Helena Woodward

The firm’s Belfast centre provides business and professional services support to its clients and offices around the world. Established in 2014, it now employs around 500 people.

Ms Woodward takes over the top role in the centre from James Richards, who is retiring at the end of the year after more than 30 years with the firm, 11 of them in Belfast.

She is currently the human resources director for the Belfast centre, and is responsible for the human resources team across the firm’s service centres in Belfast, Buenos Aires, Manila and Tampa.

She joined Baker McKenzie in 2015 and has served on the Belfast centre’s senior leadership team since that time.

Prior to joining the firm, Ms Woodward held a number of senior positions in businesses in Northern Ireland and the wider UK.

Kate Stonestreet, Baker McKenzie’s global chief operating officer, said: “We are delighted that Helena is to be the new head of our Belfast centre.

“Helena will lead a team of almost 500 colleagues in support of our clients and lawyers around the world. Her role will be crucial at a time when we seek to accelerate how we leverage new technologies to better serve our clients.

“I would also like to thank James Richards for his hard work and leadership in Belfast over the last 11 years.”

Ms Woodward said: “Baker McKenzie’s Belfast centre has long attracted exceptionally talented people, so it is a true honour to have been chosen to lead this team.

“I warmly thank James for his stellar efforts in driving growth here in Belfast to where we now employ nearly 500 people, and look forward to seeing what other successes we can achieve in the next decade, and beyond.”

Mr Richards added: “I am so pleased that the firm has appointed Helena to be my successor in the Belfast centre.

“I have greatly enjoyed my time in Belfast and I’m incredibly thankful to Helena and our team here for all their support over the last 11 years. I am pleased to be leaving the centre in such good hands.”