London rakes in record fees from overseas demand for legal services

London is experiencing a surge in overseas demand for legal services, with the sector's exports reaching a record high of nearly £11 billion, according to new data from the Law Society. The UK's legal sector has seen a 60% increase in exports over the past five years, jumping from £6.81 billion in 2021 to £10.97 billion in 2025. The majority of this growth is attributed to the European Union and the United States, which together account for nearly two-thirds of the export revenue.

The London Commercial Court delivered 212 written judgments in 2025, almost double the number of its nearest competitor in Dubai, which handled only 117 cases. The civil and commercial division of the Dubai International Financial Centre ranked third, with 117 cases. A significant proportion (96%) of the work handled by the London Court of International Arbitration involves non-UK parties, highlighting London's reputation as an international legal hub.

English law governs an impressive £250 trillion in outstanding global derivatives, and the UK handles 40% of all international business and financial transactions across various industries. Half of the world's seaborne trade, valued at £13 trillion, is also subject to English law. Mark Evans, president of the Law Society, emphasized that the UK's legal services are a major global success story, with exports nearing £11 billion and English law used in trillions of pounds of international commerce.

London continues to be a leading legal destination, contributing billions to the UK economy and employing more than half a million people.

However, Evans cautioned that the UK's leading position in the legal services sector cannot be taken for granted. Competing jurisdictions are rapidly investing in their court and legal infrastructure, which could potentially challenge London's dominance.