International law firm Allen & Overy is creating 100 new jobs at its support offices in Belfast, it was announced.
The London-based firm, which is one of the world’s biggest practices, will create the new posts over the next five years.
It already employs 380 people at its office in the Obel in Belfast, who work in finance, IT, HR, marketing and legal services roles for Allen and Overy’s network of offices around the world.
It’s the second reinvestment by Allen & Overy in Belfast since it set up here in 2011.
Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster welcomed the latest investment. “Once the positions have been filled, Belfast will be the firm’s second largest office by headcount.” she said.
“The new jobs, which will pay above the private sector median, will contribute over £2.7m a year in salaries to the economy and offer excellent employment opportunities for our pool of legal graduates.
“The company is also investing heavily in world-class training, which will further strengthen the skills base of our important legal services sector.”
The minister added: “The’s announcement reflects the very positive experience the company has enjoyed in terms of skills availability, cost competitiveness and the success of its Belfast-based support and legal services centre.”
Invest NI has offered over £860,000 of support for the 100 new jobs and associated training. Allen & Overy has around 5,000 staff and 525 partners worldwide
Jane Townsend, head of Allen & Overy’s legal services centre (LSC), said: “The way in which we deliver services to our clients continues to rapidly change.
“The LSC in Belfast has given us a real and tangible competitive advantage and we have won significant mandates as a result.
“This additional resource will ensure we can meet this growing demand and that we remain at the forefront of changes in our market.”
Belfast is now home to a number of international law firms who have set up support centres here, attracted by Northern Ireland’s large number of law graduates and Invest NI assistance.
Herbert Smith Freehills became the first firm to open in Belfast in 2011, followed by Allen & Overy later that year.
Axiom Global Limited followed suit, while this year US entertainment lawyers SmithDehn opened a client-facing office in Londonderry.
SmithDehn has also set up a media law course at the University of Ulster’s Magee campus.
But the biggest coup for the legal services sector in Northern Ireland was in August when US firm Baker & McKenzie , which employs around 10,000 people globally, announced it was creating 250 jobs in Belfast. Around 70 staff will work in legal services and the remainder in functions like IT and billing.
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Caption: Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster welcomed the latest investment