LAW firm Hill Dickinson has been appointed by Liverpool City Council to provide legal services for the development of a new exhibition centre and hotel at the Echo Arena and BT Convention Centre.

The £38m project is anticipated to start on site in 2013, and the team at Hill Dickinson, which beat national competition in winning the tender, will provide the council with planning and procurement advice, as well as support regarding the structure itself and advice on lease agreements and the building contract.

The team will be led by David Chinn, head of Hill Dickinson’s public sector and commercial business services group.

He will have overall responsibility for the delivery of services to the council in respect of the project, with support from Peter Barlow, head of the public sector property team, Alan Pugh, a specialist construction lawyer and Mark Fitzgibbon, a specialist procurement lawyer in the commercial team.

Mr Chinn said: “This prestigious appointment is testament to the quality of Hill Dickinson’s offer.”