Global law firm opens new office in area, plans 300 hires

TAMPA — Global law firm Baker McKenzie on Monday unveiled its new office in downtown Tampa at the SunTrust Centre.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony featured Tampa Mayor Jane Castor along with other local business and government leaders.

Baker McKenzie’s Tampa Center — a class A+ office space that offers a mix of alternative work spaces, individual work stations and collaborative work zones — is expected to result in the creation of 300 jobs, according to a press release. Some 120 already work there, in areas such as legal services, finance, IT, knowledge management, operations, business development, marketing and communications and talent.

"Today represents a major milestone in our operations here in Tampa," states Jamie Lawless, executive director of the Tampa Center, in a press release. "This has been an incredible year building out our team and creating our innovative workspace, and we are pleased to celebrate our official opening with community and business leaders who have been supporters of our plans. This is a world-class office space for a world-class team."

The firm operates equivalent business centers in just three other cities around the world: Manila, Belfast and Buenos Aries.

"Our clients are facing more competition and challenges, which demand faster, commercially sound responses, more competitive prices, better quality, continuous innovation and higher levels of legal and business knowledge,” states Jaime Trujillo, Baker McKenzie's acting global chairman, in the statement. “The Tampa Center, drawing on the outstanding talent pool Tampa offers, will help us continue to deliver precisely that. We are very excited for our future in this growing market."