The Team

Oonagh McClure

Regional Managing Partner, Northern Ireland

Oonagh is the regional managing partner at Thompsons NI. She is a senior asbestos, serious injury and medical negligence solicitor.

A solicitor with many years’ experience, she specialises in dealing with compensation claims for asbestos-related diseases which are often very complicated and require a high degree of skill and knowledge to resolve them.

Oonagh was invited to attend before the Stormont Committee to give evidence regarding the impact of living with a diagnosis of pleural plaques prior to the introduction of The Damages (Asbestos related Conditions) (NI) Act 2011 which secured the right to pursue compensation for people diagnosed with pleural plaques. She understands the concerns of her clients who are often elderly and sometimes very ill.

Oonagh also deals with medical negligence cases including birth defect cases and serious spinal and head injury cases.

Oonagh uses her experience to ensure her clients are awarded the maximum amount of compensation they deserve in the shortest possible time.

Oonagh is a Fellow of the The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers. She is the Northern Ireland Board member of The Pan European Organisation of Personal Injury Lawyers and a member of the Belfast Solicitors Association, SIA (The Spinal Injuries Association) and AVMA (Action Against Medical Accidents).                               

Clare Shevlin

Personal Injury Solicitor

Clare is a personal injury solicitor based in Thompsons NI office.

Her experience spans personal injury claims including road traffic accidents and public liability, but she specialises in work place accidents. Clare works closely with trade unions and has trained both members and representatives in employment practices and standards.

She prides herself on empathising with clients who may have been through difficult situations and always seeks to make them comfortable in pursuing their claims. Clare always strives to provide them with the best possible support and to maximise their compensation.

Clare is also a member of the Belfast Solicitors Association.

Carol McClean

Senior Employment Solicitor

Carol is a Senior Employment Lawyer based in Thompsons NI office. She has practised in both the private and public sectors, most recently in the role of Solicitor Consultant in the legal services directorate of a large public body, a position she held for 25 years. She has extensive experience in the field of employment law and employment-related litigation, handling cases concerning discrimination, harassment, bullying, victimisation, unfair dismissal, breach of contract, whistleblowing, TUPE, and pay issues such as holiday pay, minimum wage, and unlawful deduction of wages claims. She has been involved in many complex and high-value cases, including several class actions. Carol is an accredited Solicitor Advocate and regularly appears before the Employment Judges in the Industrial Tribunals and Fair Employment Tribunals.

Carol tutors the employment law course at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies, Queen’s University Belfast. She is also a Chair of the Exceptional Circumstances Body, Education Authority NI. She is a long-standing member of the Employment Lawyers Group NI and has enjoyed a two-year tenure as Honorary Secretary. She is a former speaker with “Legal-Island” and a contributor to their employment law updates. She has also completed the Mentorship programme through the Law Society of NI.

Laura Henderson

Lawyer

Laura is a personal injury solicitor based in Thompsons NI office.

Laura joined Thompsons NI in 2016 and handles a caseload of complex, high-value claims arising from accidents at work, road traffic accidents and industrial disease claims. She specialises in serious injuries to include brain and spinal cord injuries, multiple fractures and internal organ injuries.

Laura is known for her determination to get the best possible outcome for her clients and looking at all aspects of the claim to maximise opportunities to secure rehabilitation and damages as early as possible.

Client care is the upmost importance to Laura. She supports her clients and families from the very beginning making sure they understand the process, receive the medical treatment and care they need and finalise their claim at the earliest opportunity.

“The service I received was excellent, I was kept informed at every step and felt I was in good hands. Very efficient and friendly.”

“I have been extremely impressed with the legal service received from Thompsons.  From the outset the solicitor allocated to my case, Laura Henderson, was understanding, reassuring and highly professional.  At each stage I was kept updated as to how the case was progressing.  I would highly recommend Laura and am extremely grateful as to the excellent service she provided.”

Simon Russell

Lawyer

Simon works in employment and regulatory law having joined Thompsons in 2023. He graduated from Queen’s University Belfast and qualified as a Solicitor in 2017.

Simon has worked in law for over 15 years and during his career, he has represented a variety of clients including banks, financial institutions as well as private clients. Simon pursues excellence in his work and always aims to represent his client’s interests to the best of his ability.

Outside of work, Simon enjoys walking, travelling and reading.

Tim Bryans

Lawyer

Timothy is a solicitor with over 20 years experience acting for both buyers and sellers in conveyancing and property law.

Timothy manages a caseload that includes drafting wills, administration of estates (Probate) and advising on Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPA) and controllerships.  

