Looking outwards

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Now more than ever, the UK legal profession must maintain a global focus. The Law Society works on behalf of its members to reduce barriers to UK solicitors entering overseas markets, and establish links with international counterparts.

Some of our key projects in the international sphere this year include:

  • Working with international regulators on the new Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme, to ensure that lawyers from all recognised jurisdictions may apply.
  • Carrying out a research project to consider the regulatory implications for the alternative business structure (ABS) in key foreign jurisdictions.
  • Running a series of International Division seminars and roundtables designed to highlight the growing opportunities that the dynamic emerging economies present for business, trade and the legal profession.
  • Running market visits and inward trade missions to enable British legal professionals to forge business alliances with their counterparts in these regions and share information on opportunities.
  • We provide training to solicitors working overseas. Our Commercial Lawyers' Training Programmes (which we run in Russia and the Gulf) cover corporate, commercial and financial law, and professional skills topics.
The International Division does a terrific job. They know their subject and are very open in sharing their knowledge with the profession. They have helped us on two major strategic initiatives and this has been invaluable. The networking events that they arrange with foreign lawyers visiting the UK have also provided us with some excellent opportunities to make new contacts. It is great to receive this level of support from our professional organisation.
Michael Hales, partner commercial dispute resolution team, Nabarro LLP
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Representing the profession at the EU

As a leading commentator in the debate on European contract law, we have worked to ensure that the voice of the legal profession in England and Wales is heard and the common law perspective protected.

Work continues on private enforcement and collective redress and representations. Court of Justice judgments relating to legal professional privilege and the right of establishment for lawyers remain at the heart of our professional practice work. We have continued our campaign for access to justice and procedural rights, particularly access to a lawyer.

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Connecting international corporate counsel

The global nature of the business marketplace has led to an increasing international focus for corporate counsel. In-house professionals are facing new challenges and issues on a global scale. In October 2010 we set up a group on social networking site LinkedIn dedicated to all corporate counsel working in international or globalising businesses around the world. This group encourages in-house lawyers to build networks with colleagues around the world, share best practice and ideas and collaboratively tackle some universal business challenges. We consult this group on to get the corporate counsel perspective on key international issues.

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Some of our key international networking and market development work this year:

United Kingdom

  • Lawyers travelled to London from over 25 different jurisdictions to participate in the annual international conference 'The International Marketplace',to get the latest information on international legal practice and business innovation.
  • In September 2010 we held an event for corporate counsel from Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) countries and emerging economies and their UK counterparts.
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North America

  • Ran market visits to the USA, focusing on Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and Washington.
  • Organised a joint Law Society-State Bar of California seminar focusing on mediation.
  • Held a risk management seminar for US and Canadian firms with a London office.
  • Took a delegation of lawyers to the International Bar Association conference in Vancouver, Canada, holding networking opportunities and informative roundtables throughout the conference.
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Asia

  • Held a roundtable session for corporate counsel from BRIC, emerging economies and their UK counterparts in Malaysia.
  • Ran market visits to China, India and Malaysia.
  • Hosted an inward trade mission of lawyers from China.
  • Held the second UK-India legal practice conference.
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Middle East

  • Ran a market visit to Israel.
  • Held a Commercial Lawyers Training programme in the Gulf.
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South America

  • Networking reception to mark the launch of the British-Colombian Lawyers Association.
  • Hosted an inward trade mission delegation of lawyers from Latin America.
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Africa

  • Held the 'Beyond Oil and Gas' seminar on opportunities in Ghana in London.
  • Hosted an inwards trade mission delegation from South Africa.
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Europe

  • Ran a Commercial Lawyers Training programme in Russia.
  • Hosted an inward trade mission for lawyers from Italy.
  • Hosted a networking reception for a delegation of lawyers from Russia.

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