Baker & McKenzie has appointed the management team for its Belfast support centre six months after the office opened.

Corporate partner James Richards has been appointed as director of legal services at the centre following his return from the firm's Moscow office where he led its English law M&A offering.

The freshly hired director of finance and operations and the director of human resources have non-legal backgrounds.

Brian Monroe, who will be in-charge of the centre's finance and operations, was previously part of the leadership team that established Allen & Overy's Belfast shared service centre.

Tracey McCabe, who was formerly at Lagan Construction Group, has been appointed as director of human resources.

The leadership team will work closely with Baker & McKenzie's global director of operations Jason Marty, who is currently based in Belfast.

Marty said the three were an "exceptional management team".

He added: "With over 50 people now on board Global Services Belfast is already offering innovative and responsive services to enhance our worldwide client offering."

Although the base is currently working out of temporary accommodation the firm has signed a lease for permanent premises at City Quays 1 in the Belfast Harbour development, which is due for completion this summer.

Belfast is Baker & McKenzie's second business support centre following the opening of its base in Manila in the Philippines in 2000. The Belfast office opened in August last year and is expected to grow to 120 professionals by the end of 2015.