Russell Smith speaking earlier at the jobs announcement earlier this year.
US-based media law firm, SmithDehn LLP, has hired its first wave of graduates from the Magee campus of the University of Ulster.
Based at the North West Regional Science Park at Pennyburn and with inancial support from Invest Northern Ireland, educational and training support from the University of Ulster, it is the first time an American law firm has expanded into Northern Ireland.
“This is a front office, not a back office,” according Russell Smith, SmithDehn executive.
“Our new recruits already are performing sophisticated legal work for Hollywood film studios and US television companies, and getting ready for marketing/deal-making trips to major film and television festivals around the world.”
SmithDehn also has teamed up again with the University of Ulster to deliver another course in the business and law of film and television.
Last Spring’s course, from which SmithDehn NI hired and trained this week’s first recruits, featured visiting professors such as the Chief Counsel of HBO and the Head of Legal for Channel 4, who both are coming back.
Next year’s course is expected to add at least one top executive from a major Hollywood film studio and the former head of legal for the Discovery networks to the mix.
Based at Ulster’s Magee campus, the Masters level short course is designed to meet the growing industry need for legal professionals with specific expertise in media, entertainment and sports law.
New SmithDehn professional, Derry man Tony Doherty, said getting the chance to study entertainment law at the University of Ulster with some of the top media executives in the world was exciting enough he now regularly had to “pinch” himself to believe that this was actually what I do for a living.”
Dermot Desmond, another of the first batch of recruits from the city, he was “thrilled” the first US law firm expanding into Northern Ireland had come to Derry.
He added: ” To be given the chance to work with and learn from the biggest names in the industry is an amazing opportunity for us. And now I’m getting ready to go to Cannes to meet international clients. Things are moving along quickly.”
Mayor of Derry, Cllr Brenda Stevenson, said she was “delighted” SmithDehn LLP had acknowledged the talent and skills of Magee students and rewarded their commitment and dedication by providing them with “unique opportunities” to work in such an exciting industry.
She added: “The new recruits will be working with some of the biggest names in the movie and TV industry such as HBO, Paramount Pictures and Channel 4,” she commented.”
Congratulating everyone involved in the successful project, Mayor Stevenson said she fully supported joint initiatives aimed at improving employment opportunities for graduates and said she was confident the company would announce additional recruitment opportunities in the near future.
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