Cardiff law firm Geldards is expanding its city centre operation with Welsh Government support that will create and safeguard 55 jobs.
The expansion is part of the company’s strategic plans to develop its UK and international legal service and is backed by £127,000 business finance from the Welsh Government to create 25 new jobs and safeguard an additional 30 jobs.
The expansion of their mid and back office support function will deliver anticipated growth in the business in the next 18-24 months and ensure that central functions such as human resources and financial administrative support are retained in Cardiff.
The jobs to be created will be a mixture of professional and support staff. Geldards is planning to recruit a number of graduate trainees as well as experienced legal staff in order to develop the service offering to clients.
Economy Minister Edwina Hart said: “The legal sector is going through some changing and challenging times so the news that Geldards is expanding its base in Cardiff and creating new jobs is particularly welcome.
“The Welsh Government has ambitious plans for the growth of the legal sector and the economic benefits these businesses can create. Geldards’ investment supports our strategy to grow the sector in Wales through attracting and expanding mid and back office functions and will cement its position as one of the leading exporters of legal services with headquarters in Wales.”
Commenting on the announcement, Jeff Pearson, Chief Executive said: “We are delighted to have worked with and receive the continued support of the Welsh Government in support of our long term strategic goals. The backing received at this time will enable us to invest further in our Cardiff office to ensure our 150 years of growth and success in Wales and beyond continues well into the future.”
Geldards’ group headquarters in Cardiff office provides legal services to a wide range of public and private sector clients and also provides planning, public law, charity law and clinical negligence services for UK and overseas clients for its other offices in Nottingham, Derby and London.
Geldards has a wide range of clients across the UK and overseas and has French, German, Italian, Russian, Polish, Spanish and Welsh speaking lawyers.
It is one of only two firms in the UK that have been accepted for membership of DIRO. This is a German based organisation consisting of some 100 law firms, 80 of which are in Germany and the rest spread throughout Europe, to provide support for businesses working in Germany.