
Growing a network without borders

Despite the challenging geopolitical environment, our clients remain internationally ambitious and seek our cross-border support as they grow. Our global network of offices continues to expand, demonstrating the momentum of our international practice.
We have made a significant number of lateral partner hires in 2025, as we continue to deliver on our international private capital growth strategy, including in Asia with the establishment of our Corporate team in Hong Kong and the expansion of our International Arbitration and Litigation practice in Singapore.
Additional lateral hires have strengthened our offices in Milan and Dubai, and in the UK, our partners with international experience have enhanced key regional practices for the Firm, including our Africa and Latin America desks.
It has also been a significant year for our India desk with the signing of the UK–India Free Trade Agreement in July 2025. While still at an early stage, we have been actively engaging with international counterparts to assess its implications for UK businesses and individuals looking to invest in or expand into the Indian market.
The agreement reflects the UK Government’s broader commitment to developing new free trade arrangements, and we will monitor these developments to support our clients as opportunities emerge. You can read about how our Corporate team in London supported one of India’s largest media groups on its acquisition of UK cricket team, Northern Superchargers, here.
By bolstering our global network and long-standing international relationships, we can support our clients wherever their businesses operate and grow. Our recent inbound and outbound secondments with our international law firm partners, including exchanges in Europe and Latin America, highlight our commitment to deepening these relationships and enhancing cross-border collaboration for the benefit of all our clients.
Global reach with local impact
Increasingly, we need to ensure that our international vision translates into practical, on-the-ground support for our clients in each of our jurisdictions.
Our social impact strategy is becoming more internationally aligned, with greater coordination across offices to connect and strengthen locally led initiatives in areas such as charity partnerships, volunteering and pro bono work. In 2025 we hosted our inaugural Women in Leadership Lunch featuring keynote speaker Sky Soi, CEO of Mother’s Choice - a charity we have been working with for a number of years.
International Women's Day is another example of a global initiative that is implemented at a local level. Read more about how our Women in Leadership Network is becoming more international in its approach here.
One firm: A global vision
We are attuned to global market trends, helping us to anticipate emerging opportunities and potential risks, and provide our clients with informed, forward-looking advice across the markets in which they operate.


In 2025, we launched our multidisciplinary Francophone Africa group, co-led by our partners, Simon Le Wita in Paris and Yacine Diallo in Luxembourg, working closely with colleagues in Dubai, Switzerland and London.
This builds on decades of experience advising clients across the region, including our Paris litigation team’s ongoing representation of Zenith Energy in significant international arbitrations relating to Tunisia and Congo, delivered in close collaboration with local counsel.
Our Francophone Africa team spans key sectors including sports, hospitality, real estate, energy, and private wealth, and can advise clients across a range of legal services including corporate, tax, dispute resolution, international arbitration and private client.

This practice distinguishes itself through a unique fusion of deep expertise, innovative solutions, and a client-centric approach rarely seen in the industry. The team is not only technically proficient, but also remarkably agile, combining strategic insight with a personalised touch that ensures every client’s needs are met with precision and care. Potential clients will appreciate the firm’s robust collaborative culture, its extensive network of relationships, and a forward-thinking mindset that continually seeks better ways to deliver results.”
Legal 500 Emerging Markets 2026
International client highlights in 2025 include...
- During 2025, our partners attended major African business and private wealth conferences, including the W8 Advisory, Lagos Private Wealth Conference 2025 in Lagos, highlighting our Firm’s commitment to strengthening our knowledge of the market and supporting our clients amid increasing private capital flows across the continent.
- Our support of the Lagos Private Wealth Conference reflects the growing concentration of private capital in Africa, particularly through founder‑led businesses, family offices and intergenerational wealth structures taking shape across key markets.
- The Commonwealth Law Conference in Malta provided an opportunity to showcase our longstanding presence across Caribbean jurisdictions, with the Caribbean desk playing a central role in demonstrating our cross‑market approach.
- Our LatAm teams have been actively speaking with clients and intermediaries through a series of roadshows, providing insight into evolving market conditions across the region.

Internationalisation is key to our growth.”

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