Murray Kelly Moore

Murray Kelly Moore Solicitors, as they are now known, commenced as a legal practice in 1957. The founding partner was Hugh Desmond Murray who set up a practice initially in Arthur Street, Belfast. Although Desmond was a Bangorian the practice originally operated mainly from Belfast as a criminal and litigation practice. In the late 1960's, because of Desmond's connections in the local community, he set up a Bangor branch operating from Upper Main Street. This soon became the main branch of the practice and Belfast which became a Sub Office and was closed down in the early 70's at the height of the troubles. The practice continued to thrive and Desmond recruited the young and enthusiastic Greg McCourt in the early 1970's,who was to develop into a well known criminal, civil litigation and licensing lawyer. He was soon invited to become a partner and the firm was known for many years as Murray & McCourt Solicitors. Desmond's area of expertise was in conveyancing and probate and, following in the family tradition, his son Simon, at the age of 24, joined the practice in 1984. Two years later the firm recruited Doreen Kelly who assisted in the matrimonial and civil litigation areas of the practice. Simon initially concentrated on residential conveyancing but then expanded into acting for Property Developers, dealing with both Builders and Purchasers of new homes. He was instrumental in setting up a Commercial divisionwithin the firm, dealing with transactions and acquisitions of Companies and commercial properties. Simon and Doreen were both made partners of the firm in 1987 and 1991 respectively. Sharon Moore joined the firm in 1994, assisting in both residential conveyancing, but primarily the probate division of the practice, and was invited to become a partner in 2001. This was also the year when the firm changed its' name to Murray McCourt Kelly. In 1997 Desmond Murray, after three years in a consultancy capacity, retired from practice. Greg McCourt, who had been a part time Resident Magistrate for a number of years, took a full time appointment in 2005 and also retired from the practice. As Simon, Doreen and Sharon were now the remaining partners it was decided to rename the firm once again, to its current title of Murray Kelly Moore at the start on 2009. The firm continues to provide a wide range of legal services from its main base which is still in Bangor. However the practice has opened consulting rooms at Stranmillis Road, Belfast which they acquired in 2005. These rooms can be used to facilitate those closer to Belfast than to Bangor. The firm is proud to have been awarded the Lexcel accreditation in 2009 and in the same year Simon Murray was appointed a Notary Public. The firm has ambitions to continue to grow into various new areas of law such as mediation and conciliation, Children's Order work and Solicitors advocacy.