As our clients have become global, we have gradually built a network of offices in key financial and business centres around the world. The result is that we now have a presence in 19 countries across four continents.
But global reach is not just about physical presence. It is about being able to unravel the complexities our clients face wherever they are – particularly when working across several different jurisdictions. That means making sure our people get the chance to develop sound international experience, but experience that is grounded in specialised local knowledge.
In practice
Mobility
We encourage our people to move around our network of offices. This raises their international profile and increases their international experience – which is something that is taken into account when we decide who is to become a partner.
Secondments
In 2007/8, more than 350 of our associates were seconded from their local offices to offices in other countries, as were 40 of our business services professionals. This helps people's personal development and deepens their knowledge of local markets and different industries.
Local people
We recruit and train people locally, giving us invaluable local knowledge. It also means we are bringing jobs to the regions in which we work.
World views
Casper Lawson started in our London office 23 years ago. He has worked in four other offices around the world, launching Linklaters’ first German law practice in 1996, which was later folded into Oppenhoff & Rädler on our merger. He also launched our Japanese law M&A practice in 2004. He is now a corporate partner in London.
“Mobility is good for the firm, for clients and for individuals,” Casper said.
“Moving people around the network helps bind us together as a firm. It also helps create the local knowledge/global outlook combination which clients need when they do a cross-border deal."
“I feel extremely fortunate to have had the chance to work alongside many very bright and motivated people from different cultural backgrounds. We are on the path to being a truly global firm, which is a huge change from the very English firm I joined in 1985.”