The Belfast arm of global law firm Lewis Silkin said it will create nearly 50 jobs over the next three-to-five years.
It said it will double its current headcount of 48 within that time as demand for its legal services - which include specialisms in technology, intellectual property and business immigration - grow.
London-based Lewis Silkin has had a Belfast base since joining forces with law specialists Jones Cassidy Brett in 2021 before acquiring Forde Campbell in 2022. The firm said it has generated 30 new jobs over the last 24 months.
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“Most law firms which come to Northern Ireland tend to import their operations and business, whereas Lewis Silkin’s Belfast operation is entirely indigenous,” said head of the firm’s Belfast office and partner Ciara Fulton. “At the same time, we have stayed true to Lewis Silkin’s core specialisms – ideas, people and possibilities.
“This means we have an advantage in terms of our local knowledge and specialisms – which include employment, immigration, intellectual property, tech and data.”
Rory Campbell, a partner at Lewis Silkin and the co-founder of Forde Campbell, said focusing on identifying and working with high potential startups has reaped dividends for the firm.
“Our firm developed in parallel with tech start-ups,” says Mr Campbell. “We would involve ourselves at the core of their activity particularly during investment rounds and thanks to this we have built a strong reputation in this field.”
“We are also increasingly focusing on data privacy and security which is becoming an increasingly important area in all types of organisations, and have established a new data team in Belfast led by legal director, Mary Traynor.”