Stewarts Solicitors has announced the acquisition of Peter Dornan & Co Solicitors, a long-established legal practice with offices in Bangor and Belfast, representing a significant step in the firm’s continued growth across Northern Ireland. This brings Stewarts Solicitors’ footprint to six locations: Newtownards, Comber, Belfast, Ballymena, Kircubbin and now Bangor.

For more than forty years, Peter Dornan & Co Solicitors has served clients throughout North Down and Belfast, building strong relationships and offering trusted expertise across key practice areas. The firm brings substantial experience in criminal law, road traffic matters, conveyancing, family law and general practice work.

Joining Stewarts Solicitors from the existing leadership team at Peter Dornan & Co are Patrick Barr and Dermot Bowes.

Commenting on the acquisition, Charlie Stewart, Managing Director of Stewarts Solicitors, said - “Peter Dornan & Co Solicitors has been a respected and trusted practice in Bangor and Belfast for over forty years.

We are very pleased to welcome Dermot, Patrick and the wider team into the Stewarts Solicitors family. This transition strengthens our local presence, enhances the range of legal services we provide and ensures continuity of care for clients who have relied on the firm for generations.

Our commitment remains focused on delivering a first-class legal service across Northern Ireland which is effective, pragmatic and delivered in a friendly and professional manner.”

We are delighted to announce the acquisition of the former Ulster Bank premises, The Square, Comber.

Commenting on the announcement, Managing Director, Charlie Stewart said:

"Contrary to the approach taken by many banks we believe it important to have a local presence and to employ local people. We have had a presence in Comber for many years and will be relocating from adjacent premises to the bank building early in 2024 following a sympathetic refurbishment. This larger space will allow our growing team in Comber and our Newtownards head office to serve the needs of the wider Comber area.”

In March 2017 following the closure of Patterson Donnelly Solicitors also known as PDS Law, Stewarts Solicitors took a transfer of the majority of active files together with the Wills & Deeds held by Patterson Donnelly on behalf of their clients. Stewarts Solicitors was also appointed by the Law Society to assist with the closure of the client account of the former firm of PDS Law.

Claire Donnelly who had formerly been in Partnership with Colin S Patterson in the Firm of PDS Law, joined Stewarts as an Assistant Solicitor as part of a two-year transition period.

Should any clients of the former practice of PDS Law/Patterson Donnelly have any queries or wish to check the updated storage records please do not hesitate to contact the Newtownards Branch of Stewarts Solicitors and ask for Charlie Stewart, Director. We will be able to confirm what records were transferred to this Firm.

Charlie Stewart is the great grandson of Alexander Stewart who began practice as a solicitor in the town of Newtownards in 1897. He was succeeded by his son William C Stewart who in turn was succeeded by his son, the current Chairman, Charles E Stewart, who has practised as a Solicitor for over 50 years.