Law firms Squire Patton Boggs and HGF have been appointed as legal partners to Nexus, the innovation hub of the University of Leeds.
Squire Patton Boggs, whose Leeds office is located at 6 Wellington Place, will serve as legal professional services partner to Nexus members.
Leeds corporate partner William Downs (pictured, left) will lead the multidisciplinary team for entrepreneur and startup members, whose membership grants them access to academic expertise at the University of Leeds, as well as innovative support networks and business advisory services.
Downs said: “The firm has acted on various projects for the University of Leeds over the past few years, and has a long track record of advising innovative and fast-growth companies and SMEs as they start and scale up, especially in the technology, manufacturing, healthcare and life sciences sectors.”
“Our team is looking forward to sharing our insights and knowledge to help organisations in the Nexus community, as they develop, finance and commercialise their innovations, working alongside Nexus and their other professional services partners.”
HGF will provide intellectual property advisory services to the innovation hub’s members. Partner Andy Camenisch (pictured, right), who is based in the boutique firm’s Leeds headquarters at 1 City Walk, said: “Nexus plays an important role in the Leeds City region in providing support and growing innovative businesses.”
“Our firm is geographically well placed to provide support to the regional innovation ecosystem and is equally invested in the region.”
“We are looking forward to providing Nexus members with our knowledge and expertise across the sector to help facilitate future growth.”
Welcoming both firms as partners, Nexus director Dr Martin Stow said: “Nexus brings together the brightest minds from business, technology and academia and we are excited to welcome Squire Patton Boggs to our community.”
“For startups and SMEs to be successful, they need tailored advice and we are building a network of professional services partners that can provide this based on their experience and skills. Squire Patton Boggs have a long history of supporting fast growing innovative businesses and I have no doubt that they will be a very valuable asset to the Nexus community and help our members accelerate and grow.”
He continued: “HGF has a proven track record in supporting innovative businesses in the region and I believe that they will be a very valuable asset to the Nexus community, helping our members accelerate and grow.”
