Chester chosen to host prestigious international conference

Chester-based law firm Aaron & Partners will host delegates from all over the world in its home city next month as the IAG Global Assembly takes place for the first time since the pandemic.

Conference comes at a ‘vital time’ for international business, with professional services firms from around the globe to be shown the ‘best Chester has to offer’
Professionals from all over the world will descend on Chester next month when the city plays host to an annual conference for the prestigious IAG Global (International Advisory Group).

The conference will be the first in-person meeting for the global group since the pandemic, with delegates and their guests from countries including Sweden, Germany, Australia, USA, Singapore and many others expected among the attendees.

Hosted by legal firm Aaron & Partners, the event will offer guests the chance to experience the best Chester has to offer.

IAG Global is an association of independent professional service firms from across the globe, and its assemblies are designed to help members work more closely together, build relationships and share ideas.

The Chester Assembly will kick off on May 19, with over 60 guests from around the world travelling to the North West.

The conference will take place in Chester after Helen Watson, Aaron & Partners’ Partner and Head of Employment Law at the city-based firm, joined the IAG board last year, taking up the reins from Aarons’ colleague Stuart Haynes.

She said: “We are delighted to be hosting the prestigious IAG Global Assembly in Chester for the group’s first in-person meeting since the pandemic.

“We’ve always thought of the IAG Global Assembly as an invaluable event that allows our members to build relationships, particularly with the huge opportunities in terms of international investment and exporting that aren’t just limited to physical goods.

“Working more closely together internationally in a post-Brexit, post-Covid environment is vital for businesses like ours.

“For all of us at Aaron & Partners, it will give us immense pride to showcase our home city as a fantastic place not only to live, but to do business.”

Among the plans scheduled for the four-day event are an evening at Chester Cathedral featuring entertainment from the Welsh National Opera, a dining experience by Italian restaurant Bollicini, a trip to Chester Zoo, a gala dinner at Grosvenor Hotel with entertainment from The Hammond School of Performing Arts, an afternoon at Cheshire Polo, and a visit to Liverpool.

The last IAG Global Assembly took place in Zurich in 2020, just before the outbreak of the pandemic, and the next one is scheduled for Chicago later this year. The Assembly next month shows Chester taking its rightful place on the world stage.

IAG is made up of a global network of law firms, accountants, tax and other professional advisors, and has a successful track record of supporting business deals around the world. A highly respected organisation, it attracts corporate investment to the UK from around the world including Europe, the Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, and North America. Legal 500-ranked law firm Aaron & Partners has been a member since 2014.

Tomasz Szarek, Managing Partner at Polish law firm SDZ Legal and Chairman of IAG Global, said: “The return of IAG Global Assemblies following the Covid pandemic is eagerly anticipated by all our members as it is central to how we build relationships and business opportunities.

“Many of us will be visiting Chester for the first time, and I know I speak on behalf of our group when I say we can’t wait to experience all that the city has to offer. Our kind hosts at Aaron & Partners have put together a fantastic programme for us all to enjoy.”