Our international approach
Much of our work has an international element and we work with the very best law firms across the globe, hand-picked to meet the needs of each transaction, to support our clients.
Slaughter and May has a global reputation for providing outstanding legal services. The strength of our global practice is reflected both in the multi-jurisdictional nature of our work and our international client base. The firm is trusted adviser to some of the largest global companies in the world, advising on cross-border deals every single day.
Our approach is shaped by the fundamental principle that complex transactions, wherever in the world, require first-class legal expertise rooted in a deep knowledge of local practice, procedures and culture; providing clients with a first-class professional service, combining technical excellence with commercial excellence.
We work with the very best law firms across the globe to support our clients, handpicked to meet the needs of each matter, to deliver integrated legal advice. Fundamental to our business model is the ability to work in partnership with other law firms – this is how we have built our successful global practice. On average we work with more than 200 law firms across 100 countries annually. This frequency of overseas engagement gives our lawyers, including trainees, exposure to many international contacts and local insights that would be not possible in a ‘one stop shop’ equivalent global firm.
Our lawyers advise clients globally, which means they travel extensively. In the US, for example, we have advised over 100 of the US Fortune 500 companies and other multinational businesses with significant US interests, working closely with independent Wall Street firms and other major firms across the country. Major US clients include Google, The Walt Disney Company and UnitedHealth Group. Elsewhere, our clients range from SoftBank in Japan, to AngloGold in South Africa and Cemex in Mexico.
We also have Country Teams which trainees are invited to join, allowing exposure to country strategy, relationship development and a wider network within the firm.
Many of our trainees and associates also have the opportunity to work abroad, either in our offices or in one of our global relationship firms. We believe that our secondments are especially beneficial because they give our lawyers the chance to experience a working culture very different from our own. We also host an intake of secondees from our overseas relationship firms twice yearly in our London office, giving our own lawyers a chance to meet and work alongside peers from around the world on a day-to-day basis.
