Complex deal leads to five years' work

May 16 2007 By Iain Laing, The Journal

Law firm Dickinson Dees has clinched a five-year deal with newly-formed Business Link North-East. The deal has followed pioneering work by the Newcastle firm in the creation of the advice agency. BLNE is the new independent private sector organisation delivering the Business Link branded information, diagnostics and brokerage service.

It will also be responsible for a new investment service called the North-East England Investment Centre, which entrepreneurs can use to support their business ambitions. The organisation took over last month from three independent sub-regional services which were wound down last autumn.

Dickinson Dees partner Neil Warwick said: "This was a unique transaction, the first of its kind in this sector.

"We dealt with all aspects of the creation of Business Link North-East, including the four-way entity merger, all employment law, pension schemes, property issues and multiple European funding arrangements.

"Dickinson Dees will also be working very closely with Business Link North-East because of Kudos, our legal advisory service, which is designed exclusively for growing businesses, entrepreneurs and start-ups. There will be a strong synergy between us."

The new organisation, whose headquarters is in Seaham, County Durham, aims to work with more than 36,000 customers, support about 4,000 business start-ups and encourage thousands of people into work.

BLNE chief executive Alastair MacColl said: "The work and advice from Dickinson Dees has been integral to managing a smooth transition into Business Link North-East and I am delighted that we are able to continue to work together during the next five years."

Meanwhile, Dickinson Dees is boosting its chemical and pharmaceuticals group after seeing business there treble in the past three years. It has recruited to create a team which includes 22 lawyers from the firm's various specialist departments working either exclusively or more for clients in the chemicals, pharmaceuticals and wider process industry sector.

It has also won business from an increasing number of other national and international businesses. This includes the recent $810m sale by Huntsman of its UK base chemicals and polymers business to Sabic.

Joining former ICI and Ineos practice head Peter Snaith are Michael Hutchinson, Simon Stuttaford, Patricia Barclay and Alison Moss.