Liverpool Vision announces DLA Piper Expo Sponsorship
Leading Liverpool law firm, DLA Piper, has become the first in its sector to commit to be an official sponsor of Liverpool’s Pavilion at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai.
The India Buildings-based firm will help showcase the region’s professional services offer at the event, dubbed the “Business Olympics”, which runs between May 1 and October 31.
DLA Piper employs more than 400 people in the North West and has 3,500 lawyers located in 29 countries and 67 offices throughout Europe, the Middle East, the USA, and Asia, including in Shanghai itself.
Liverpool’s participation in World Expo 2010 is being led by Liverpool Vision in partnership with the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), Liverpool City Council and the Liverpool-Shanghai Partnership.
Mike Taylor, Director of Investment and Enterprise at Liverpool Vision and Creative Director for Liverpool at World Expo 2010, said: “DLA Piper is one of the city’s leading companies with a truly international reach and their willingness to be involved reflects how important the Expo is to Liverpool’s current and future ambitions.
“We are delighted that such a prominent and important company like DLA Piper will be joining us in Shanghai to help us sell the city’s offer to new and emerging markets.”
The World Expo is expected to attract more than 70 million visitors and many regard it as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to consolidate existing and forge new relationships in the world’s emerging markets. It is predicted to deliver up to £50m in economic benefits to Liverpool and the North West over the next decade.
Philip Rooney, DLA Piper’s Managing Partner in Liverpool, said: “The focus of business in the region is becoming increasingly more international, with companies actively looking at opportunities both to enter new markets and to attract potential overseas investors.
“The Expo is an opportunity for the region to showcase itself to decision makers from important markets, both established and up and coming. In particular, this is a chance to build a strong relationship with the Chinese economy which has the potential to dominate trade globally in the future.
“That relationship will bear fruit in terms of trade, both inward and outward over time but the payback period should be viewed in terms of years – this is a long term game. The critical thing is that Liverpool and the wider Northwest region are ready now to make the most of the opportunities presented by Expo and to show that this is a world class destination in terms of business and the visitor economy.”
For further information please contact Jonathan Caswell at Liverpool Vision on 0151 600 2946 or via email at jcaswell@liverpoolvision.co.uk
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Liverpool is the only city in the UK to have a dedicated presence at the World Expo in Shanghai.
The Expo takes place every four years and is an opportunity for participants to showcase investment opportunities and cultural distinctiveness to an international audience.
Organisers of the Shanghai 2010 Expo estimate that 70 million people will visit the Expo during its six month run from May 1st to October 31st 2010.
Liverpool’s presence at Expo 2010 is being led by Liverpool Vision in partnership with Liverpool City Council, The Liverpool Shanghai Partnership and the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA).
Its main sponsor is Peel Holdings, which has interests in ports, airports, renewable energy, media and property development across the North West. The NWDA has committed £1.25m to support Liverpool’s presence, whilst Liverpool City Council has committed £300,000.
Other sponsors include EA Technology and Enterprise.
The Liverpool Pavilion will be housed within the Urban Best Practice Area of the 5.3 sq km Expo site which overlooks the Huangpu River.
For more information about DLA Piper please contact Daniel Gerrella at Paver Smith on 0151 239 5017 / gerrella@paversmith.co.uk or Sara Gibson at DLA Piper on 0151 237 4773 / sara.gibson@dlapiper.com
Contact name: Jonathan Caswell
Contact email: jcaswell@liverpoolvision.co.uk
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