Byrne Wallace Shields LLP recognised for excellence in client service at the International Client Choice Awards

Byrne Wallace Shields LLP is pleased to announce that partners Mark Kavanagh and Michelle Ní Longáin have been awarded the International Client Awards 2016 for Ireland in the categories of Banking and Employment & Benefits.             

Established in 2005, the International Client Choice Awards recognise those partners around the world that stand apart for the excellent client service they provide. The criteria for the awards focus on the ability to add real value to clients’ business above and beyond other players in the market. This year the awards recognised 383 winners across 68 jurisdictions worldwide. 

As Head of the Byrne Wallace Shields LLP Banking & Finance team, Mark advises both national and international financial institutions, non-institutional lenders, housing associations and corporate and individual borrowers on a broad range of banking matters including secured and unsecured lending, development finance and real estate investment finance, debt restructurings, refinancing and portfolio loan sales.  

Clients who nominated Mark for the award described him as "an excellent lawyer" who "works hard to understand our aims and objectives.” Others cited that “his legal advice, structuring and commercial awareness are top notch” and commended his "integrity, commerciality, responsiveness and expert legal knowledge." 

Michelle is a partner in the Byrne Wallace Shields LLP Employment Law team and leads on the Public Sector practice.  She has extensive experience advising and representing private and public sector clients, primarily employers, for many years in all areas of employment, equality and administrative law.  Michelle has also previously practised in these areas of law both in England and Northern Ireland.  

Michelle was recommended for the Client Choice Award by clients who described her as "a consummate professional; she is a fully rounded, experienced, responsive and knowledgeable legal adviser in the employment area.” “She demonstrates the highest level of professional integrity which - along with her technical competence and wide-ranging experience - assures us that we are receiving the best advice possible, often in difficult circumstances.” “Michelle's tactical and strategic approach to any situation makes her a fantastic and valuable business partner.”

Commenting on the awards, Catherine Guy, Managing Partner, said “at Byrne Wallace Shields LLP, our lawyers share a common view of the importance of our clients and the awards made to Mark and Michelle are testament to our commitment to our clients. Our clients are at the centre of everything we do and we focus on delivering an excellent service. This extends to the quality and standard of the legal advice we provide, how we communicate with our clients, how we operate as a business and how we collaborate with each other to deliver the best possible outcomes for our clients.  

“Overall our aim is to make our client’s experience of working with us positive and as successful as possible and we continuously challenge ourselves to find innovative ways to deliver an even better client service.”

Pictured left-right:  Mark Kavanagh, Partner, Byrne Wallace Shields LLP Banking & Finance; and Michelle Ní Longáin, Partners, Byrne Wallace Shields LLP  Employment Law Team