The firm, which currently employs 25 people across its Ballyhackamore, Dundonald and Bangor offices, said it will recruit new solicitors, IT professionals and clerical staff through the expansion of its conveyancing, family law/matrimonial and white collar crime divisions.

The solicitors firm was founded by Fergus McConnell and Pat Kelly in the early 1990s. The firm now has an additional two directors, Darren Duncan and Jonathan Burke, with cases handled across four offices, including a separate conveyancing building at Ballyhackamore.

The firm is considered to be among Northern Ireland’s top three independently-owned criminal law firms.

Mr Kelly said: “After the ‘Troubles’ and the recession, our landscape has evolved presenting us with new challenges and opportunities as people request new legal services in areas as diverse as white-collar crime, and cyber-crime while continuing to represent victims of the past through legacy work and the HIA (the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry).”

He added: “This new investment expands our resources and techniques, particularly with forensic status software to fast-forward cases as well as launching new divisions within our company structure.

“We feel privileged to have been able to facilitate professional legal solutions that have proved effective and advantageous for our clientele.”

Mr McConnell added: “We are currently celebrating our 25th anniversary and as a business see the need for new jobs now to support our continued growth in both Northern Ireland and beyond, where we are operating with a number of blue-chip clients.

“The new positions will help expand the team already in place at our four locations and we are considering the acquisition of a new HQ office as we look towards further growth in 2016/2017.

“Our strength is our team, and every member has been integral to the success of our business development and we hope to continue creating more jobs for local people in the future.”