The Law Society has secured funding from the Department for Business & Trade to expand market access for UK solicitors and law firms operating in California and Florida, Chancery Lane announced today.  

The fund is provided by the department’s Market Access Programme and is available to trade experts and embassies around the world to tackle barriers. The Society will be using finances granted from the Ricardo Fund, part of the government’s 2025 Trade Strategy, to help remove obstacles and unlock opportunities for UK exporters and law firms operating abroad. The amount to be provided has yet to be confirmed. 

Society president Richard Atkinson said: ’We welcome this funding that will help us create business opportunities for UK solicitors and law firms in the California and Florida legal markets. In California, we need to address barriers that slow down progress in opening up the market for UK solicitors. 

’Our visit to Florida will focus on strengthening our relationships with regulators and other stakeholders. We need to make it easier for UK firms to invest in Florida as Miami is quickly becoming the legal hub for Latin America and the Caribbean.’

He added: ’By helping UK solicitors work abroad, we boost economic growth and job creation at home.’

Trade policy minister Douglas Alexander said: ’The UK is home to some of the best solicitors and law firms in the world, highly sought after around the globe for their expertise.  As exports of UK legal services continues to grow, our Trade Strategy will unlock new opportunities for British law firms to sell more abroad.  

’The funding for ’he Law Society, delivered under our new Ricardo Fund, will help remove barriers and make it easier for UK firms as they set their sights on expanding into the US market.’