On March 1, 2002, five days after the closing ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, Governor Michael O. Leavitt prefaced the opportunities that await Utah businesses. "Utah now has a global brand of competence, natural beauty and friendly people. In the next 1,000 days, we will capitalize on this brand by partnering with local businesses on international trade missions and building upon new business relationships." In the spirit of the Olympics, the International Section of Kirton & McConkie, one of Salt Lake's largest law firms, hosted an open house on July 17, 2003 in which representatives of 11 countries were in attendance. The countries represented were Austria, China, Finland, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Pakistan, South Africa, South Korea, United Kingdom, and Uruguay. Seven members of the Utah Consular Corps also attended the affair. This event also honored and introduced new and visiting colleagues of Kirton & McConkie's International Practice Group,from China, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, and South Korea. One of the lawyers, Michael Chen (Of Counsel for Kirton & McConkie) will become dean of China's newest Law School this fall. (See SL Tribune article, July 11, 2003, B8.) Franz Kolb, Honorary Consul for Austria and Director for Europe in the Utah State International Business Development Office, represented the Consular Corps and the State in brief remarks. He applauded the efforts of Kirton & McConkie in supporting international business in Utah by expanding its International Practice Group. Consulates: Austria, Mexico, South Africa,
United Kingdom, Uruguay, Finland and Germany Other Nations: South Korea, Pakistan, Japan and China |
