Leeds delegation head to Washington DC to promote Leeds City Region as a ‘world class market for legal services’

A delegation of lawyers from Leeds are set to showcase the city region’s skills, expertise and knowledge to international business leaders at the largest gathering of legal professionals in the world.

They are attending the International Bar Association conference in Washington DC this week, which is expected to attract up to 10,000 lawyers.

The Leeds lawyers will be highlighting the growing legal sector in the city region, which has seen firms Addleshaw Goddard, Gateley plc, Shulmans and Squire Patton Boggs invest in new office developments in Leeds.

The delegation will also discuss the talent and skills in the city region’s legal services base, which employs more than 15,000 people.

Speakers at the IBA conference include Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, Ben Bernanke, past chairman of the US Federal Reserve, and Loretta Lynch, the US attorney general.

The Leeds delegation includes representatives from law firms, the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership and the Department for International Trade.

Tom Bridges, chief officer economy and regeneration at Leeds City Council, said: “Law firms in this region have so much to offer lawyers from around the world and given that the conference is attended by prominent business leaders and decision makers in the legal sector, this event gives them the opportunity to showcase not only their own skills, expertise and knowledge but also the city region and raise awareness of Leeds as one of the largest legal centres outside of London.”

David Sheppard, head of inward investment at the LEP, added: “As the largest workforce and business base outside London, it’s no surprise that Leeds City Region is a world class market for legal services.

“Our highly qualified talent pipeline and economical cost base makes the city region a leading choice for firms looking to expand and become more competitive.

“Promoting the city region on a global platform such as the International Bar Association provides a huge opportunity to highlight these benefits to international law firms looking to develop their footprint.”

The LEP has seen a growth in enquiries from international law firms. These are typically large US firms with a presence in the City of London looking to establish office space outside of the capital.

Leeds, which is is currently home to eight of Britain’s top 25 largest law firms, has an estimated office cost that is 30% less expensive than London.

The Leeds delegation to DC has been supported by the Department for International Trade, the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership, the Law Society of England and Wales and the Bar Council of England and Wales.

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