Professional services firm scoops award at China event

Hundreds of Yorkshire & Humber business people gathered at an awards ceremony in Leeds to celebrate the Chinese New Year and promote links between the region and China.

The annual black tie Chinese New Year Dinner is organised by business support organisations around the region including ConnectChina and UK Trade & Investment (UKTI).

As well as acting as a New Year’s celebration the event also featured an awards ceremony, in which the winner of the China Business Award for 2008 was announced.

DLA Piper was named overall winner, becoming the first professional services firm to scoop the award. Josh Wong, associate at the firm’s Leeds office collected the award from Mark Robson of UKTI in front of the 250 guests at The Queens Hotel. Runner up was J Marr Seafoods and a special commendation was given to Park Lane College.

Pudsey-based electrical motor manufacturer ATB Morley and cabinet firm BLP Holdings from Doncaster were also nominated for their work with Chinese business.

The award, sponsored by UKTI, was open to entry by any individual, organisation or company trading or opening networking links with China. There were a record number of submissions this year, which were reduced by the judges to a final five organisations who were in the running for the prestigious award.

Joanna Lavan of ConnectChina said: “The judges felt DLA Piper were worthy winners from a handful of the very best business ambassadors.  China is a huge market for Yorkshire organisations and we are particularly pleased to see not only traditional exporters, but also professional services firms like DLA Piper contributing to improving trade between the countries and our region as a result of the work they do in China.”

Collecting the award, DLA Piper’s Josh Wong, an expert on Chinese trade and disputes said: “I am delighted that DLA Piper’s China expertise has been recognised in this way. Our success is a reflection of the high level of China business being undertaken by Yorkshire companies and it has been a privilege to help many of these firms achieve their ambitions in China.”