Ciara is a senior associate in the energy & infrastructure team and is based in our Belfast office.
Expertise
Ciara has extensive experience of PPP work and has advised both public and private sector clients in many of the PPP projects completed to date in Northern Ireland. She has advised in many sectors including transport, education, accommodation and health.
Ciara has worked as a tutor at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies in Belfast in the area of company law and is the co-author of the Northern Ireland chapter of a Practical Guide to PPP in Europe.
Recent Successes:
- part of the team advising the Western Health and Social Care Trust in relation to the procurement of an acute hospital for the South West of Northern Ireland. As well as being the first complete hospital in Northern Ireland to be privately financed, it is also the first project to be procured under the new Competitive Dialogue regime. Financial close was reached in May 2009
- lead adviser to the successful consortium on the East Down and Lisburn Colleges Project which was procured by the South Eastern Regional College. Financial close was achieved in April 2008
- advising Belfast Education & Library Board and the SIB on the Belfast Schools Strategic Partnering PPP Scheme, the first scheme of its kind in Ireland which will lead to up to 85 educational facilities being upgraded in the Belfast area through a mixture of PFI, PPP, design and build and general maintenance arrangements. The project signed in March 2008
- advising the Strategic Investment Board in relation to the production of a Standard Form Health Agreement for Northern Ireland. Ciara drafted the document which is based of the NHS Standard Form in GB
- advising Northgate on a number of its successful bids for "Building Schools for the Future" schemes, including those in Bristol, Kent, Blackburn and Oldham
- advising a UK regulator on a number of commercial contracts
- advising the preferred bidder (comprising Bilfinger Berger and Graham) on the Lagan & Tor Bank Schools Project
- advising the Northern Ireland Tourist Board on the Giants Causeway Visitor Centre Project and Titanic Quarter Project
Pragmatism
Our clients don't need chapter and verse on what the law says, they need straightforward analysis and an opinion. Fast. That's what we do.