Winston & Strawn NY hosts Brit technology forum

The New York office of Winston & Strawn played host yesterday (15 September) to a group of 21 UK technology companies on the hunt for business opportunities in the US.

The businesses were at the start of a week-long trade event called Digital Mission 2008. The event is run by the UK government agency, UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) and aims to help British businesses succeed in international markets.

London-based Winston partner Barry Vitou will lead Winston’s involvement in Digital Mission.

Vitou said: “All of the companies involved in Digital Mission have expressed an interest in setting up in the US. We’ll be hosting a series of seminars and panels, including war stories, on doing business in the US.”

As well as introducing the 21 companies to the US market and facilitating a series of networking events, Winston hopes its involvement in Digital Mission will also raise its profile in UK technology circles.

To that end, the US firm has also subsidised the cost of the UK companies making the trip to the US. “We’re having a real push on technology in the London office,” Vitou said.

The 21 UK companies kicked off the mission in Winston’s New York office yesterday where they learned about a range of legal issues related to doing business in America. These included tax, employment, intellectual property and the basics of carrying out transactions in the US.