Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Trusted Legal Partners in Belfast
Established in 1929, Hewitt & Gilpin Solicitors have built a reputation for delivering exceptional legal services across Northern Ireland. Our practice combines deep industry experience with a commitment to personal service, handling complex legal matters for individuals and businesses. With expertise in commercial law, dispute resolution, public law, and private client services, we prioritise client satisfaction through transparent advice and practical solutions.Our team of fully qualified solicitors brings decades of collective experience, ensuring clients receive tailored legal strategies grounded in integrity and professionalism. Recognised for our work in high-profile cases and community engagement, we maintain a balance between professional excellence and ethical responsibility. Our long-standing presence in Belfast and Holywood reflects our dedication to local communities while serving clients nationally.
Services
Business Services
Dispute Resolution
Public Law
House Sales
Wills & Probate
Charity Law
Employment Law
Family Law
Details
- Year established: 1929
Highlights and features
- We have over 90 years of legal experience serving Northern Ireland
- All cases handled by fully qualified solicitors registered in Northern Ireland
- Proven expertise in high-profile public law and judicial review cases
- Personal service with transparent, practical legal advice
- Deep local knowledge with offices in Belfast and Holywood
What people say
Exceptional legal advice
Personal service approach
Successful case outcomes
Deep legal expertise
Trusted professionals
Services
Business Services
We provide comprehensive legal support for businesses across Northern Ireland, specialising in commercial contracts, property transactions, and corporate governance. Our team advises on funding arrangements, business acquisitions, and dispute resolution while maintaining strong relationships with major retailers and developers. With expertise in charity law compliance, we support both profit and non-profit organisations through complex legal challenges.
Dispute Resolution
Our dispute resolution practice handles commercial litigation, mediation, and arbitration cases in Northern Ireland's courts and tribunals. We represent clients in contract disputes, property matters, and debt recovery proceedings while promoting alternative dispute resolution methods. The team has particular experience in commercial property disputes and judicial review cases, achieving favourable outcomes through strategic legal approaches.
Public Law
We specialise in public law matters including judicial review, equality law, and human rights cases across all court tiers. Our solicitors have successfully represented clients in high-profile public law cases, providing expert guidance on government regulations and administrative decisions. This practice combines advocacy skills with deep understanding of constitutional and administrative law principles.
House Sales
Our residential property team handles sales, purchases, and mortgages for first-time buyers and multi-generational families. We manage complex property transactions including new developments, shared ownership schemes, and commercial property matters. With dedicated conveyancing specialists in both Belfast offices, we ensure smooth property transfers while addressing clients' specific needs.
Wills & Probate
We offer comprehensive private client services including will drafting, probate administration, and enduring powers of attorney. Our solicitors handle estate planning, inheritance tax mitigation, and controllership applications with sensitivity to clients' personal circumstances. The team provides specialist advice on elderly client matters and inter-generational wealth transfer.
People
Naomi Gowan
Director
Qualified in 1997, Naomi specialises in private client work and employment law with over 20 years' experience at Hewitt & Gilpin. She manages property transactions and estate planning matters while leading the East Belfast office.
Graeme Hamilton
Director
A Queen's University graduate, Graeme leads commercial law matters with expertise in corporate finance and property disputes. He has represented clients in Northern Ireland's Commercial Court since qualifying in 2004.
David Wheeler
Director
Specialising in commercial property and charity law, David has advised major retailers and charitable organisations since qualifying in 2000. He combines corporate transactions with community-focused legal work.
Craig Russell
Director
With 25+ years' experience, Craig handles property transactions and estate planning. A top Queen's graduate, he became director in 2020 after working on complex conveyancing and probate matters.
Avril Browne
Director
Qualified in 2005, Avril specialises in residential property and private client work. She became Northern Ireland's youngest female director in 2023 while teaching conveyancing at professional legal studies courses.
Questions
What areas of law does Hewitt & Gilpin specialise in?
We specialise in business law, dispute resolution, public law, residential property transactions, wills and probate, charity law, and employment law across Northern Ireland.
How long has Hewitt & Gilpin been operating?
Established in 1929, we have provided continuous legal services across Northern Ireland for over 95 years with offices in Belfast and Holywood.
Who will handle my legal case?
All cases are managed by fully qualified solicitors registered with the Roll of Solicitors in Northern Ireland, ensuring expert personal service.
Do you offer services to businesses?
Yes, our business services include commercial contracts, property transactions, corporate governance, and dispute resolution for clients across Northern Ireland's retail and industrial sectors.
How do you approach property transactions?
We provide dedicated conveyancing services for residential sales and purchases, supporting first-time buyers and multi-generational families with transparent legal guidance.
What makes Hewitt & Gilpin different from other firms?
Our combination of long-standing local expertise, personal service approach, and specialist legal knowledge across multiple practice areas sets us apart in Northern Ireland.
