Herbert Smith LLP announced as key sponsor for NCTJ conference

The National Council for the Training of Journalists is delighted to announce that Herbert Smith LLP is to be one of the leading sponsors of the Journalism Skills Conference in Belfast on 30 November and 1 December 2011.

Herbert Smith LLP is an international legal practice with 1400 lawyers (including over 250 partners) and a network of offices in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. In April 2011, the firm opened an office in Belfast which focuses on the large scale document review aspects of its contentious matters.  A major consideration in choosing Belfast for this operation was Northern Ireland’s pool of high quality graduates and professionals.

Joanne Butcher, NCTJ chief executive said: “It is fantastic that a global organisation such as Herbert Smith LLP is supporting quality journalism training in both Northern Ireland and the UK as a whole. We are looking forward to working with our supporters to make this anniversary conference an event to remember.”

Libby Jackson, director of Herbert Smith’s Belfast office added: “Herbert Smith is delighted to sponsor the NCTJ conference this year. Involvement in high quality educational programmes in Northern Ireland is a priority for us now that we are part of the Northern Ireland legal community. We already have excellent and well-established relationships with Belfast’s leading academic institutions. We welcome opportunities to support academic excellence by forging stronger ties with professional development providers such as the NCTJ.”

This year the NCTJ is planning a special conference to round off its 60^th anniversary celebrations. It will visit iconic local venues including the Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont and Belfast City Hall, and will feature speakers from politics and the media.

Bookings are now being accepted via the form on the website.