Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright has announced plans to open a Legal Process Hub in Newcastle’s Quayside, creating around 100 new jobs over the next three years.

The firm has been running a Legal Process Hub in the city for over a year as a pilot project.

The Legal Process Hub currently employs a team of 28, which consists of lawyers, non-lawyers, paralegals, legal technologists and process designers.

This number will increase following the transition to the new premises on November 1, 2017.

Norton Rose Fulbright has agreed a 10 year lease with Northumberland Estates for the Quayside premises and is making the move following several meetings with Invest Newcastle, a service delivered by Newcastle Gateshead Initiative on behalf of Newcastle City Council.

Martin Scott, managing partner of Norton Rose Fulbright, Europe, Middle East & Asia, said: “There are a number of reasons as to why Newcastle is ideally placed for Norton Rose Fulbright, including access to a strong pool of local talent that is able to support our efforts globally, and the city’s strong and growing reputation for innovation and technology.

“Expanding the team outside London also allows us to trial emerging technology and working practices, including agile working, in a structured way.

“We continue to invest in people, processes and technology to provide a creative working environment, which differentiates and improves the services we can provide to our clients.

“The Legal Process Hub approaches legal work in a new way and is developed as a centre of excellence with a range of capabilities, which can be flexed and deployed either to support our internal teams in delivering a component of a service to clients, or to deliver a client service in a new and dynamic way.

“Our investment in technology, as well as artificial intelligence and machine learning will be a growth enabler to drive process efficiencies both at the Hub, and as part of how we deliver legal services generally.”

Michael O’Driscoll, senior asset manager at Northumberland Estates, said: “Securing Norton Rose Fulbright is a massive coup for Quayside House and for the wider region.

“North-Shoring has become increasingly common in recent years as a means of reducing operational costs.

“The North-East offers excellent value for money when compared to other regions as well as benefitting from a high quality and loyal labour pool.

“Attracting a high profile organisation such as Norton Rose Fulbright is testament to this and we are delighted they have chosen Quayside House as the regional base outside of London.”