Member Article

Watson Burton forge NECC partnership

A team of legal experts will lend its vast knowledge and expertise to one of the North East’s most influential groups of business people.

Leading law firm Watson Burton has joined the North East Chamber of Commerce’s Partners programme, by which prominent businesses work with NECC to deliver its members policy aims.

NECC Partners boasts a host of wise and experienced industry leaders who provide views and opinions that help shape the organisation’s policy agenda.

Watson Burton is a leading law firm with an excellent reputation, offering the full range of commercial law services.

Duncan Reid, head of Corporate at Watson Burton said: “We are passionate about North East business and helping our region reach its full potential. We see membership of NECC Partners as an opportunity to work with people from the business community who are equally as passionate and committed as we are to making the North East successful.

“The work undertaken by the NECC is fantastic in raising the profile of the region as a hub for business growth. We are delighted to be involved and are very much looking forward to working with regional businesses in doing our bit to help shape the policy agenda.”

The company has significant nationwide coverage providing first class legal advice from offices in Newcastle, Leeds and London. Key to the firm’s success is a combination of commercial and technical experience delivered with a personal touch, which forms the foundation of many long-standing client relationships.

It is almost seven years since the Partners programme was introduced and membership now stands at 22.

NECC head of Partners, Joanne Fryett, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Watson Burton into Partners. They are a company that has not only an excellent regional profile, but a national reputation for excellence and service.

“Having met a number of times with Duncan, I know the firm dedicated to helping North East business develop and grow and will bring a keen legal focus to the group, particularly to areas such as removing barriers to growth.

“Partners include some of the largest employers in the region, whose contribution to the growth in private sector jobs and business investment is immense and it is great to have Watson Burton as part of our team.”

Partners are selected to represent businesses across the range of sectors in the North East and are part of an exclusive group of members that work with NECC to influence and shape its agenda.

NECC director of Policy, Ross Smith, outlined the important role Partners play for both the region’s largest business membership organisation and the North East generally.

“The NECC and the wider business community has benefitted enormously from the way Partners have supported key NECC policy developments such as making sure smaller businesses have a fair crack at large public sector contracts, making sure skills and training support the real needs of business in the North East and we’re about to embark on an exciting innovation project that will see Partners play a key role.

“We very much look forward to value the experience of Watson Burton and what the company will bring to Partners’ contribution to the economic landscape of the North East.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by North East Chamber of Commerce .