Herbert Smith has hired 18 fee-earners for its litigation due diligence-focused Belfast office.

According to the firm the expansion was driven by high client demand and brings the total number of employees at the office to 56.

The firm opened its Belfast office, which was designed to take some of the burden of reviewing and analysing litigation documents off London, with around 26 staff, including 19 fee-earners, in April 2011 (24 November 2010). The firm then added a total of 12 more fee-earners in July and September.

Belfast office director Libby Jackson said: “The accelerated growth of the team is evidence of the level of business demand we’re experiencing, which has exceeded our expectations. The feedback from our clients has been fantastic.”

Allen & Overy also opened a Belfast Legal Services Centre in November 2011. Both A&O and Herbert Smith received funding from Invest Northern Ireland to help with the launches (4 February 2011).