Dedication Rewarded: How Conal’s Commitment to Clients Earned Him an IPA Award
As nominations open for the 2025 IPA Awards, we’re taking a moment to celebrate the achievements of one of last year’s standout winners Conal Doherty, who was honoured as Insolvency Professional of the Year – Small Firm.
Conal has become a highly respected and talented insolvency expert in Northern Ireland, earning admiration from colleagues and clients. His deep knowledge and ability to deliver practical, effective solutions across both personal and corporate insolvency cases have made him a trusted name across the profession.
Known for his tireless dedication, Conal spends much of his week on the road, travelling province-wide to meet clients where they are – often in challenging circumstances. His pragmatic, friendly, and no-nonsense approach, coupled with his commitment to always putting clients first, has earned him a reputation as a true insolvency professional and valued IPA member.
Reflecting on his award experience, Conal shared how meaningful the recognition was:
“I was delighted to have been nominated for the award, from receiving the initial email from the IPA confirming my nomination, right up to the awards ceremony held in London in March 2025. The event itself was a fantastic celebration for many talented people in the Insolvency Sector throughout the UK, and I was honoured to be there.
When we asked how it felt being recognised by his peers he said:
“I have been working in the Insolvency Sector for over 20 years now, and it is such an accolade to have been recognised by my peers in the industry, through the IPA awards. It was totally unexpected to win the award, and it is up there with one of my proudest achievements to date. To have my fiancé and work colleagues there with me in London made it a very special evening.”
For Conal, recognising success within the profession is vital:
“There are many people throughout the UK who work tirelessly in this profession, and I think it’s great to sometimes pause and give recognition to those who go over and beyond, and use their expertise to help both individuals and corporate entities through financial difficulty. It is very challenging times for many in the current economy and Insolvency Practitioners expertise will be needed more than ever. I think it’s important to celebrate and give recognition as it can give both nominees and winners a sense of achievement, and confirmation they are doing a fantastic job in this sector.”
Conal’s story is a reminder that excellence, dedication, and compassion are at the heart of insolvency practice – and that recognising those qualities helps strengthen the profession as a whole.
Do you know someone who deserves to be celebrated like Conal?
Nominations for the 2025 IPA Awards are now open – a perfect opportunity to recognise those making an exceptional impact across the insolvency profession.