A global law firm is to open an office in Bermuda — one of the first major international firmz to enter the Bermuda market.

And the move could bring a jobs boost to Bermuda with recruitment of lawyers and other professionals to staff the new office.

Walkers, founded in the Cayman Islands and with offices in seven other jurisdictions, decided to open up shop in Bermuda due to client demand and the volume of offshore business involving Bermuda.

Cayman-based managing partner Ingrid Pierce said: “We have thought for quite some time — and we have had clients ask us as well — whether we would be able to have a practice in and provide Bermuda law services.

“We thought about it for a while and the combination of people asking us to do that and multi-jurisdictional deals involving Bermuda convinced us.”

Ms Pierce said it was too early to say how many jobs would be created by the new firm or where it would be based, although it is hoped the new office in Bermuda will open its doors by the end of the year.

But she added: “We will be looking to recruit and we will take it from there.”

The firm said it aimed to offer a full range of legal services, including litigation, insolvency, corporate, investment funds, finance, insurance and trusts.

A statement added: “Walkers will provide multi-jurisdictional legal services to clients who require legal advice on any combination of Bermuda, Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Irish and Jersey law.”

Walkers’ Singapore managing partner John Rogers said: “As with our other global offices, we intend to become a major force in the legal services industry in Bermuda and to grow and develop talent in that jurisdiction.”

Ms Pierce added: “This year has been an exceptionally strong year for Walkers and these decisions are aligned with our ongoing strategy of targeted expansion.

“Starting new and different businesses is an exciting place to be and we are committed to long term investment in these projects.”

Walkers was founded more than 50 years ago in Cayman by sole practitioner William Walker and the firm expanded it operations in Cayman before opening its first overseas office in London in 1999.

In addition to the Caribbean, London and Singapore, the firm now has offices in Hong Kong and Dubai and employs more than 400 people around the world.

The firm has won a series of awards, including Offshore Law Firm of the Year from legal publications Alpha, The Lawyer, PLC Which Lawyer?, and Asian Legal Business.

Walkers has also been awarded Cayman Law Firm of the Year by Who’s Who Legal and shared top spot as the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners’ (STEP) Offshore Legal Team of the Year.