MORE than 40 people turned out for the first Bridgwater Business Lunch, hosted by law firm Clarke Willmott LLP.

The event saw professionals from Somerset and surrounding areas gather at Bridgwater & Albion Rugby Club to build new relationships and network with existing contacts while enjoying a two-course meal.

Steve Smith, chairman of Bridgwater and Albion RFC, said: “We were delighted to welcome Clarke Willmott and many local businesses and individuals to the lunch.

“Bridgwater is a good place to do business, and it’s great to see so many local professionals coming together to network while also supporting the Rugby club.

"We look forward to continuing to build our relationship with Clarke Willmott and booking in the next networking event.”

Kate Gardner, employment partner and head of Clarke Willmott’s Taunton office, said: “Clarke Willmott was founded in Taunton over 100 years ago, and even though we are now a national firm, we have our roots in Somerset.

“We were delighted to receive such strong support from the local businesses and professionals who attended the lunch and would also like to thank the Rugby club for hosting and providing a great lunch.

“As a firm, we are committed to continuing our strong client relationships across the county while building on new ones. We hope that these lunches will assist with our local connections going forward.”

Clarke Willmott LLP is a national law firm with seven offices across the country, including Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, London, Manchester, Southampton and Taunton.

For more information visit www.clarkewillmott.com.