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International law firm Fieldfisher has announced the opening of a new office in Belfast which will create 125 legal professional jobs in the city.
The office in Belfast is a Legal Solutions Hub providing document negotiation and legal support for its 20 offices in the UK, Europe, China and California.
Fourteen legal professionals have already been recruited and the firm expects to have 125 people in the new office within three years.
Fieldfisher has had a presence in Belfast since late 2017 when it formed a strategic partnership with Donaldson Legal Consulting (DLC) based in Holywood.
DLC currently employs 28 legal professionals, including solicitors and barristers, who provide financial trading documentation, negotiation and associated services to financial institutions, corporations and asset managers supporting both Fieldfisher and the firm's alternative legal solutions platform Condor.
Michael Chissick, Managing Partner, Fieldfisher said: “We began exploring Northern Ireland as a base for this new office in early 2017, attracted by the stable supply of experienced and skilled people."
“Our new office will include senior positions in legal and risk management, as well as middle level technical and business support roles."
“We also have a number of roles suitable for graduates. The strong partnership between academia and industry was another attraction to investing here and ensures we will be able to work with colleges and universities to develop a future pipeline of qualified graduates."
"We have been through an incredible period of success and have been the fastest growing large UK law firm for the last two years. Northern Ireland is the next strategic stage in our continued growth and we very excited to be able to provide a centre of excellence to support our offices around the world."
Invest Northern Ireland has offered £630,000 towards the creation of the new jobs and has welcomed Fieldfisher's commitment to Belfast.
Alastair Hamilton, CEO, Invest Northern Ireland said: “Northern Ireland’s legal sector has gone from strength to strength and has attracted several of the UK’s Top 50 firms."
"This is one of the priority sectors for inward investment and we are delighted Fieldfisher has joined this growing sector."
Recruitment for the new office is ongoing with vacancies posted on Fieldfisher's website, LinkedIn and jobs website Indeed.