We are a member of two international groups, ALFA International (ALFA used to stand for American Law Firm Association before it became fully International) and the Association of European Lawyers ('AEL'). ALFA is organised from Chicago, Illinois and comprises around 90 firms in the United States of America and 40 English-speaking firms internationally including representative firms through out Europe, in South America and throughout the Pacific Rim - including firms in all the major cities in Australia. AEL is the older association, if less tightly structured, and comprises 29 English - speaking firms throughout Europe, including, of course, the UK, some of whom are also members of ALFA.

Both Associations are non-exclusive in the sense that all firms are free to use other firms in the areas covered by the Association. However, the quality of member firms is closely monitored. The ever-increasing familiarity of the member firms with each other enables a consistency of care, advice and skill due to the quality of the firms themselves and the way they have steadily built up their relationships together including training at every level. We find that a non-exclusive, "best friends", relationship works better and has much greater flexibility, without any reduction in professional competence, for the clients than a formal exclusive association or overseas' merger.

We are therefore free to work with your preferred international lawyers, or to suggest suitable law firms in any given jurisdiction. We, accordingly, are able to offer advice on English law in all areas of international disputes and the international co-ordination of actions or corporate deals in which an overseas' element arises. Disputes in the international arena involve not only litigation in all jurisdictions but also international arbitration and mediation. With this in mind we are founder members of the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) and also members of both the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) which is based in Paris and Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution which is based here in the UK.

Our international team is led by:-

Laurie Watt, our Senior Counsel,
Mike Scott, who is a Partner in our Corporate Group, and
William Perry, an expert in international insurance/re-insurance matters.