A landmark report launched at the International Bar Association’s (IBA) 2025 Annual Conference in Toronto has highlighted the growing global significance of independent law firms in cross-border legal work.
The report – Navigating Global Growth: A Playbook for Independent Law Firms – was compiled by London-based reputation consultancy MD Communications and drew on insights from firms across ten jurisdictions and a survey of members of the IBA’s European Regional Forum. It found that 91% of independent firms reported that many of their international clients become repeat clients, while 83% stated that up to a quarter of their referrals originated from IBA involvement.
Notably, 62% of firms have clients who previously used international firms, and 32% have directly benefited from the gaps left by global firms due to conflicts, with independence being increasingly seen as an advantage, rather than a limitation.
Melissa Davis, chief executive of MD Communications, emphasised what she saw as a shifting paradigm: “The firms we spoke to are redefining what global growth looks like. It’s no longer about scale or office count – it’s about trust, agility and the quality of relationships."
She added: “The IBA community plays such a vital role in that, giving firms a platform to learn from each other and build the relationships that underpin real cross-border collaboration.”
The report features extensive commentary from independent firms, with Matt Cockburn, managing partner at leading Canadian independent firm Torys, highlighting the value of flexibility.
“Independent firms have a vital role in the global legal market," he said. "Our ability to collaborate seamlessly across borders without the constraints of a single global structure allows us to deliver the right expertise for every client and every deal."
In the UK, Jonathan Kitchin, a partner at Michelmores, pointed to London’s enduring legal appeal: “London’s prominence as a global financial hub continues to generate investment disputes… increasingly multi-faceted, involving UK or foreign regulatory intervention, insolvency claims or parallel litigation in offshore jurisdictions.”
Another respected IBA member, Laura Devine, managing partner of Laura Devine Immigration, underscored the power of international networks: “The IBA is a super arena for building an international name… Our preference is to refer non-UK and US immigration matters to our ‘best friends’, many from the IBA around the globe.”
From Ireland, David O’Donnell, partner at Mason Hayes & Curran, described Brexit as both a challenge and an opportunity, as his country has seen a wave of law firm office openings and increased business after the UK’s 2020 exit from the EU. “Post-Brexit Ireland provides a natural alternative to the UK to those international businesses seeking to do business in the EU,” he said.
The report also explored the strategic advantages of independence. Alan Keep, managing partner at Bowmans, South Africa, noted: “We try to focus on knowing local laws and how to navigate courts and regulators… which an international firm without arms and legs will always struggle to provide.”
Sadiq Jafar, managing partner of Hadef & Partners, UAE, added: “Our strength in the local courts is a significant differentiator… When complex disputes require a litigation strategy that combines legal excellence with deep cultural understanding, this local strength makes a significant difference.”
The IBA’s director of legal projects, Sarah Carnegie, emphasised the role of smaller firms to the IBA: “Small and medium-sized independent firms – those with under 50 partners – are hugely important members of the IBA, representing 44% of our global group membership.”
The report followed a recent three-day event attended by Carnegie and more than 70 delegates from bar associations and professional accountancy bodies across 22 Caribbean jurisdictions, held in the Cayman Islands and arranged by the IBA and other partners, including smaller law firms from those jurisdictions.
From an in-house legal perspective, Jeff Davis, general counsel at the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, who authored the report’s afterword, concluded: “The independent sector appears to be approaching this challenge with confidence and purpose – equally deserving of our attention as the larger international players.”
The Global Legal Post is a media partner of the IBA and is publishing the conference’s daily magazine, IBA Daily News, where a shorter version of this story was first published, as well as exhibiting at the event. Click here for more details. A copy of today's edition of the IBA Daily News can be found here.
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