DLA joins World Expo sponsors

DLA Piper has become the first law firm to sponsor Liverpool's pavilion at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai.

DLA employs 400 people in Liverpool and Manchester and has 67 offices across the world, including an office in Shanghai.

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."

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 70m people will visit the Expo during its six month run from 1 May to 31 October 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 North West Development Agency.

DLA joins property and transport giant Peel Holdings, nuclear specialist EA Technology and outsourcing firm Enterprise in the private sector sponsors. The NWDA has committed £1.25m and Liverpool City Council has committed £300,000.