Subsidy: government scheme piloted in London and south-east offers £3,000 funding

Firms seeking to bolster their overseas work could be eligible for up to £3,000 of government funding under a new initiative being piloted in London and the south-east to help UK law firms grow internationally.


Passport to Export, launched by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) in conjunction with the Law Society, will enable firms to receive subsidised advice and support on developing their practice overseas, whether by advising UK clients abroad, joining an international referral network or opening an office overseas.


Eligible firms will be given a 'health check' from international trade advisers at UKTI, the government organisation that supports companies in the UK doing business internationally, to determine whether overseas development is right for them. Market research services through UKTI's overseas market introduction service and export market research scheme will also be available.


Firms will be given an action plan outlining the key steps they need to take to prepare for internationalisation. These include advice on how to meet legislative requirements, find contacts and referral partners, and get paid. Advice will be offered to help firms implement their plans over a 12 to 18-month period.


Financial support of up to £3,000 of matched funding is also available to help implement the plans.


To qualify for support and advice under the scheme, firms must have fewer than 250 employees in total and a fee income of less than 50 million euro (£34 million), of which less than 25% should be from international business.


Alison Hook, head of the Law Society's international department, said the partnership with UKTI had come about in response to the needs of the profession.


'We have been seeing more and more requests from solicitors in this area. And we can see that they would benefit from more strategy advice,' she said.


Ms Hook added that as part of this initiative the Law Society is taking a mission to the International Bar Association annual conference in Chicago in September. This will give firms that have not previously attended the opportunity to network and build up an international export and marketing strategy.