Lammy deploys high-level panel to protect UK’s £42.6 billion legal powerhouse

Lammy convenes new panel to secure English law’s global dominance and protect a £42.6 billion sector

Justice Secretary David Lammy has convened the first meeting of a new body designed to strengthen and “future-proof” the UK’s position as a global leader in legal services. The English Law Promotion Panel, announced earlier this year, brings together senior figures from across the legal sector and business community to ensure English law remains the preferred choice for international transactions.

Lammy described the UK’s legal services industry as a “hidden super-power” that generates more than £42.6billion a year and supports over 364,000 jobs nationwide. He said the widespread international use of English law is central to this economic strength and emphasised the need to stay ahead in an increasingly competitive global market. The panel’s role is to identify how the UK can reinforce its influence, promote its legal expertise and maintain its position as a jurisdiction of choice.

The panel includes Law Society president Mark Evans, Bar Council vice-chair Kirsty Brimelow KC, Dame Elizabeth Gloster DBE, Supreme Court justice Lord Sales and senior representatives from arbitration bodies, business organisations and the judiciary. Its members reflect the sectors most closely involved in international disputes, arbitration and commercial contracts.

Lammy said the panel would help the UK “champion the rule of law around the world” and keep the country at the forefront of legal innovation. He stressed that English law underpins a significant share of global business activity and that maintaining this position is essential for jobs, investment and economic stability. According to Lammy, the panel will support efforts to promote English law internationally and ensure that the system remains attractive to global clients.

Mark Evans welcomed the initiative, noting that the UK is recognised worldwide for the quality of its legal professionals and the reliability of its legal framework. He highlighted that English law governs around 40% of global business and financial transactions and continues to dominate international arbitration. He added that legal exports have reached nearly £10billion annually and that sustaining this strength is vital for the country’s economic influence.

Members of the panel include experts in arbitration, lawtech, maritime disputes, public relations and economics. The breadth of expertise reflects the government’s ambition to address both the commercial and reputational challenges facing the sector. The panel is expected to examine how the UK can remain competitive amid rapid technological change, shifting global markets and the growing legal capabilities of other jurisdictions.

Today’s meeting marks the first stage in what the government describes as a long-term project to secure the UK’s pre-eminence in legal services. While the panel will not set policy, its work is expected to inform government strategy and support efforts to ensure English law continues to play a central role in international commerce.