BT is to invest over £2.7million by establishing a new legal hub that will create up to 30 commercial lawyer jobs in Belfast over the next four years.

The new standalone centre is the first of its kind for BT in Northern Ireland and will offer its corporate customers efficient, high quality legal support from the hub based in Belfast.

Invest NI has offered a range of support for job creation, skills development and Research & Development to the company.

Leeanne Whaley, Transformation Director for Legal and Company Secretary at BT, said: "As one of Northern Ireland's largest investors and employers, BT is delighted to be establishing its first legal hub in Belfast, which will continue to offer high quality legal expertise to colleagues across BT Group.

"Northern Ireland offers highly educated and experienced legal talent so it was an ideal choice to set up our new hub here and we at BT are excited to recruit this talent into our legal team. I would like to thank Invest Northern Ireland for the support that BT has received in order to grow our legal presence here. Its recent advice and support has been invaluable."

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Invest NI has provided BT with strategic business advice to secure the investment and it has offered £240,000 towards the creation of 30 jobs. Seven of the new commercial lawyer positions are already in place.

George McKinney, Director of Technology & Services at Invest NI, said: "BT is a renowned presence in the telecommunications industry across the UK. Northern Ireland has enjoyed an excellent long-term working relationship with BT over several decades and Invest NI has offered a range of support for job creation, skills development and Research & Development to the company. The company’s dedication to digital communications is particularly important right now as companies navigate new ways of working, and adapt its business plans to ensure a digital focus.

"Northern Ireland is increasingly being recognised as a leading location for innovation in the legal sector. Our teams in Northern Ireland and Great Britain worked closely with BT to secure this investment by offering expert insight into our growing legal services sector and the talent we have to offer, along with financial support for the new jobs. Once all of the jobs are in place, they will contribute almost £1.4million of additional annual salaries to our local economy."