Internationalism benefits all

The globalisation of the law and legal business is now a reality.

Speaking in Turin a few days ago at the annual conference of the Union Internationale des Avocats, Law Society President David McIntosh warned of the dangers of protectionism in the international legal market.As an example of the increasingly international approach taken by solicitors, this week, we report on in-roads being made into practice in Africa.Much of this activity is unapologetically commercially based.

Law firms are in the business of law and English and Welsh solicitors are proving to be world leaders in an international market economy.It is encouraging to see this enterprise extending beyond the Square Mile, for example, with moves by Surrey-based Shadbolt & Co to have a permanent presence in Tanzania.But non-commercial examples of international legal co-operation deserve highlighting - in particular, the scheme offered by Huddersfield Law Society to Ugandan law students.Africa may be the latest frontier for solicitors, but the net is being cast wide, with reports of City lawyers participating in a UN-sponsored scheme aimed at providing trade dispute advice to developing countries (see page 8).

Initial advice is provided free, and further work is conducted at a negotiated fee.The underlying message is that there should be no 'no-go areas' for English and Welsh solicitors and their competitors around the globe.