Contributors
Womble Bond Dickinson has been named as one of the key partners to support growth in the Tees Valley region.
WBD has been appointed to provide services for all the organisations in the Tees Valley Combined Authority Group as part of a new legal framework and will use its regional base on Teesside and in the wider North East to engage its sector, national and transatlantic expertise.
Throughout the four-year partnership, the firm will provide support on a range of ambitious projects across the region, including the continued development of the Teesworks site and Teesside International Airport.
The firm will work alongside other panel firms offering a range of CSR initiatives to support the Tees Valley to thrive and grow.
These include running mentoring programmes, volunteering their services on a pro bono basis, offering careers advice and engaging with schools to benefit young people, businesses and charities across the region. This will supplement the work WBD already does in the region with organisations such as the North East Process Industry Cluster.
Peter Snaith, partner and sector head of manufacturing for WBD and head of the firm's Teesside practice, said:
“I am delighted that WBD has been named one of the partners on the legal framework of the Tees Valley Combined Authority Group.
“Being able to support the Tees Valley Combined Authority with major projects such as Teesside International Airport’s 10 Year Plan and the creation of Teesworks - the UK’s largest freeport – means that the firm can play a crucial role in supporting the economic growth of both the region and the UK. With our sector expertise we can also help the Combined Authority and other stakeholders to deliver the Tees Valley Industrial Decarbonisation Cluster Plan project to develop the roadmap to decarbonise the Tees Valley industrial cluster by 2040.
“WBD has been advising clients on Teesside for more than 20 years and we have acted on many of the most significant strategic projects in the region. We've built up a wealth of information over a range of industries that are currently experiencing rapid growth in the region, including sustainable energy, government services, transport and manufacturing, and we are able to offer world-class expertise to help local businesses and communities to build back better and thrive. We are looking forward to using our regional and sector knowledge to work with the Tees Valley Combined Authority”
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said:
“We’re delighted to have signed WBD as part of our new legal framework to support the game-changing projects we’re delivering across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool, including Teesworks, the Teesside Freeport, our airport and much more.
“They will not only help support us with their expert advice, but they’re going further to make sure local people across our region feel the benefit, by offering things such as local business support, skills workshops and interview training, and careers guidance, as well as committing to traineeships and apprenticeships and work experience to help inspire the next generation of would-be lawyers.”
