DLA supports Liverpool at World Expo
LAW firm DLA Piper is the latest company to become an official sponsor of Liverpool’s Pavilion at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai.
The firm, which employs more than 400 people in the North West, is the first in its sector to sign up to showcase the region’s professional services at the event, which runs between May 1 and October 31.
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 North West 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.”
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 total cost of Liverpool’s presence at the expo is expected to be around £3m, with the NWDA contributing £1.25m and the city council around £300,000.
The rest will be raised through sponsorship, with Peel Group confirmed as the £100,000 headline sponsor.
In November, Merseyside’s local authorities of Sefton, St Helens, Knowsley, Wirral and Halton agreed a collaborative sponsorship for a combined cost of £90,000.
The World Expo is expected to attract around 70 million visitors. It is regarded as a major opportunity to forge new relationships in emerging markets and is expected to be worth £50m to Liverpool and the North West over the next decade.
