Member Article

Womble Bond Dickinson celebrates International Innovation Week

Transatlantic law firm Womble Bond Dickinson, which has a large office in Southampton, has organised an International Innovation Week.

From Monday 19th to Friday 23rd March, more than 19 events have taken place across Womble Bond Dickinson’s UK and US offices, looking at how innovative technology is transforming the legal industry and other sectors, how businesses challenge themselves to develop more efficient processes, and the new ways of engaging with clients to embed a culture of innovation.

This is the second year running that the firm has organised International Innovation Week but this is the first one since the launch of Womble Bond Dickinson on 1 November, when UK firm Bond Dickinson and US firm Womble Carlyle combined, creating Womble Bond Dickinson, a Global Top 100 firm by annual revenue ($410 million/£340million) with 19 offices in the US and 8 in the UK.

International Innovation Week has presented many opportunities for all staff from both sides of the Atlantic to listen, learn, debate and create, through a series of open invitation webinars, workshops, roundtable events and discussions. Key issues discussed included Cryptocurrency and Blockchain technology, Artificial Intelligence and innovation in legal sector.

A number of events were held in the firm’s Southampton office to discuss the initiatives happening across the city and what the region – as a major legal hub – can do to keep ahead of the curve. Don Spalinger, Director of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at the University of Southampton and Chairman at SETsquared Partnership, visited the office to share his experience after living 30 years in Silicon Valley and provided insight into the unique strengths of the region as a strong technology cluster and a magnet for growth and investment.

Jon Hales, Partner and Head of Womble Bond Dickinson’s Southampton Office, said: “The events this week have presented an ideal platform for us all to find out more about the exciting and nimble initiatives happening in Southampton as well as within our firm, both in the UK and the US. Through Innovation Week we can ensure that as a firm we keep up to date with innovative new dynamics and continue to develop a culture of innovation to help us drive our business forward and have a mind-set that reflects our clients’.”

Nigel Emmerson, UK Head of Innovation at Womble Bond Dickinson comments: “We have learnt a huge amount through collaboration with our US colleagues in the last 12 months but we know we need to keep exploring and embracing change together in order to remain competitive, relevant and progressive. Our Innovation Group works with our lawyers and clients to help identify potential innovation opportunities and coordinate initiatives and projects across the firm. Innovation Week provides a spotlight for these projects and this way of working that will be hugely beneficial to both firms.”

Ranking in the UK’s top 20 law firms, Womble Bond Dickinson provides legal expertise in eleven key sectors. It is the largest transatlantic law firm in the South East and in Southampton, it employs more than 150 staff.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Womble Bond Dickinson .