UK dispute partnerships for overseas law firms
Collaboration with overseas law firms
Prefer to speak to us? Call us on +44 (0)20 8087 4177 or or email reception@mycommerciallawyers.com
Build a Clear Referral Route for UK-Linked Disputes
My Commercial Lawyers works with suitable overseas law firms where their clients need support with disputes connected to England and Wales, English law, a UK company, UK litigation or arbitration. This may help overseas firms support clients who have a UK-linked legal issue but want to deal with a local firm in their own country.
The overseas firm can keep the client relationship and take instructions locally. My Commercial Lawyers can then support the UK dispute side where suitable, with the scope and fixed instruction fee confirmed before work begins.
For overseas law firms with clients who need English law or UK dispute support.
Prefer to speak to us? Call us on +44 (0)20 8087 4177 or email reception@mycommerciallawyers.com
Who this is for
This page is for overseas law firms that have clients with disputes connected to the UK. The client may be based in Pakistan, Dubai, France, Oman or another country, but the dispute may still need UK legal support.
The UK connection may come from the contract, the other party, a UK company, English law, proceedings in England and Wales, arbitration or a UK-linked project. The first step is to understand whether the matter is suitable before any work begins.
How the collaboration can work
The overseas firm identifies a client with a dispute connected to the UK. The firm takes instructions from the client locally and remains the client-facing contact.
The overseas firm can then refer the UK-linked part of the matter to My Commercial Lawyers for review. If the matter is suitable, My Commercial Lawyers confirms the possible next step, scope and fixed instruction fee before work begins.
This gives both firms a clearer working structure. The overseas firm deals with the client locally, while My Commercial Lawyers supports the agreed UK dispute work where suitable.
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Get in Touch
Not ready to complete the form? Call us on +44 (0)20 8087 4177 or email reception@mycommerciallawyers.com
Suitable UK-linked matters
My Commercial Lawyers may review suitable matters involving:
- UK commercial disputes
- Suitable civil disputes
- English law contract disputes
- Breach of contract
- Payment disputes involving UK companies
- Disputes with UK businesses
- UK litigation
- Arbitration-linked matters
- Suitable construction disputes
- Contractor and subcontractor disputes
- JCT, NEC or FIDIC contract issues
- Cross-border disputes with a UK connection
The matter should have a clear connection to England and Wales, English law, a UK company, a UK contract, UK litigation or arbitration. It should also have a clear commercial reason to proceed.
Commercial and civil disputes
Many overseas clients may not describe their matter as a construction dispute. They may simply know that they have a dispute with a UK company, an English law contract, an unpaid invoice, a legal letter or a claim that needs a UK response.
My Commercial Lawyers may review suitable commercial and civil disputes where there is a clear UK connection and commercial reason to proceed. This may include breach of contract, payment disputes, business-to-business disputes, UK litigation and suitable civil claims.
Construction disputes
Construction disputes remain a key area for My Commercial Lawyers. Suitable matters may include contractor disputes, subcontractor disputes, developer disputes, unpaid construction invoices, payment issues, delay claims, defective works, construction litigation and arbitration-linked construction matters.
The right route depends on the facts, contract and evidence. Adjudication, negotiation, litigation or arbitration may be options in some cases, but they are not right for every dispute.
Arbitration tender opportunities
Some overseas law firms may identify arbitration opportunities where the client wants to tender with an international law firm. Where suitable, My Commercial Lawyers may be able to tender alongside the local firm for arbitration-related work.
The local firm can advise on local law and manage the local client relationship. My Commercial Lawyers can support the English law, UK dispute or arbitration side depending on the agreed scope.
This may be relevant where the dispute involves a cross-border contract, arbitration clause, construction project, commercial agreement, English law or a UK-linked party. Each opportunity would need to be reviewed before any tender or instruction is agreed.
Website collaboration partners
Where a collaboration is confirmed, the overseas firm may be listed on the relevant country page as a collaboration partner. The wording should explain that the local firm can take instructions locally and that My Commercial Lawyers can support the UK dispute side where suitable.
The overseas firm should not be described as a My Commercial Lawyers office unless that arrangement has been formally established and is accurate. The page should make clear what the overseas firm does and what My Commercial Lawyers does.
Trello and Clio process
My Commercial Lawyers uses Clio for legal work and internal matter management. Trello may be used with the overseas firm for sharing the referral summary, key documents, updates and urgent deadlines where needed.
The end client should not usually be added to Trello. The overseas firm can remain the client-facing contact, while My Commercial Lawyers supports the UK dispute side where suitable.
What the overseas firm should send first
When referring a matter, the overseas firm should send a short summary of the issue. This should explain who the parties are, where they are based, what has happened and how the dispute is connected to the UK.
Useful information may include:
- The client name and location
- The other party and where they are based
- The type of dispute
- The UK or English law connection
- The approximate value
- The current stage of the matter
- Any urgent deadlines
- The contract or agreement
- Key correspondence
- Legal letters or formal notices
- The outcome the client wants
The overseas firm should confirm that the client has authorised the firm to share the matter summary and documents with My Commercial Lawyers for review.
Fee and scope
My Commercial Lawyers works on a fixed instruction fee basis. The scope and fee for each instruction are confirmed before that instruction begins.
This does not mean the whole matter has one fixed fee. It means each agreed piece of work is scoped and priced before that instruction starts.
Download the UK Dispute Collaboration Pack
The UK Dispute Collaboration Pack explains how the collaboration can work. It also includes a referral checklist showing what information to send when an overseas firm has a client with a UK-linked dispute.
or overseas law firms with clients who need English law or UK dispute support.
You may also be asking:
Get in Touch
Not ready to complete the form? Call us on +44 (0)20 8087 4177 or email reception@mycommerciallawyers.com
FAQs about UK dispute partnerships
Can an overseas law firm refer a client to My Commercial Lawyers?
Yes. An overseas law firm may refer a suitable matter where the client has a dispute connected to England and Wales, English law, a UK company, UK litigation or arbitration.
Can the overseas firm keep the client relationship?
Yes. The overseas firm can remain the client-facing contact and take instructions locally. My Commercial Lawyers can support the UK dispute side where suitable.
Does the end client need to join Trello?
Usually, no. Trello may be used with the overseas firm for sharing the referral summary, key documents and updates where needed.
Can the overseas firm be listed on the website?
Yes, where a collaboration is confirmed. The overseas firm can be listed on the relevant country page as a collaboration partner.
Can My Commercial Lawyers tender with an overseas firm for arbitration work?
Where suitable, yes. My Commercial Lawyers may be able to tender alongside a local firm for arbitration-related work, with the local firm advising on local law and My Commercial Lawyers supporting the English law, UK dispute or arbitration side.
What types of matters may be suitable?
Suitable matters may include UK commercial disputes, suitable civil disputes, English law contract disputes, payment disputes, UK litigation, arbitration-linked matters and suitable construction disputes.
What types of matters are not suitable?
My Commercial Lawyers does not handle every type of legal matter. Crime, family, personal injury, immigration, free advice only, low-value disputes with no strong commercial reason to proceed, and matters with no UK or English law connection may not be suitable.
Will the fee be confirmed before work begins?
Yes. The scope and fixed instruction fee for each instruction are confirmed before that instruction begins.
Start with the collaboration pack
If your firm has clients who may need UK dispute support, the first step is to understand how the collaboration can work. The pack explains the process, suitable matters, referral information and next step.
Prefer to speak to us? Call us on +44 (0)20 8087 4177 or email reception@mycommerciallawyers.com
Share the issue, UK connection and key facts so the team can review whether the matter may be suitable.