Picking a firm for its overseas opportunities

The largest firm worldwide is Clifford Chance, though it still has some way to go to catch up with Baker & McKenzie for the prize for most offices in most countries. There are so many firms with overseas networks that keeping track of which are opening or closing offices in different countries is almost a full-time occupation. Wherever possible, we have mentioned the main changes from the past year in our True Picture reports. What we can’t predict is exactly who is going to merge with whom.

The big firms are canny operators. They understand that to survive in a competitive legal market it is necessary to have a network of offices (or relationships with overseas firms) in parts of the world where the economies are growing. China and India are of real interest at present, as are the Middle East and the oil and gas-rich parts of Central Asia. The crash of the world economy accelerated this process with firms becoming ever more determined to invest in developing countries where growth was less affected. They all want to follow the money and build a presence in the jurisdictions that their big business clients are hoping to exploit. Essentially, wherever commercial interests go, so law firms follow. Similarly, when a country begins to look stale, firms start to lose interest and scale back the size of their offices.

Our table of overseas seats summarises exactly where overseas opportunities lie this year. As for international work back in the UK, the nature of a firm’s clientele and worldwide office footprint determine what trainees see day to day. At White & Case there is a considerable amount of project finance work conducted in conjunction with Eastern European and Central Asian offices. CMS Cameron McKenna’s superb energy practice brings in similar work. At Dewey & LeBoeuf, African LNG deals have flowed from the firm’s energy clientele. Trowers & Hamlins’ dominance in the Middle East brings work back to London, as does Wiggin’s relationship with major film studios in Los Angeles and Lawrence Graham’s Indian relationships.

If international work interests you then consider whether you would want to remain at home during your training or have the guarantee of an overseas seat. If it is the latter then pick a firm where you can be certain of securing a foreign posting. The competition at some firms is tough, while at others everyone who wants to go does. The True Picture reports should help you here. One other thing to bear in mind is your ability to speak another language. If you’re fluent in Russian you may be collared for Moscow instead of the New York opening you’ve got your eye on. It also follows that where language skills would be useful – say in Italy – those who possess them prove to be more attractive at a training contract interview. Some firms even actively recruit with language needs in mind. International private client firm Withers, for example, tries to ensure it has at least two fluent Italian speakers in each intake to fill its coveted corporate seat in Milan. Consequently the firm claims to have the largest number of Italian speakers in the City.

Although time abroad gives you experience of working in another jurisdiction, you’ll not normally practise foreign law. An overseas seat is without doubt a very rewarding and challenging experience. It will usually be taken in an office that is smaller than your home office, and you will normally have greater responsibility. The trick to securing the most popular overseas seats is to wage an effective campaign of self-promotion and to get the prerequisite experience in the UK office before you go.

On arrival in a new country you don’t need to worry about feeling isolated as the local lawyers and staff invariably give a warm welcome to newcomers. In some cities with a large influx of UK trainees there is a ready-made social scene and it’s likely that the first thing to pop into your inbox will be an invite to meet other new arrivals. In Singapore trainees make the most of the region by jetting off for group weekends on Malaysian or Indonesian islands. In Brussels they hook into the social scene attached to the vast EU machine. Another big plus is the free accommodation provided by the law firms. Usually, trainees are housed in their own apartments in smart areas close to a city’s centre. It may be some time before they can afford such plush digs – and domestic help – back home. For more info on life as a trainee in an overseas seat check out the links on the right, where we report from the most frequented training locations around the world.