Legal news: Shoosmiths; Pinsents & more
THE Manchester-led intellectual property and creative industries team at Shoosmiths, has been appointed to provide specialist arts legal services for Hull UK City of Culture 2017 after winning a national competitive tender.
Under the contract, the national firm will provide a broad spectrum of arts and culture legal services, along with commercial sponsorship and brand and trade mark advice to Hull 2017. This will include support on agreements relating to production, commissioning, venues, talent, partnerships, delivery and music commissioning.
Led by Manchester partner Laura Harper, the team advises businesses, organisations and professionals across the creative and cultural sector. Clients include the Liverpool Sound City, Kendal Calling, Louder than Words and FutureEverything festivals.
Harper said: “This is fantastic news for Shoosmiths and we are hugely excited about supporting Hull 2017 and working closely with the festival team. As a firm we are committed to supporting cultural events like Hull 2017, given the important role they play in supporting UK economic growth.
“Cultural regeneration is a key stimulus for economic growth in cities. As a go-to legal adviser for major cultural initiatives we can help drive this growth and ensure a lasting legacy for our clients’ events.”
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PINSENT Masons is the top ranked legal practice for workplace diversity in the 2016 Stonewall Workplace Equality Index.
The firm was ranked fifth in the survey, Freshfields Bruckhause Deringer – which has a growing presence in Manchester was joint 17th, DWF came 56th and Eversheds ranked at number 86 in the list of the top 100 inclusive employers for gay and lesbian people.
David Isaac, chair of the Diversity Steering Group at the firm said: “Pinsent Masons has worked hard to get into the top five of the Index and we are delighted to be the top ranking law firm. We were up against a lot of very tough competition so it’s an achievement that everyone in the firm should be exceedingly proud of.”
Senior partner Richard Foley added: “It is equally pleasing to see a number of other forward thinking law firms being recognised – this is an industry issue where we can and should be supporting and celebrating each other’s achievements.”
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A TEAM from Weightmans advised Liverpool charity Alt Valley Community Trust on the stock transfer of a community centre based in Dovecot, aimed to provide skills and training to unemployed and disadvantaged local people.
The deal, which involved asset transfer and leasing, will see a new theatre, nursery facilities, library, gym, education and training facilities and a café, all built within the new state of the art centre, set to be the largest in the city.
Liverpool-based real estate associate Amanda Hurst, who has worked with AVCT for over 10 years, advised on the deal.
She said: “This was an exciting project to work on. We have a longstanding relationship with AVCT, and it’s been extremely rewarding to be involved in such a worthwhile project that brings a tremendous benefit to the community of Dovecot and beyond.”