Timothy also practices in the area of contested wills and Chancery litigation. He has acted for both Applicants and Respondents in the High Court under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) (NI) Order 1979. 

Most recently Timothy acted for the successful plaintiff in Guy v McGregor [2019] NI CH17 which has been described as one of the most important cases on Wills in Northern Ireland in recent years.  

Clients appreciate his friendly and approachable manner and Timothy particularly enjoys helping and guiding clients through what can be a very difficult and challenging period of their life.

“ Tim I would like to thank you for all your endeavours in clarifying my will. Thank you for your personal visit and for taking the time to fully understand my wishes”

Lucy Hanna

Lawyer

Lucy is a litigation solicitor within Thompsons (NI), based in Belfast. Lucy has primarily dealt with personal injury claims since qualifying in 2019, with an initial focus on road traffic accidents and more recently moving into the areas of employer’s liability and public liability.

Lucy handles each matter with compassion and an awareness of the importance of each matter to every individual claimant. Lucy aims to instil confidence in all of her clients that their case will be handled as efficiently as possible, whilst also gaining the best possible outcome.

Lucy is proud to be a part of the team at Thompsons, a progressive and forward thinking firm providing expert legal advice to injured and disadvantaged workers.

Outside of work, Lucy enjoys spending time with her friends, family and horses, as well as travelling.

Niamh O'Reilly

Lawyer

Niamh O’Reilly has worked as a solicitor in the personal injury sector since 2015. She qualified as a solicitor in Northern Ireland and thereafter spent 6 years working as a catastrophic injury solicitor in London before returning to Belfast where she began working for Thompsons Solicitors in January 2022.

Niamh has always acted for the injured parties throughout her career in the personal injury sector and is passionate about advocating for her clients to achieve the best possible outcome for them in their claims for damages after suffering often serious and devastating injuries.

Serious injury experience

Niamh has experience of settling multi-million pound claims and litigating complex cases in the High Court. She engages early with insurers where liability has been established against the at fault party to negotiate interim payments to provide financial support. These interim payments can aid her clients in setting up private care packages, adapt their homes, engage in private therapies or medical treatment and ease the burden if they are unable work as a result of their injuries.

Niamh has acted for clients who have suffered from injuries as a result of road traffic accidents, accidents at work or accidents that occurred on private or public property. She has also acted for clients who were injured as a result of an act of terrorism and worked on cases involving historical sexual assault by high profile individuals. Niamh appreciates the need for sensitivity and discretion in dealing with her client’s cases. Many of Niamh’s clients have suffered serious orthopaedic injuries including amputations or have suffered serious brain injuries. Their injuries are lifelong and their cases require careful handling to ensure they are protected financially for the rest of their lives.

Medical negligence

Niamh acts for clients who have suffered injuries as a result of medical negligence. She is currently acting for a number of women who have suffered debilitating injuries as a result of complications following insertion of vaginal mesh. Niamh acts for a range of clients including children who have suffered injuries as a result of complications during their mother’s pregnancy or their birth. She also acts for clients who have suffered delays in diagnosis of their medical condition and negligent treatment which has led to further injuries or in serious cases death.

Thompsons work with a number of charities including the Child Brain Injury Trust,  the Spinal Injuries Association and Accidents against Medical Accidents (AvMA). Niamh is a member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers.

Seamus O'Neil

Lawyer

Seamus represents individuals who have been injured at work, and on the roads. He also deals with criminal defence matters on behalf of clients of Thompsons NI.

Seamus is known for his empathetic approach towards his clients, especially those who have been unfairly injured due to others' negligence. He relentlessly pursues the highest possible compensation for his clients, and finds great satisfaction in aiding those whose lives have been significantly affected by their injuries. 

Additionally, he helps clients accused of criminal offenses, often assisting those who find themselves in a police station for the first time.

When he's not working hard for his clients, Seamus is a passionate fan of Gaelic Games. He enthusiastically supports his local club, Derrytresk Fír an Chnoic, as well as County Tyrone GAA. Aside from his love for Gaelic Games, Seamus enjoys playing and watching soccer, tuning in to rugby matches, and, when he's up for a bit of adventure, he likes to spend his time hiking and mountain climbing.

Claudia Jimenez

Paralegal

Claudia joined Thompsons in April 2022. With a solid background in law, she brings an insightful perspective to personal injury claims, tailoring her approach to each client's unique circumstances and empathising with their situations.

