Some London law firms are looking to expand in Europe and beyond for business growth after feeling the constraints of Brexit and a saturated legal marketplace — ignoring warnings that the rates for work in the Continent are low in comparison with fees in Britain.
London-based law firms have boosted their presence across the Channel in the last year, establishing offices in countries including Germany, Spain and Italy.
Fieldfisher LLP has launched offices in Milan and Vienna. DLA Piper LLP and Gowling WLG have set up operations in Gemany, DLA opening up in Düsseldorf and Gowling in Frankfurt. And Addleshaw Goddard LLP has ventured into Madrid for the first time.
Squire Patton Boggs LLP opened a new base in Amsterdam in February to target corporate and private equity work. The firm also launched in Dublin and boosted its teams in cities including Frankfurt, Madrid, Milan and Paris.
James Lavan, executive director of Buchanan Law, said that BigLaw is targeting Continental Europe, attracted by the diverse pools of talent and significant investment in its cities. The emergence of Amsterdam, for example, as a leading financial and technological center has led to a surge in activity in the Dutch capital.
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