• New shared business services centre to form part of Freshfields’ integrated global service infrastructure
• Freshfields to tap into a thriving market of local talent, complementing existing expertise in Manchester, U.K.

Global law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (‘Freshfields’) has launched a new shared business services centre in Slovakia, strengthening its global service infrastructure and positioning the firm for future success.

The new centre, opening in Bratislava’s iconic Jurkovič Heating Plant, will provide a consistent global service across Freshfields – enabling the firm to deliver an efficient and streamlined business services offering, that can retain, attract and develop the best talent for the future.

From December, the centre will progressively employ more than 50 finance, human resources and other support roles, working in close partnership with the firm’s established shared services centre in Manchester, U.K. Both cities form part of the firm’s integrated global service infrastructure, providing a broad skillset of support across financial, language and marketing services that continues to grow.

Freshfields managing partner Alan Mason, said: “We’re committed to investing in the best business services talent and infrastructure to serve our clients to the highest level and the launch of our Bratislava shared services centre is the next step on that journey. Like Manchester, the access to a pool of talented people in Bratislava is significant, with local talent and language skills a decisive factor in our choice of location. This new centre reinforces our ambition to serve our clients more effectively around the world, supporting our long-term strategic goals.”  

Freshfields global head of finance operations Štefan Fijko, said: “I‘m delighted to have joined Freshfields in Bratislava and the management of the new shared services centre - which strengthens our ambition to offer the best possible services to clients worldwide. We have all the tools to create an efficient and stimulating work environment here in Bratislava. A place where it will be fun to work and become part of our successful journey."

Freshfields is a global law firm with a long track record of advising the world's leading national and multinational corporations and financial institutions on ground-breaking and business-critical challenges. The firm’s team of more than 2,800 lawyers and other legal professionals delivers global results from offices across the U.K., Europe, Asia, the Middle East and North America.