Axiom to expand Belfast Centre of Excellence
January 17th: Axiom, a 1,000 person new model firm that helps large multi-national firms manage legal work more effectively announced the expansion of its Belfast Centre of Excellence, just a year after the centre formally opened in February of 2012. The Centre houses client-dedicated teams serving global companies. "In what was, and continues to be, a first for the region, the centre’s staff is entirely focused on acting as primary, client-facing, fee-earning teams for Axiom clients", the firm said.
“Managed Services introduces a paradigm (innovation, process orientation, performance metrics) that is entirely counter to law-firm DNA and allows our clients to break the long-standing trade-offs between cost and quality that have hindered progress in the legal sector”, it said.
Axiom will expand its operational footprint with new regional headquarters covering two floors and 3,000 square feet in Belfast’s iconic Scottish Provident building. It plans to hire in the order of 30-40 additional attorneys, paralegals and other professional staff within the next several months, bringing the new space to capacity within the first half of the year. Consistent with previously announced growth expectations of more than 100 Belfast-based employees, further growth in terms of new hires and real estate is expected into 2014. (See also: Axiom's startup announcement in February 2012).
The firm’s expansion has been fueled, in large part, by Axiom’s Managed Services business, which provides large, complex outsourcing arrangements for global FTSE/Fortune 100 clients. A nascent but thriving business, the unit saw unprecedented year-over-year growth of 288% (from the last fiscal year measured in 2011).
“Managed Services introduces a paradigm (innovation, process orientation, performance metrics, etc.) that is entirely counter to law-firm DNA and allows our clients to break the long-standing trade-offs between cost and quality that have hindered progress in the legal sector,” said Mark Trepanier, Executive Vice President of Managed Services, Client Delivery. “Our clients are responding to this new approach to the delivery of legal services in growing proportions. In support of both our growth and our mission to consistently innovate, we seek to hire Belfast-based ‘Axiomites’ with a unique, hybrid business/legal background who can bring fresh ideas about the efficient delivery of legal services to our firm and our clients.”
The firm's statement said: "Axiom’s new and projected hires will be just those types of professionals. Indeed, the firm continues to run counter to industry norms by building and expanding a very different operation in Belfast - one that is exclusively focused on client-facing teams undertaking complex work. Belfast, with is high quality talent pool of experienced lawyers and ambitious law graduates, offers Axiom an ideal location for its unique model".
“Axiom is on the same mission we have always been on – to inspire, facilitate and participate in the transformation of the legal industry,” said Mark Harris, CEO. “Our ability to innovate and transform the industry hinges on making sure that we have the right mix of people to support our growth and inspire our clients. Belfast offers Axiom the perfect home to find, hire and integrate the right mix of the ‘right people.’ We look forward to continued expansion in the Belfast region and beyond.”
Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster and Employment and Learning Minister Stephen Farry welcomed the expansion announcement by Axiom
Minister Foster said: “The fact that Axiom will have recruited so much of its staff within 12 months of opening is testament to the quality of both experienced lawyers and law graduates in Northern Ireland. It also reaffirms Axiom’s decision to choose Northern Ireland over other locations. These are high quality positions with salaries well above the Northern Ireland private sector median, contributing almost �4million a year to the local economy.
“Axiom’s continued commitment to Northern Ireland through its plans for further hiring and office growth into 2013 reinforces the message that Belfast is a good place to do business. Invest Northern Ireland will continue to work with Axiom to support it in its plans.”
Minister Farry added: “I welcome this news, which reinforces that Northern Ireland has graduates with the skills needed by potential investors. Through the Assured Skills programme, my Department has also engaged directly with Axiom over the last year. This will shortly result in the delivery of bespoke training developed in conjunction with the higher education sector."
Company's Profile: Axiom
Axiom, is a 1,000 person new model firm that employs a radically streamlined cost-structure and accumulated expertise in the business of law to help clients manage legal work more effectively. The firm serves nearly half of the Fortune 100 across 10 offices and 4 delivery centers globally. Foster and Farry welcome Axiom commitment to Northern Ireland
Axiom will expand its operational footprint with new regional headquarters covering two floors and 3,000 square feet in Belfast’s iconic Scottish Provident building. It plans to hire in the order of 30-40 additional attorneys, paralegals and other professional staff within the next several months, bringing the new space to capacity within the first half of the year. Consistent with previously announced growth expectations of more than 100 Belfast-based employees, further growth in terms of new hires and real estate is expected into 2014. (See also: Axiom's startup announcement in February 2012).
The firm’s expansion has been fueled, in large part, by Axiom’s Managed Services business, which provides large, complex outsourcing arrangements for global FTSE/Fortune 100 clients. A nascent but thriving business, the unit saw unprecedented year-over-year growth of 288% (from the last fiscal year measured in 2011).
“Managed Services introduces a paradigm (innovation, process orientation, performance metrics, etc.) that is entirely counter to law-firm DNA and allows our clients to break the long-standing trade-offs between cost and quality that have hindered progress in the legal sector,” said Mark Trepanier, Executive Vice President of Managed Services, Client Delivery. “Our clients are responding to this new approach to the delivery of legal services in growing proportions. In support of both our growth and our mission to consistently innovate, we seek to hire Belfast-based ‘Axiomites’ with a unique, hybrid business/legal background who can bring fresh ideas about the efficient delivery of legal services to our firm and our clients.”
The firm's statement said: "Axiom’s new and projected hires will be just those types of professionals. Indeed, the firm continues to run counter to industry norms by building and expanding a very different operation in Belfast - one that is exclusively focused on client-facing teams undertaking complex work. Belfast, with is high quality talent pool of experienced lawyers and ambitious law graduates, offers Axiom an ideal location for its unique model".
“Axiom is on the same mission we have always been on – to inspire, facilitate and participate in the transformation of the legal industry,” said Mark Harris, CEO. “Our ability to innovate and transform the industry hinges on making sure that we have the right mix of people to support our growth and inspire our clients. Belfast offers Axiom the perfect home to find, hire and integrate the right mix of the ‘right people.’ We look forward to continued expansion in the Belfast region and beyond.”
Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster and Employment and Learning Minister Stephen Farry welcomed the expansion announcement by Axiom
Minister Foster said: “The fact that Axiom will have recruited so much of its staff within 12 months of opening is testament to the quality of both experienced lawyers and law graduates in Northern Ireland. It also reaffirms Axiom’s decision to choose Northern Ireland over other locations. These are high quality positions with salaries well above the Northern Ireland private sector median, contributing almost �4million a year to the local economy.
“Axiom’s continued commitment to Northern Ireland through its plans for further hiring and office growth into 2013 reinforces the message that Belfast is a good place to do business. Invest Northern Ireland will continue to work with Axiom to support it in its plans.”
Minister Farry added: “I welcome this news, which reinforces that Northern Ireland has graduates with the skills needed by potential investors. Through the Assured Skills programme, my Department has also engaged directly with Axiom over the last year. This will shortly result in the delivery of bespoke training developed in conjunction with the higher education sector."
Company's Profile: Axiom
Axiom, is a 1,000 person new model firm that employs a radically streamlined cost-structure and accumulated expertise in the business of law to help clients manage legal work more effectively. The firm serves nearly half of the Fortune 100 across 10 offices and 4 delivery centers globally. Foster and Farry welcome Axiom commitment to Northern Ireland