As part of a visit to the Leeds area, a group of Canadian lawyers met with representatives from Leeds Legal – Britain’s first ever city-based law sector marketing campaign – and two of the city’s leading law firms, to see where they can learn from legal experts, specialising in the ever-contentious PPP.
Unlike in the UK - where PPPs are already proving very successful for many initiatives - Canada is only cautiously beginning to use PPPs as an alternative form of financing projects, but as the government comes under increasing pressures to stretch its resources, Canadian lawyers have been urged to learn more.
Alan M Baker, chairman of Leeds Legal, who chaired the meeting said: “Leeds lawyers have always been renowned for their expertise on PPPs, and it’s fantastic for the city that the Canadian delegation has chosen their Leeds counterparts as mentors and advisors in this field.
“We’re hoping that this will be the start of a lasting dialogue between Leeds lawyers and our Canadian colleagues.”
The Canadian delegation met with representatives from Leeds Legal, John Ansbro of Leeds Financial Services Initiative (LFSI) and law firms DLA Piper and Pinsent Masons, as part of visit to Leeds organised by LFSI.
According to a recent research report into Project Management and Infrastructure Expertise, conducted by Leeds Metropolitan University, the city’s lawyers are among the most highly regarded experts on PPP in the UK, advising on national and international projects and strategies.
