The UK's largest independent investment manager and stockbrokers opened an office in Belfast today.
Bell Lawrie - which has seven offices in Scotland and is part of Brewin Dolphin Securities - is employing a dozen people in Belfast and has plans to extend that to 20 over the coming 18 months.
The new operation is the 35th office of Brewin Dolphin Securities, which manages over £15 billion on behalf of 100,000 clients in the UK and Channel Islands.
The Belfast office is headed by local stockbrokers Henry Algeo and Randal Herron, formerly managing director and chairman, respectively, of Cunningham Coates.
David McCorkell, head of the Bell Lawrie division, said it was "very pleasing to note that already the office has attracted over £150 million of funds under management".