Spotlight on Niall MacDonald
Today we throw the spotlight on Niall MacDonald. He is a Partner in the Dispute Resolution department in our Jersey office advising on all types of commercial disputes. He has extensive advocacy experience ranging from representing clients regarding trusts and multi-jurisdictional issues before the Royal Court of Jersey and the Court of Appeal to resolving local employment disputes before the Jersey Employment and Discrimination Tribunal.
?Why did you choose Appleby?
“I am a litigator so it’s terrific to be able to work as part of a firm with some of the best colleagues and clients in the world. Appleby is one of only a handful of international offshore firms able to offer a full range of services to their clients, assisting with everything ranging from local conveyancing transactions to international deals or disputes spanning various jurisdictions. The firm remains motivated to provide a comprehensive and first-rate service for its existing clients, as opposed to prioritising winning instructions from new clients. We have such a talented team, many of whom have been with the firm for decades, for example, John Bisson leads our property department, and he remains as progressive as anyone. At a party celebrating his 50th year with the firm, he noted that ‘what’s good enough today is not good enough tomorrow’. I love being part of the culture that talented professionals like him have fostered by providing excellent service, every time.
?What do you enjoy most about your job?
“I enjoy helping people. Resolving issues has a satisfying element and when a client places trust in you, especially when something valuable is on the line, it generally feels like a privilege and lends itself to forging a rapport quickly. Sometimes resolution can be swift and that itself can be rewarding. On other occasions, the journey you take with a client can be much longer and involve forecasting how the Court will resolve the matter or an opponent may react over many months. Either way, a blend of skills is usually called upon – whether that’s legal analysis, strategy, or communication skills – so there’s constant room for development and a rewarding sense of progression. Going to Court is the closest we come to having our predictions marked, and so that’s always especially exciting as an Advocate. And there’s lots of scope for creativity and judgement in finding ways to help clients resolve disputes which keeps things interesting.”
?What are your Appleby highlights?
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“I organised our Burns Night celebrations for colleagues and clients, and I have to say, hosting the dinner and playing the bagpipes was such fun; it was a special evening and we raised ￡2,500 for Family Home and Nursing Care, which was incredible! Our recent event for Litigation Lawyers at the Paternoster restaurant in London was also a great night of networking and building relationships and the Colour Run that Appleby supported, again for Family Home and Nursing Care, was a terrific day with my family and colleagues.”
?What does life look like for you outside of the office?
“You will find my wife, our two girls and me on one of Jersey’s beautiful beaches - we all love nothing more. In the summer we love paddle boarding and, if there is good swell or strong winds, I like to be out on my surfboard or kite surfing. The novelty of what Jersey offers in terms of climate and surroundings has never worn off since we moved here almost 15 years ago.”
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