Clipper Round the World Race-Hill Dickinson is Official Legal Partner

4:41 PM Tue 12 Jul 2011 GMT

'Clipper 09-10 fleet' Clipper Ventures PLC &copy

Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race is the world's longest ocean race at 40,000 miles. It will begin from Southampton, on the south coast of England on 31 July 2011.

International law firm, Hill Dickinson, has become the Official Legal Partner of the Clipper 11-12 Round the Yacht Race. With their specialist sector knowledge and maritime experience, the award-winning practice will deliver legal advice and support for the eighth edition of the race.

'Hill Dickinson is proud to be the Official Legal Partner for the Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race. We will be right behind the organisers and participants at every stage of the race; experts from across our network of UK and overseas offices are providing advice and support on all legal matters to ensure this ultimate adventure runs smoothly. We wish the participants the best of luck, and bon voyage, in what will be the experience of a lifetime,' says Tony Allen, head of yacht team, Hill Dickinson LLP.

This is not the first time Hill Dickinson has been associated with the biennial Clipper Race. In 2004 the award-winning law firm was appointed as Official Lawyers to Liverpool 2008 as part of the city's successful bid to become European Capital of Culture. As such the firm became race partners to Liverpool 08's entry in Clipper 05-06 and was introduced to the global marketing opportunities the race delivers to its sponsors and partners.

On 31 July the ten-strong Clipper 11-12 fleet of internationally-sponsored, stripped out ocean racing yachts sets off from Southampton on the UK's south coast. Racing east about around the world the teams will visit 15 ports of call on six continents over the course of the gruelling 12-month race. The route will take the fleet to Rio de Janeiro, Cape Town, Geraldton Western Australia, New Zealand, Australia's Gold Coast, Singapore, Qingdao, California, New York, Nova Scotia, Derry-Londonderry and the Netherlands. The race returns to the UK on 22 July 2012.

Established in Liverpool in 1810, Hill Dickinson now has offices across the UK and overseas, including Singapore, one of the official stopovers and team sponsors of Clipper 11-12. Not only do the yachts act as floating billboards as they race around the world but Hill Dickinson, along with the race's other suppliers and sponsors, will be able to take advantage of the activation opportunities in stopovers to showcase themselves on an international stage.
The Clipper Race is the brainchild of sailing legend Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first man to sail solo and non-stop around the world in 1968/69. He wanted to give ordinary people the opportunity to experience the thrills and challenges of global ocean racing regardless of their previous sailing ability. To date the Clipper yachts have taken part in more than 1.8 million miles of ocean racing, they have visited 22 countries on six continents and delivered a unique ocean racing experience to more than 3,000 crew representing 300 professions and 52 nationalities.

Sir Robin says, 'We have had the pleasure of working with Hill Dickinson for a number of years now and I'm pleased they have recognised the opportunities our race delivers as a global marketing platform to get on board as our Official Legal Partner for Clipper 11-12.'

Clipper Round the World website

by Zoe Williamson