Legal services exports from the United Kingdom have surged by 60 percent over five years, reaching a record level of nearly £11 billion in 2025, according to a recent report by the Law Society, the professional body representing solicitors in England and Wales. This growth challenges earlier concerns that Brexit would adversely affect the international standing of UK legal firms, particularly in Europe.
Updated data highlights that English law remains a foundational element in global commerce, underpinning vast amounts of financial activity. The report notes that English law governs £250 trillion in outstanding global derivatives, half of the world’s international seaborne trade valued at £13 trillion, and 40 percent of international business and financial transactions across various sectors. It also plays a significant role in global agricultural trade, covering 28 percent, while overseas insurance companies spent between £73 billion and £83 billion on UK legal services.
The export revenue is heavily concentrated in the European Union and the United States, which together account for nearly two-thirds of the total £10.97 billion in legal services exports in 2025. EU businesses were the largest buyers, contributing £3.67 billion, slightly more than the £3.2 billion from the US. Other key markets included Luxembourg (£880 million), the Netherlands (£443 million), and France (£433 million).
The London legal sector continues to demonstrate strong institutional performance. The London commercial court issued 212 written judgments last year, surpassing emerging international rivals such as the Dubai International Financial Centre’s civil and commercial division, which delivered 110 fewer rulings. The international court in Qatar and New York’s commercial division likewise recorded fewer judgments, with 89 and 78 respectively. Additionally, the London Maritime Arbitrators Association handled 2,015 new cases in 2025, marking a 16 percent increase from 2024 and the highest level since 2014.
The report also highlights substantial growth in the domestic legal profession. As of July 2025, there were 208,077 solicitors registered in England and Wales, a 35 percent increase from around 132,000 a decade earlier. The turnover of solicitor firms in the jurisdiction rose to £37.14 billion last year, an 8 percent increase compared to 2024.
The Law Society’s president, Mark Evans, described the sector’s performance as a major global success but emphasized that the UK’s leading position in legal services should not be taken for granted. He noted that other jurisdictions are rapidly investing in court and legal infrastructure in an effort to compete with London’s dominance. Evans urged continued government investment in the legal profession and justice system to sustain growth nationwide.
Regarding international mobility, the report identified the United Arab Emirates as the most popular destination for solicitors trained in England and Wales who moved abroad, hosting nearly 17 percent of such professionals. Hong Kong accounted for the second-largest share, with 10.5 percent of solicitors practising outside the UK.