Information For International Clients

Using a barrister

The Bar is a profession of independent legal experts who usually practise collectively from offices known as chambers. For domestic work barristers of England and Wales are normally required to receive instructions through solicitors on a referral basis, but they are able to receive direct instructions from lawyers, businesses or individuals based outside the UK.

The barrister can offer the following services to international clients based abroad on a direct access basis:

Specialist advice on all areas of the law in England and Wales, European Community and International Law, including Human Rights law;
Specialist advice and assistance on the drafting, interpretation and enforceability of contracts governed by the law in England and Wales, or the laws of other common law countries;
Specialist advice on commercial situations presenting legal, factual or technical difficulties;
Arbitration services in England & Wales and in most other jurisdictions (the English Bar is one of the leading professions in the field of international arbitration);
Mediation and other alternative dispute resolution services (as mediators, advocates or advisers);
Expert witness services;
Specialist advocacy services before European and international courts and tribunals;
Specialist advice and assistance in the preparation of litigation or in a non-litigious context.

As regards litigation in the courts of England & Wales, it is highly recommended that you contact a barrister first if your are a foreign lawyer or business based abroad. Barristers will be able to give you an initial assessment of your case at very competitive rates and advise on the most suitable firm of solicitors to use. (Under English law, a solicitor will have to be instructed once court proceedings are to be commenced.)

Choosing a barrister

It is important to select a barrister who specialises in the appropriate area of law for each case. For a list of barristers and their specialisations please consult the Bar Directory.

Alternatively, you can look up details of barristers undertaking criminal, commercial or chancery work on the websites of the Criminal Bar Association, Commercial Bar Association and Chancery Bar Association on chambers and practitioners.

More details are set out in a brochure titled "A Brief Guide to Using a Barrister", available in English (PDF or Word), Mandarin (PDF) and Arabic (PDF). Hard copies are available from the international team.

If you have any difficulty in finding a suitable barrister please contact Christian Wisskirchen.