International services

Information about the work that barristers do for clients worldwide 

The Bar is a globally oriented profession. Barristers provide their world-class advocacy and advisory services to clients around the world, both in relation to legal proceedings in the courts of England and Wales as well as international courts and tribunals and in international arbitration. 

Wide-ranging expertise 

Barristers’ international work spans a range of areas, from arbitration and commercial litigation to employment, environmental law, criminal law, family law, human rights, investigations and regulatory matters, and public international law. 

Rigorous and specialised skills 

For centuries, advocacy has been the heart of barristers’ work, built upon specialised training. Barristers appear as advocates in courts in the UK and abroad. They also provide advice on complex points of law. Many barristers also sit as arbitrators and mediators. 

You can instruct a barrister via your solicitor or law firm in your country. They can be brought in as needed in specific, cost-efficient ways, often working as co-counsel with the home legal team. Alternatively, many barristers can be instructed directly by members of the public.  

You can search for those barristers on our Direct Access Portal. 

Barristers in international legal markets  

For more detailed information on the international work of barristers, download our free guide to barristers in international legal markets. 

Barristers in international arbitration 

For international dispute resolution, barristers are a leading choice of representatives and arbitrators. You’ll find barristers regularly appearing in commercial arbitrations on all kinds of subject matters at major institutions such as the ICC, ICSID, LCIA and SIAC. 

Download our guide to learn more about the benefits of instructing barristers for arbitration.