Try a little togetherness

Elin Pinnell, Partner

The BBC says that Russia is banning imported pork, Vietnam and Brazil have put tariffs on some steel products and India has put a duty on imported soy beans.

Perhaps it’s at times of instinctive protectionism like these that we truly recognise the achievements of businesses which having penetrated global markets. A small world it may be, but with big opportunities. And while many are feeling the pinch right now – the WTO says that world trade will shrink by 10% this year – this recession isn’t going to last forever.

The sheer scale and potential of international business has been on my mind recently. A few months ago I was elected to the management board of Consulegis, the network of law firms which draws its members from 37 countries across the world. These people share an unfettered enthusiasm for co-operation between lawyers, something we all agree makes cross border deals, foreign operations and international trade far more straightforward and cost effective for clients.

In fact, Capital Law has believed in this for at least the 14 years we’ve been a member of Consulegis. In that time, we have forged connections with law firms in the US, Holland, China and India (as well as the 33 other countries.) So if a client tells us they’re looking to launch a subsidiary in Mexico or Greece, we can instantly put together a team of lawyers led by experts in that jurisdiction to handle the property, corporate and employment law issues.

Hang on a minute. While the rest of the world is closing ranks, law firms are extolling the benefits of global collaboration. Lawyers bucking the trend -  it doesn’t quite fit the stereotype does it?

We don’t really worry about that. 

Elin Pinnell   T: 029 2047 4487   E: e.pinnell@capitallaw.co.uk