Ward Hadaway sponsors Liverpool Sound City 2011 | 20 April 11

LAW firm Ward Hadaway has signed up as a sponsor for one of the UK’s leading festivals and conferences.

In the city – Miles Kane performing at Liverpool Sound City last year. The singer is returning to Liverpool Sound City 2011.

The Top 100 UK firm, which has offices in Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle, is the Official Entertainment Law Firm for Liverpool Sound City 2011.

Since its establishment three years ago, Liverpool Sound City has grown to become one of the leading music industry showcases in the UK.

An eclectic mix of live performances, conference events, exhibitions and panel discussions, the event is increasingly regarded as a must-attend for major players within the music, creative and digital industries in the UK and internationally.

Artists including Florence + The Machine, The Wombats and White Lies have previously played at Sound City while this year’s line-up includes The View, Young Knives, Miles Kane and Black Lips and some of the most hotly-tipped new music acts including Yuck, Dels and Spark.

Alongside over 300 live bands at 30 venues across the city, Liverpool Sound City 2011 will also see delegates from 23 different countries attend three days of music and digital business conference events with over £5m worth of business expected to be generated by the event.

Laura Harper, partner and head of the Creative Industries team at Ward Hadaway, said: “We are very pleased to be an official sponsor of Liverpool Sound City 2011.

“The event has been gaining in prominence and influence, not just within the music business but also across the wider digital and creative sector, for the past three years and is now a real fixture on the national and international calendar.

“Anyone who is interested in new music and new developments in digital technology will be there so for us as a firm to be represented so prominently is fantastic.”

Ward Hadaway’s specialist Creative Industries team provides legal advice to a wide range of creative enterprises.

In the music field, the team has advised musicians, producers, record labels and management companies on matters including publishing contracts, recording contracts and merchandising agreements.

Carol Isherwood, assistant solicitor in the team, was previously in a signed band and worked in music business management before qualifying in the law.

Carol has been the legal panellist at all three of the MMF’s Managers’ Induction courses which have been held outside of London to date and earlier this year, she gave the benefit of her advice at a series of music business workshops organised by Generator, the UK’s leading music development agency.

Members of the Creative Industries team also advise technology and digital businesses, including software companies and games designers.

Laura Harper (pictured on left with Carol Isherwood) explained: “In many ways, Liverpool Sound City 2011 is the perfect fit for our Creative Industries practice since it takes in such a wide range of different sectors, all of which we are involved with and have experience in.

“As a growing full-service law firm with offices right across the North of England, we are also ideally placed to offer our range of services and expertise to the kind of businesses and people who will be attending the event.

“As well as providing a great showcase for live music and new developments in the digital sector, Liverpool Sound City is a place where important deals are made so our sponsorship of and presence at the event makes real sense for us as a business.

“We have always aimed to make our Creative Industries team accessible to everyone in the sector and this is a great way for us to demonstrate that.”

David Pichlingi, director of Liverpool Sound City 2011, said: “We are delighted that Ward Hadaway have signed up as a sponsor of Liverpool Sound City 2011 and are the event’s Official Entertainment Law Firm.

“It is important for us that our sponsors fit in with the ethos of the event and Ward Hadaway certainly do that.

“As one of the top 100 law firms in the UK, they add real strength and standing and their expertise in the creative industries field is matched with credibility so they can really contribute to what goes on during the event.”

Amongst other activities at Liverpool Sound City 2011, Ward Hadaway’s Creative Industries team will be conducting a Law Surgery at the Hilton Hotel in Liverpool and taking part in panel discussions and meet the buyer events.

Members of the team will also be posting regular updates during the event via the Ward Hadaway Creative Industries team Twitter feed @WardHadCreative

Liverpool Sound City 2011 runs from Thursday 19 May until Saturday 21 May with full details at www.liverpoolsoundcity.co.uk

For more information on Ward Hadaway's activities at Liverpool Sound City, please go to our dedicated Liverpool Sound City 2011 page.

Liverpool Sound City in numbers

Live Festival: 30 Venues, 70 International bands/artists, 200 UK bands/artists, 150 Local/North West bands/artists, estimated total audience of 35,000.

Main Conference: 3 day programme, 13 panels and Technology Summit, 3 networking receptions, 1,209 Registered Delegates, 47 panellists, delegates from 23 countries represented.

Business Activity: 102 UK businesses represented, 26 international businesses represented, over £5m worth of business expected to be generated within one month of the event.

Find out more about our Creative Industries services.