A Cornish law firm has launched a marine sector team designed to support the region’s buoyant marine companies.

The marine sector contributes £500m to Cornwall’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and accounts for one in seven UK marine jobs. Recognising that this thriving sector needs specialist support, Stephens Scown LLP has created a new team designed specifically to work with marine companies of all kinds and sizes.

The team was officially launched at an event at Mylor Yacht Club in Falmouth which was attended by sailor turned entrepreneur, Pete Goss.

Verity Slater, head of marine at Stephens Scown, said: “The marine industry is an integral part of Cornwall’s identity and heritage. It’s also an important source of employment and a driver of economic growth in the region, which is why we wanted to bring our skills together from within the firm to ensure that we’re providing the bespoke and tailored services that the sector needs. It was fantastic to have Pete Goss as a guest at our launch event, he gave a really inspiring talk.”

Pete Goss, author of Close to the Wind who has sailed more than 250,000 nautical miles and lives in Cornwall, added: “It’s great to see a firm consciously supporting the sector which is so important in Cornwall in particular.”