International Growth for Independent Law Firms
Unlock your firm’s global potential
Independent law firms today face a fast-changing international legal landscape including consolidation, private equity investment, shifting trade dynamics, and the impact of AI on client expectations. Competing effectively across borders now demands more than presence: it requires clarity, strategy, and trusted connections.
We help independent law firms strengthen their global presence and cross-border collaborations. With decades of experience working inside and alongside law firms worldwide, we understand that every firm’s growth journey is unique. Our expertise combines proven strategies, deep sector insight and a powerful global network to enable firms to grow with purpose and precision.
MD Communications is incredibly well connected across the legal media and wider legal marketplace. We can always rely on their clear guidance and insights
Navigating global growth remains one of the defining challenges and opportunities for law firms today. Our international thought leadership report explores how independent firms are redefining cross-border collaboration with a common theme that independence is increasingly becoming an advantage, not a limitation. This echoes with what our law firm clients have been telling me as Head of International at MD Communications.
Melissa and her team at MD Communications have worked with us to help us develop our PR strategy, and have assisted with our legal marketing since we first opened our office in London.
Our International Growth Service
We start by understanding your firm inside out, including your people, culture, key clients, markets, and ambitions. From there, we build a bespoke international business development plan designed to deliver measurable growth.
Our approach typically includes:
- Defining target clients, sectors, and referrers, and building your focused BD plan.
- Making strategic introductions through our extensive global network.
- Supporting your teams to nurture new and lasting commercial relationships.
- Raising your profile through integrated communications, PR, and thought leadership campaigns.
- Delivering regular progress reviews and practical support
We also tailor additional services to your firm’s needs, such as:
- CRM development and digital BD optimisation.
- Partner and team coaching on international growth.
- Award and directory submissions that raise profile and credibility.
- Bids support & bids training.
- Client/key account programme support.
Why work with us
We don’t deliver off-the-shelf plans; we build strategies that work for your firm, leveraging our network of thousands of legal and business contacts worldwide. The result: stronger international visibility, higher-quality referrals, and sustainable growth.
Navigating Global Growth
How does an independent firm develop cross border and international business? Navigating Global Growth: An International Playbook is our global study which sets out how independent firms are redefining international success. It highlights the growing importance of independent law firms in cross-border instructions and sets out the ways independent firms are competing, and collaborating, with global law firms.
With 91% of independent firms saying that many international clients become repeat clients and 83% saying that up to a quarter of their instructions come through global networks and contacts, is now the time to review your international business development strategy?
The firms we spoke to are reshaping what global growth looks like. It’s no longer about scale or office count -it’s about trust, agility and the quality of relationships.
Our International Team
Latest from our Blog
MD Communications’ new Navigating Global Growth report is featured in the media
We are delighted that our new thought leadership report, Navigating Global Growth, has been featured in the media. The read more
New Report Reveals Independent Law Firms’ Rising Power in Global Legal Market
Published at the IBA’s 2025 Annual Conference, ‘Navigating Global Growth’ shows how independent firms are matching global players through agility,... read more
MD Communications is attending the IBA annual conference 2025
We are delighted to be attending the IBA annual conference in Toronto this year. Our CEO Melissa Davis, Head... read more
