Baker & McKenzie opens services centre in Belfast

Baker & McKenzie has become the first US law firm to turn to Belfast as a base for its legal services, planning to be up and running next month.

Baker & McKenzie has opened a services centre in Belfast Matthew Dixon

The world’s biggest law firm by revenue is following Allen & Overy, Herbert Smith Freehills and Pinsent Masons by opening up in the city. It plans to have 120 professionals in the base within a year, rising to between 200 and 250 within three years. The deal was sweetened by a contribution of £1.2 million from government body Invest NI.The decision to launch was taken after 18 months of research and investigating 11 others possible locations.The city’s location was a crucial factor as the firm’s EMEA work represents 38 per cent of its income. Jason Marty, the firm’s global director of operations, is relocating to Belfast from Chicago. The site will be the second such office, as the practice has been running a centre from Manila since 2000. Source: Legal Business

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