Alternative legal services provider Axiom is officially opening its new India base for business on Monday (18 February), with video game giant Electronic Arts (EA) on board as the office's first client.

The formal launch comes after Legal Week revealed last August that Axiom was in the process of establishing a 5,500 sq ft base in Gurgaon to offer its clients a more cost-effective service in the region. 

The office, which will work in tandem with Axiom's other managed services centres in Belfast, Houston and Chicago, is set to house around 50 staff by the end of 2013, with plans to triple this number during 2014. Employees will have either a legal background or specialise in data processing.

EA, an established client of the firm, has annual revenues of more than $4bn (£2.6bn), and produces popular video games such as the FIFA (pictured), Medal of Honor and SimCity series.

EA's head of legal Brian Hupp said low-volume, high-cost legal work would be carried out at the new office, while quality control and more complex tasks will remain serviced through Axiom's Chicago base. 

Specific types of work which will be carried out by the Gurgaon managed services team will include contract drafting, support for business sale agreements and licensing agreements, document review and data extraction. 

Axiom's executive vice-president of managed services client delivery Mark Trepanier said: "We feel India is an important place to be and, from a cost perspective, it allows us to be as competitive as possible. India also has English language servicing capability, which is essential, as well as possessing a great accessible talent base."

Hupp added: "The Axiom contract has helped us hit our cost control goals. We've cut our litigation budget significantly, which has enabled us to invest in other areas of the business."

Axiom's managed services business was launched two years ago, including a move into Belfast last year. 

The Northern Ireland base is set to expand in the coming months with the addition of 30-40 new staff, and the company aiming for 100 staff by 2014.

For more on Axiom, see Disruptive innovation: has Axiom got what it takes to break up the law firm party?