DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary is one of the original founders of our awards and as such have made ahuge contribution to the success and growth of the event.
Philip Rooney, managing partner of DLA Piper's Liverpool office, said: "We have awards for areason.
"Genuine achievement needs to be acknowledged --not least because it fosters confidence in the minds of the people and organisations at the forefront of growing the region's economy.
"We celebrate the hard work and vision of everyone nominated in the Regional Business Awards. Their efforts benefit us all --creating opportunities for talented people to live and work on Merseyside.
"Over 14 years of supporting the Regional Business Awards we have seen acomplete transformation in the local economy.
"But there is further work to be done - particularly in meeting the challenges presented by the increasing globalisation of business, a trend highlighted in the North West Development Agency's Regional Economic Strategy.
"In our own activities we have seen the opportunities presented by the global business environment and the need to look at wider commercial horizons.
"Yet in raising one's sights there is no need to abandon one's roots - the great businesspeople in Liverpool's history did not forsake the city when their business interests took them to foreign shores.
"On the contrary, they applied what they gained from their experiences for the benefit of the city. Something which at DLA Piper we try hard to emulate today. These first business leaders of the past set a benchmark for us all - but many leaders today strive to set new benchmarks through their courage in taking bold steps to achieve their business visions.
"It is that boldness which the DLA Piper Business Person of the Year award seeks to reward - asan acknowledgement of what the winner has achieved and as an inspiration to those who will win in the future."
