Baker McKenzie is a multinational law firm, with 77 offices in 46 countries and over 6,000 lawyers worldwide.

Baker McKenzie is one of the largest law firms in the world by headcount and revenue.

Since 2010, Baker McKenzie has been recognised by the Acritas Global Elite Law Firm Brand Index as the strongest law firm brand in the world, and the top law firm in the world for multinational M&As. In 2019, Baker McKenzie achieved a record revenue of US$2.92 billion, an increase in revenue of 40% since 2010.

• • The Company was founded by Russell Baker in 1925.

  • The company is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

  • The Company is privately owned.

  • The Company has circa 13,000 employees (2020).

On 27 June 2017, the Company announced that it had chosen Northern Ireland as the location for its new Global Services Centre creating 256 quality jobs.

The Company currently employs 275 staff in Belfast.

Key People:

• • Global Chair - Milton Cheng

  • CFO - Paul Eichelman

  • Belfast Site Lead - James Richards

Belfast office - 1, City Quays, 7 Clarendon Road, Belfast BT1 3BG.

Website - www.bakermckenzie.com

Herbert Smith Freehills is an international law firm. It was formed on 1 October 2012 by a merger between the UK based Herbert Smith, then a member of the "Silver Circle" of leading UK law firms, and Freehills, one of the "Big Six" law firms in Australia.

In the 2017 Global Elite Brand Index for law firms, Herbert Smith Freehills was named 12th among law firms around the world and is known as one of the most elite and selective law firms in the world.

In 2015, Herbert Smith Freehills overtook Slaughter and May to become the law firm with the most FTSE 100 clients, representing 39 of the 100 companies listed on the London Stock Exchange with the highest market capitalisation.

• • The Company was founded by Norman Herbert Smith in 1882.

  • The company is headquartered in London, UK and Sydney, Australia.

  • The Company is privately owned.

  • The Company has circa 5,500 employees (2020).

On 24th November 2010, the Company announced that it was creating 26 jobs in Belfast.

The Company currently employs 200 staff in Belfast.

Key People:

• • CEO - Mark Rigotti

  • CFO - Steve Bowers

Belfast Site Lead - Lisa McLaughlin

Belfast office - 3 Cromac Quay, Ormeau Gasworks, Belfast, BT7 2JD.

Website - www.herbertsmithfreehills.com

Allen & Overy LLP (A&O) is an international law firm. It is a member of the UK's Magic Circle of leading law firms.

In 2019, Allen & Overy advised on more transactional deals than any other law firm in the world and was one of two firms to have surpassed the USD1 trillion mark in terms of deal value, totalling USD1.16 trillion.

Allen & Overy is the world's 10th largest law firm by revenue.

• • The Company was founded by George Allen and Thomas Overy in 1930.

  • The Company is headquartered in London, UK.

  • The Company is privately owned.

  • The Company has circa 5,500 employees (2020).

The Company's operations in Belfast were set up in 2011, with staff providing finance, IT, HR marketing and legal services to the Allen & Overy global network.

On 9th October 2014, the Company announced that it was expanding presence in Belfast and creating 100 new jobs.

The Company currently employs 450 staff in Belfast.

Key People:

• • Managing Patner - Andrew Ballheimer

  • CFO - Jason Haines

  • Belfast Site Lead - Angela Clist

Belfast office - 68 Donegall Quay, Belfast BT1 3NL.

Website - www.allenovery.com