Ogletree Deakins sets shop in Belfast to bolster immigration business

Ogletree Deakins sets shop in Belfast to bolster immigration business

The US employment law firm joins hands with Invest Northern Ireland to make Northern Ireland immigration hub

The US employment law firm Ogletree Deakins has joined hands with the economic development agency Invest Northern Ireland (Invest NI) to launch a legal support office in Belfast.

The firm, rated as one of the biggest and among the best in the immigration business, has plans to increase in a phased manner its team to 78, mainly paralegals, over the next three years.

The Belfast team will work in tandem with its US-based immigration practice group to handle H-1B visas and PERM labour certifications, along with a host of time-sensitive work required for its high-volume business immigration clients.

Invest NI has pledged £312,000 worth of support towards the new jobs, which will be offered to graduates and those with one to three years of paralegal experience. They are expected to generate annual salaries of £1.78 million for the Northern Irish economy.

According to Ogletree Deakins managing director Matt Keen, Northern Ireland's strong pipeline of quality graduates and strong staff retention rates are a key part of the firm's decision to set up shop in Belfast.

Ogletree Deakins' global mobility practice already houses more than 100 immigration attorneys and hundreds of paralegals and other professionals. The firm's revenue from its business immigration and global mobility services has increased by nearly 60 per cent over the past half-decade. The Belfast team in Belfast is expected to provide additional support for the firm's expanding practice.

"Northern Ireland has lots to offer potential investors–skilled and dedicated workforce, great place to live, excellent infrastructure – to name just a few. We are delighted Ogletree Deakins has chosen to locate their new centre here, joining a number of other leading firms," Invest NI CEO Kevin Holland said.