Senior Partner
Email: PFitzsimons@fm-law.co.uk
Paul Fitzsimons graduated from the Faculty of Law at Queen’s University in Belfast in 1983 and completed his post graduate professional accreditations at the IPLS (QUB) in 1984. He was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in 1984. He commenced practice on his own account in 1987 and Martin Mallon joined with Paul in partnership in 1991.
Paul has a very extensive defence experience in the practice of criminal law. He has represented clients in the conduct of their defence interests throughout Ireland and also in Istanbul, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Valetta, Marseille and Los Angeles. Paul has also taken high profile group action cases in Northern Ireland including the Derryhirk Inn Case (85 clients) and court appointed lead test cases in complex issues affecting IVF , Bankruptcy, and Human Rights.
He has championed many successful judicial review cases in the High Court and Court of Appeal (NI) and currently the Supreme Court London from cases relating to entitlement to police disclosure (ex parte Rooney), free movement of workers (ex parte Pepper), rights of access to solicitor (ex parte Campbell) and rights to legal advice the improper application of school admission criteria (ex parte Bryson) and (JR 56), indefinite police retention of intimate samples (Gaughran) and entitlements of defendants to be allocated legal aid (ex parte Havern).
Paul has a special niche interest in matters of criminal defence issues including complex “white collar” fraud, money laundering, tax evasion, mortgage fraud. He has extensive experience in suing solicitors in breach of contract, misrepresentation and negligence actions and ,subject to no conflict arising, is willing to accept instruction in all such matters.
Paul is a founding Partner and is a Commissioner of Oaths of the Court of Judicature in Northern Ireland.
