In this blog Natalie Darby, Head of Policy: International at the Bar Council, explains the importance of coming together to promote English law.
At a Ministry of Justice event in London on Thursday 26 March launching the long-awaited independent report Harnessing English Law for Economic Growth, leaders from government, law and business came together to examine how to maximise English law’s reach in an increasingly competitive global market.
The central message was clear: the UK can no longer rely on the historic strength of English law alone. It must actively position and champion it.
The Lord Chancellor, Secretary of State for Justice and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy MP opened the event by setting out his vision for government in supporting the legal sector as a driver of growth. Although English law and legal services have organically gained popularity worldwide based on their quality and reputation, he believed their continued success depended on more deliberate and coordinated approaches to promoting them.
“English law is one of this country’s greatest exports,” Lammy said, adding however that “we cannot take that position for granted in an increasingly competitive global market.” He envisioned English law not just as a legacy strength, but as a strategic asset that requires active stewardship.
Lammy positioned English law as a core part of the UK’s soft power toolkit, especially at a time when geopolitical instability and rising populism threaten to undermine the rule of law internationally. He pointed to certainty, reliability, and institutional trust as critical advantages, but only if they are consistently reinforced and clearly communicated.
Government campaigns such as GREAT legal services were highlighted as examples of how legal services can be better integrated into the UK’s international economic strategy. A panel discussion chaired by Minister of State in the Ministry of Justice Sarah Sackman KC MP explored how that strategy can be delivered in practice.
Articulating English law’s value
Marcus Peffers Chair of M+C Saatchi, a global creative solutions company, challenged the sector to rethink how it communicates its value. Legal services are too often presented in abstract terms rather than outcomes that matter to business. His message was direct: clients are not buying “law”, they are buying results.
Peffers identified three core strengths that apply to English law:
- Predictability – enabling faster, more efficient dispute resolution
- Stability – providing confidence in uncertain markets
- Flexibility – ensuring commercial deals can be done without friction
The UK’s offer is strong, but it’s not always articulated in a way that resonates with commercial decision-makers. We need to move towards outcome based messaging focused on speed, deal execution, and business certainty.
Crucially, this growth narrative cannot come from the legal sector alone. Business leaders need to be part of shaping and articulating the value proposition. At the same time, the UK must resist relying on its legacy and instead focus on modernisation and innovation, particularly in response to developments such as artificial intelligence (AI) and evolving client expectations.
Rising global players and emerging technologies: the competitive challenge
Labour Peer Baroness Farmida Bi CBE offered a comparative perspective, pointing to jurisdictions such as Dubai and Singapore as increasingly assertive competitors. Both have moved quickly, recruiting English judges and actively targeting international clients with a clear message: faster, cheaper, and better coordinated legal services.
Her assessment was clear: the UK risks falling behind without similar coordination. In particular, closer alignment between departments such as the Home Office and the Department for Business and Trade will be essential to creating an enabling environment for international legal services.
Raj Panasar, Founder of LawFairy, a Solicitors Regulation Authority authorised legal technology platform, highlighted the UK’s strength in legal tech. He described the regulator’s willingness to authorise new models in the same way as traditional law firms as a critical advantage. While regulatory complexity can be a barrier, it may also prove to be a strength if properly harnessed, particularly as technology reshapes how legal services are delivered.
Despite the optimism at the event, challenges in the legal sector remain. Court backlogs continue to affect efficiency and risk undermining the UK’s reputation for timely dispute resolution. Visa barriers also present a practical constraint, limiting the ease with which international clients and talent can engage with the UK legal market.
The overall conclusion was pragmatic. English law remains a global leader, but that leadership is no longer guaranteed. Maintaining it will require a more coordinated, outward-facing strategy that brings together government, industry, and the legal profession.
At the Bar Council, we play an active role in championing English and Welsh law and legal services internationally. By forging and nurturing business ties between the Bar and overseas legal markets and engaging with our fellow Bar associations and colleagues around the world, we showcase barristers’ leading role in the global legal profession.
Find out more about the English Law Promotion Panel
Read the report: Harnessing English Law for Economic Growth
Natalie Darby is Head of Policy: International at the Bar Council. She is responsible for the international relations of the Bar. Her work includes developing strategy to promote the Bar internationally, advising on international trade and on regulatory matters as well as leading on work to uphold the rule of law internationally.