INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE MINUTES 23 10 12

							MINUTES OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE MEETING
23 OCTOBER 2012 8.30 am
@ No5 CHAMBERS BIRMINGHAM


APOLOGIES:
Alastair Willcox – Blakemores
Jacob Robinson – Gateleys


PRESENT:
Bernard Shepherd [BS] – Blakemores
Nilay Shastry [NS] – Miles Pearce
Ian Fox-Williams [IFW] – School of Law Birmingham City University
John Westwood [JW] – ILEX
Raj Padhiar [RP] – Carltons
Joe Wilson [JW] – St Philips Chambers
Tony McDaid [TMD] – No5 Chambers [via telephone]
Sandra Astbury [SJA] – No5 Chambers


MATTERS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MEETING [21.8.12]
The last meeting was attended by Mandy Haque (Sales and Training Manager, Birmingham
Airport). Unfortunately the offer by Mandy for a small party of members to visit the new air
traffic control tower did not happen. RP is due to meet with a representative from the
airport this Friday and will report back to the Committee following the meeting. All agreed
it would be a good idea to take up the offer of holding a committee meeting at the airport.
At the last meeting Mandy was interested to find out from the Committee which routes
would be beneficial to businesses. A business case can then be made. BS suggested that this
could be achieved by sending out an e mail survey to BLS members. All agreed that this was
an excellent idea.


ACTION
SJA to send a reminder e mail to Mandy requesting dates
SJA to send a reminder e mail to Mandy about the e mail survey
It was agreed by those attending that as a Committee we need to raise the profile of the
Committee going forward and to attract new members. BS requested that all members
send him a list of possible new members.


BS had nothing to report regarding the Lyon trip which was due to take place in October.


NS reported that he had contacted Ravi Tandon with a view to asking him to attend a
meeting as a guest speaker. Ravi had requested further information and NS is to get back to
Ravi regarding companies that are looking to invest in the UK.


It was agreed that we should invite the current President Mary Kay and Martin Allsop,
current Vice President of the BLS to a meeting and show what the Committee is capable of
and also make the BLS aware that we are raising the profile of Birmingham and creating
interest to the wider legal community.


ACTION
BS to invite Mary Kaye and Martin Allsopp to next Committee meeting


All Committee members to e mail BS with suggested names for Committee members
BS to send JW Tim’s details


BS requested that thanks be minuted to No5 and Tony McDaid for hosting the Chinese
central government delegation which took place on the 12/13 September. 20-25 delegates
attended seminars and a lunch held at No5 and a court visit on the 14 September.


TMD reported that No5 had attended the TBCII [Turkish British Chamber of Commerce &
Industry) Annual Ball in London on the 20th October.


JW enquired whether there will be a Turkish delegation visiting the UK in the next few
months.
ACTION
TMD to give an update at the next Committee meeting regarding contacts made at the
TBCII Ball


TMD to find out from Emma Edhem (No5 member/ Company Secretary TBCII) re Turkish
delegation visiting UK


Following Steve Cunane’s departure, it was agreed that the UKTi representative in
Birmingham should be contacted.


It was agreed by all those attending that we need to contact local Consulates following a
suggestion at the last meeting that an e mail questionnaire be sent to our members asking
them what international business links they may have with a view to holding an
International Conference in Birmingham. This could be arranged to take place in 2014 to tie
in with the opening of the new runway at Birmingham Airport.


ACTION
BS to contact Steve Cunane regarding UKTI rep in Birmingham


BS to contact Becky at the BLS - request research into local Consulates


BS will sit on the committee of the Birmingham and American Business Club – BS to send
further details when available


JW reported that he had visited India recently and met with the Chair of the India Law
Society in Delhi. It was a good meeting and things are moving in India so well worth
pursuing. They are hoping to bring a delegation to the UK.


It was agreed that Julia Bateman, Law Society (Head of International Law) be invited to
speak to the Committee.
ACTION
TMD to invite Julia Bateman to a Committee meeting


JW reported that there are currently a lot of changes in the legal system in Malaysia and
there is an increasing number of Malaysian students coming to the UK (including
Birmingham colleges and Universities). Potential links should be looked into. BS confirmed
that the BLS now has a healthy student membership. Birmingham City University have paid
the subscriptions for all their students.


DATE OF NEXT MEETING:
Tuesday 27th November 2012 8.30 am No5 Chambers