UK to future-proof legal services sector

New expert panel meets to identify opportunities.

The English Law Promotion Panel has met to identify key opportunities in growing the legal services sector in the UK.

Chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor David Lammy, the new expert panel held its first meeting in December 2025 at the International Dispute Resolution Centre in London.

Lammy stated: "The UK's legal services sector is a hidden super-power of our economy, generating more than £42.6b a year and employing more than 364,000 people across the country.

"The use of English law by international businesses is key to that success story, and we want to stay ahead of the game."

The panel meeting brought together legal and business leaders with the goal of ensuring that the UK remains "the jurisdiction of choice" for companies choosing which legal system to use when agreeing international contracts.

"We welcome the government's initiative to support the promotion of our jurisdiction and legal services internationally," commented panel member Mark Evans, who serves as the president of the Law Society of England and Wales.

For the Confederation of British Industries' John Foster, the panel's formation is "a practical step" for keeping the legal sector ahead of the curve, given its role in the British economy.

Meanwhile TheCityUK Legal Services Chair James Palmer CBE, also a panel member, believes that it is the shared responsibility of government, courts, and the sector to support the continued development and promotion of English law.

"We look forward to supporting this welcome goal," said Palmer, who commended the inclusion of commercial expertise on the panel.