as a result of her work.
As well as being a member of the Police Station Duty Solicitor Scheme, Sarah is also a member of the Criminal Solicitors Association and undertakes work both through the Legal Aid Scheme and privately paying clients.
As well as an extensive criminal defence practice, Sarah also assists clients with Civil Litigation whether it be for motor accident and personal injury claims through to harassment injunctions. Sarah is also a member of the Law Society Children’s Order Panel and has represented parents throughout all court levels in Northern Ireland.
If you wish to chat to Sarah regarding any legal issues please contact her at sarah@mckeownsolicitors.com
Suzanne Rice
Suzanne Rice joins our Firm as our specialist Family Law Solicitor. She qualified from Queens University Belfast in 2002 with a Degree in Law with French. For over 10 years Suzanne has worked extensively in the area of Divorce and Children’s Law and she brings with her an unrivalled reputation – not only for her knowledge but her approach to assisting clients in a straightforward, open and friendly manner.
Suzanne is a Specialist Children’s Solicitor and is on the Northern Ireland Guardian Ad Litem Agency and the Law Society Children’s Order Panels. She represents children and parents in cases involving residence, contact and paternity disputes as well as defending parents involved in Care cases brought by Social Services. She has considerable experience in assisting parents who live outside Northern Ireland and also in representing parents whose children are abducted. In the past Suzanne has worked closely with the Australian, Irish and Dutch governments in cases where children have been abducted.
Over the years, Suzanne has built up an extensive knowledge in Divorce, Dissolving Civil Partnerships and Separations. Suzanne has worked on a number of high profile divorces involving extensive properties both in Northern Ireland and abroad and she has specialist knowledge of public sector pensions. Suzanne’s approach is to offer practical advice to clients in a clear and concise manner. In addition, Suzanne is a collaborative divorce lawyer which allows her to work closely with separating couples to achieve the best solutions without having to go to Court.
Where a court case is required, Suzanne is an Advanced Advocate which allows her to represent clients in all courts in Northern Ireland from start to finish. Suzanne works closely with Women’s Aid Northern Ireland assisting women (and children) who have experienced domestic violence and require Non Molestation Orders and Injunctions.
In her spare time, Suzanne is Vice Chair of Condico (Solicitors for Children in Northern Ireland), a Council Member of the Law Society of Northern Ireland, a Director of the Children’s Law Centre and she also offers free advice to Women’s Aid in their “One Stop” Shop scheme.
If you wish to chat to Suzanne regarding any family law issues please contact her at suzanne@mckeownsolicitors.com
Paul McCann
Prior to even graduating as a solicitor in 2009 from the Institute at Queens University, Paul had acquired a large degree of experience in Civil and Criminal Work. Since graduating he has specialized in Criminal work but also deals in all areas of Litigation Law including medical negligence, road traffic accidents and ‘tripping’ claims, family law and public law.
As someone from the local area, all issues pertinent to local issues remain close to his heart and is always ready to challenge Public Bodies in respect of matters which affect the community. He is willing to challenge or judicially review these bodies in respect of issues such as schooling issues ,failure to treat a person medically or anything else which he believes can be open to challenge. He will always advise clients in respect of any issue which may be close to their own heart and which they feel should be challenged. Having qualified in 2007 in Law and Government he can recognize the issues which the Public Bodies should be challenged upon.
He also has experience in dealing with the Coroner’s Court and helping families in time of extreme difficulty.
As a criminal defence solicitor, he has a wealth of experience in representing clients not only in high profile cases but also in the Magistrates Courts, and recognizes the difficulties people have on appearing at Court on the lowest level of charge. His experience ranges from representing clients in the Supreme Court in Dublin to appearing at police stations at the very start of the criminal process.
Paul has experience of working in Personal injury claims at High Court and County Court level for fifteen years and will always seek out the best possible result for clients, despite the hostile approach of insurers presently in respect of genuine claimants.
He has also an affinity with persons who suffer from mental health conditions and unfortunately find themselves subject to Mental Health Orders. He has a long experience of visiting clients wherever they may be detained and assisting them before Mental Health Review tribunals. He always shows a lot of compassion for people who find themselves in these circumstances and who really wish to progress their lives.
Paul is a recognized solicitor-advocate and advocates at all levels of the Court process from Tribunals to the Crown Court.
If you wish to contact Paul phone the office or email on paul@mckeownsolicitors.com