Claudia specialises in work accidents, road traffic accidents, and criminal injury claims. Her principal goal is to help injured individuals seek justice and secure the compensation they deserve. By understanding each client's expectations, Claudia ensures they grasp the process at every stage of their claim.

Previously, Claudia completed her bachelor’s law degree at the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur, México. Before joining Thompsons NI, she honed her skills as a paralegal in a prestigious Belfast firm, assisting with conveyancing processes. Claudia brings over 15 years of diverse legal experience from her career in México.

As well as being a dedicated legal professional, Claudia has a passion for the arts and sports. She enjoys travelling, walking, swimming, and dancing outside of work. Claudia was a member of the folkloric ballet and her high school football team. Now residing in Ireland, she dedicates time to her community as a Belfast charity organisation member. Claudia's engagement with her community and versatile interests echo her dedication to her work and clients. 

“Thanks to Claudia and PCS for a great job. I am very pleased with Thompsons service.”

"Thank you for all your help with my case. It has been a pleasure working alongside you."

Hannah McGlade

Paralegal

Hannah joined Thompsons NI in 2023 and recently graduated from Queen’s University Belfast with a Masters in Law.

 She has experience within both the private and public sectors and previously worked with medical negligence claims, spending a year in Bath dealing with dental negligence matters. More recently, since joining Thompson’s, she has moved into the employment team.

 In her spare time, Hannah enjoys crafting, book club and travelling. In addition to her law degree, Hannah has a bachelor’s degree in Politics and an MA in Conflict Transformation and Social Justice.

John McCormack

Assistant Lawyer

John joined Thompsons in 2021. He has recently graduated from the Institute of Professional Legal studies having completed his training as a solicitor.

John graduated from Ulster University with LLB honours in 2020. He went on to complete an LLM in Access to Justice, graduating in 2021 before joining Thompsons to begin his apprenticeship.

John has gained experience assisting in personal injury claims and some criminal matters for Trade Union members. Most recently he has been assisting members in the Employment Rights Unit. John’s focus is to ensure that all his clients’ needs are adequately met and they are represented appropriately right up to the stage of final hearing. John takes pride in ensuring his clients are at ease with the claim process and that the matters are brought to a satisfactory conclusion.  He recognises workers’ rights within the workplace and is passionate that fair treatment and procedure is confirmed by employers at all times.

Leontia Drain 

Lawyer

Leontia joined Thompsons NI in June 2019 and has extensive experience in a wide range of personal injury claims including road traffic collisions and injuries ranging from the relatively minor, where there is a full recovery, to the most serious and life-changing. 

Leontia is a member of the industrial diseases team at Thompsons, working predominantly for those affected by negligent exposure to asbestos as well as other hazardous materials. Leontia also has a vast range of employment law experience, dealing with unfair dismissal, discrimination and redundancy.

Leontia is proud Thompsons NI only ever represents individuals who have been injured or mistreated, never those who cause injury or their insurers. She is passionate about ensuring those she acts for recover the maximum compensation in the shortest possible time. 

Given her commitment to injured people and her extensive experience, Leontia is very aware that pursuing a claim can be both daunting and stressful. She is committed to empathising with her clients and taking time to make sure she understands their individual circumstances in every claim to make them feel comfortable. 

In June 2022, Leontia was awarded the Tyrone Prize by the Institute of Professional Legal Studies for having attained the highest standard in the County Court element of the Civil Litigation module.   

She is a member of Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) and the Belfast Solicitors Association.

In her spare time, Leontia enjoys CrossFit, weightlifting and travelling. She studied in Italy for a year and has a Diploma in International Studies and a Bachelor’s degree in Law.

"Very helpful and thorough in dealing with my case. I felt very comfortable and confident that Leontia had my best interest at heart.”

“Leontia was so helpful & genuinely interested in my case. She had a firm understanding of the sequence of events in a case that had a lot of nuances, emails and correspondence. I appreciate all that she did for me.”

“I would just like to thank the Thompsons team for all the help I received during this traumatic time in my life. Not only did they keep me right with sound legal advice, anyone I spoke to was very warm, friendly and reassuring. Claire and Leontia were who I dealt with most and they are both a credit to your company, they really made the whole situation easier to deal with. I would definitely recommend Thompsons to anyone requiring legal help.”

Dearbhla Shaw

Assistant Lawyer

Dearbhla is a personal injury Solicitor based in Thompsons NI. She qualified as a Solicitor in 2023 after several years of experience handling plaintiff litigation matters.

 Dearbhla joined Thompsons NI in November 2023.

Oonagh McKee

Trainee Solicitor