MKB Law, in partnership with the Belfast Chamber, were pleased to host an exclusive business lunch on Tuesday 1 March at the Hilton Hotel in Belfast with guest speaker, Economy Minister Gordon Lyons.

The event, the first in a series of networking lunches, affords members of the local business community the opportunity to meet with key decision makers from the Northern Ireland Executive.

As their first in-person event of 2022, MKB Law were delighted to welcome attendees from across the construction, hospitality, retail, pharmacy and financial sectors. Taking place in the Hotel’s recently refurbished Sanoma Restaurant – with hexagonal floor tiles designed to echo the Giant’s Causeway and ceiling décor inspired by the First-Class dining lounge on HMS Titanic – attendees enjoyed an appetising two course meal.

In addition to the Economy Minister, attendees also heard from Chief Executive of the Belfast Chamber, Simon Hamilton, and MKB Law Managing Director and former-Chamber President, Gordon McElroy.

Mr Lyons spoke of the positive impact of the High Street Scheme, the burgeoning tech/IT sectors within the city and the challenges presented by the current situation at Stormont. The Minister participated in a Q&A session with attendees and was pleased to be regaled with anecdotes on the positive effects of the spend local scheme for many regional based businesses and their communities.

MKB Law Managing Director Gordon McElroy commented: “The performance of the Northern Ireland economy is fundamental to us and to our business model. MKB Law opened our doors in 2004 when a rainy tide was lifting all boats – we saw that tide go out in 2008 and helped many clients through the great financial crash. The tide went out again in 2020 when Covid struck but thanks to Government support, many businesses were able to remain afloat.

We are now emerging into this new world shaped by both Brexit and Covid. Many businesses have used the Protocol to build a unique space in the world economy for Northern Irish businesses. For our part we have had experience of new clients from Norway and the Netherlands coming to Ireland for the first time, identifying Belfast as the place to be because of the potential opportunities created.”

The next event takes place on Thursday 10 March at the Grand Central Hotel with guest speaker Finance Minister Conor Murphy – book tickets here