UK law firms shine in Denmark

A standout group of UK lawyers recently made their mark at the world’s largest international legal conference held in Copenhagen, where British legal talent was showcased to an audience of over 5,000 lawyers from 120 countries. This pivotal event allowed the 24-strong delegation to not only forge valuable relationships with international legal professionals but also to unlock new business opportunities in overseas markets.

The UK’s Minister for Courts and Legal Services, Sarah Sackman KC MP, expressed pride in the delegation, stating “The UK is a legal powerhouse, home to some of the brightest legal minds and most respected expertise anywhere in the world and this visit was a brilliant opportunity to put that strength firmly on the international stage.” She further highlighted the significance of the upcoming UK Global Business and Law Summit in December, which aims to unite business and legal leaders and showcase the importance of English law in driving global investment and growth.

Scottish representatives also took the opportunity to highlight the strength of the region. Advocate General for Scotland Baroness Smith of Cluny KC remarked, "Scotland already has a world-leading reputation among legal professionals and this summit provided the opportunity to showcase the expertise, skills and knowledge Scotland can offer, as well as highlighting the strength of working together as part of the UK."

The delegation illustrated that the expertise in UK legal services extends well beyond London, encompassing regional and specialist firms. Sarah Khan-Bashir MBE, founder of SKB Law, described the conference as a valuable chance for smaller firms, stating, “This was a really valuable opportunity for smaller firms like ours. SMEs and regionally-based firms make an important contribution to the legal sector and do work which can have a huge impact globally.” She emphasised the importance of shining a spotlight on the contributions made by smaller practices while opening doors to new relationships overseas.

This visit is part of the GREAT Legal Services campaign, aimed at promoting the strengths of the UK legal sector on an international stage. The legal sector generates more than £42 billion annually for the UK economy and employs over 360,000 individuals. With Denmark being a significant trading partner, bilateral trade figures reached £19.7 billion in just one year.

Events during the conference included roundtable discussions that united UK, Danish, and Nordic legal professionals to address common trends and challenges in sectors like sustainable energy and construction. Legal representatives from various UK regions, including Plymouth, Leeds, and Belfast, engaged with Nordic law firms to exchange insights on emerging topics such as AI and talent development.

At the UK networking reception hosted by GREAT Legal Services in collaboration with the Law Society of England & Wales and Law Society of Scotland, attendees were treated to a keynote speech by Baroness Smith of Cluny, further solidifying the UK’s commitment to fostering international legal partnerships.

Alistair Kennedy, Partner at Tyr Law, summarised the positive impact of the event by saying, “This is the second time Tyr has joined a GREAT Legal Services delegation and we welcomed another opportunity to strengthen our international network and showcase the breadth and quality of UK legal expertise to a global audience.” He concluded by expressing confidence in the productivity of this year’s conference in Copenhagen, highlighting the collective benefit gained from such initiatives.