Cross-border matters are at the heart of McCarthy Denning’s work – we consider international capabilities to be part of our DNA. The majority of our lawyers are well-versed in cross-border matters, most of them having worked in major international firms.
Additionally, many of our lawyers are, or have previously been, based overseas and a significant number are qualified in more than one jurisdiction and/or speak more than one language fluently.
Where external advice from local lawyers is needed, unlike the traditional international firms, we are not tied to using (and bearing the cost of) a bulky network of overseas offices with lawyers of variable quality. Instead, we are free to pick and choose the best overseas lawyers suited for each matter, using a series of formal associations and informal networks of lawyers and law firms.
Clients turn to McCarthy Denning for seamless, high-level advice on cross-border transactional and non-transactional matters unencumbered by complicated processes.
We are pleased to report that McCarthy Denning has been admitted as a member of the Association of Law Firm Merger Advisers (ALFMA), a team of proven market experts (accountants, specialist brokers, partnership lawyers and strategy consultants) whose aim is to minimise the risk of law firm mergers. We can account for over 150 successful mergers between us. MD partner Tina Williams, who has in depth experience of law firm mergers, will be an active participant in ALFMA.
To find out more about our international capabilities, and who to contact about them, please use the dropdown menu below.
- All Regions
- Europe
- Middle East & North Africa
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Russia, CIS, Central Asia & Turkey
- Indian Subcontinent
- South East Asia
- North Asia (Including China & Japan)
- Australia & New Zealand
- USA & Canada
- Central & South America
Europe
McCarthy Denning’s lawyers have been involved in significant matters involving each of the main member states of the EEA (the EU plus Iceland, Norway and Lichtenstein), the Baltics, the emerging European states, and Ukraine.
A number or our lawyers are qualified in European and Nordic jurisdictions (France, Germany, Ireland, Finland, Sweden, Greece and Cyprus) in addition to in England & Wales and are fluent in the relevant national language. David Sant is a patent attorney qualified to practice in 38 European jurisdictions.
Where external advice on local law is needed, our lawyers use the firm’s informal networks of contacts amongst leading European and Nordic law firms. McCarthy Denning is also a member of the E-Iure network which boasts sixteen law firms throughout Europe (as well as participants in South America, Australia and India). Together, they make forming teams of the best lawyers to deal with Europe-focused matters simple and seamless.
Middle East & North Africa
McCarthy Denning provides specialist legal services to local clients based in the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA) and for those located outside but with commercial interests in the region. We cover the full spectrum of practice areas and industries and our impressive array of leading international lawyers possess the relevant in-depth experience including in Islamic Finance.
One of our partners, John Sipling, was based in Abu Dhabi for over 5 years where he established and ran the local office for UK firm Berwin Leigthon Paisner. He has been involved in major hotel leasing, development and M&A deals throughout MENA (including in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Oman, Yemen, Libya, Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco).
Sub-Saharan Africa
Our deep and broad base of experience of Sub-Saharan Africa enables us to deal with even the most complex and challenging issues in this dynamic region including dealing with debt financing, securities issuance, acquisitions and sales, and regulatory matters.
As well as acting for clients based in both francophone and anglophone Africa, we also advise on inward investment into African countries, including in the natural resources, agriculture and renewables sectors. McCarthy Denning is home to two leading energy lawyers who are renowned in the African oil and gas sector. We also have a network of relationships with lawyers in major African firms allowing us to access the best local legal advice as and when needed.
Russia, CIS, Central Asia & Turkey
Since our inception, McCarthy Denning has, in addition to recruiting senior lawyers with a wealth of relevant experience, established a series of international relationships with law firms in this region. We can access a consortium of leading law and tax accounting firms, with whom McCarthy Denning lawyers have collaborated, to ensure our clients have access to the best talent in the relevant jurisdictions.
We also have partners with extensive personal experience within Russia, CIS, Central Asia and Turkey in corporate, commercial and litigation services as well as a collective practice in both banking and finance and oil and gas matters.
Our Global Head of Islamic Finance, Bilal Khan, is based in Kazakhstan where he acts as the Chief Islamic Finance Officer at the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC).
Indian Subcontinent
McCarthy Denning lawyers have substantial hands-on experience in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, particularly in general corporate work and in the power generation and oil and gas sectors, including advising on offshore field development, gas sales and power offtake agreements for companies such as BG and Cairn Energy.
Through its membership of the E-Iure network, the firm has a relationship with a New Delhi-based firm which acts for foreign clients in luxury, retail, technology, software, education, infrastructure and defence fields. The firm also assists high-net-worth Indian individuals with their investments inside and outside India.
Where local advice is needed on other specialist areas, or in other countries in the subcontinent, the firm can utilise strong connections with the major regional law firms which have been developed by McCarthy Denning’s lawyers over several years.
South East Asia
Our association with boutique Singapore law firm, Arrowgates, allows us to provide integrated access to excellent internationally-focused lawyers throughout the region, including in Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand, as well as Singapore itself.
The Arrowgates relationship allows McCarthy Denning to provide “one-stop-shop” access to legal advice in all these countries via a single know-your-client and engagement process with McCarthy Denning in London.
Each of the firms we work with in the region combines expert knowledge of the local legal and business environment with an ability to work in the cross-border arena. They also share the McCarthy Denning philosophy of providing first class senior lawyer advice in a cost-efficient environment.
Their lawyers, many of whom have had experience with major international firms, cover the full range of services for both corporate and private clients. Whether our clients want to obtain advice on a multi-jurisdictional transaction in the region, or only need assistance with a deal in one country the best available advice can be obtained in a simple, straightforward and efficient process.
North Asia (Including China & Japan)
The growing importance of this region, and China in particular, is reflected in McCarthy Denning’s practice and the fact that a number of our lawyers are regular visitors to the region. Two of our senior lawyers (Roy Ong and WanHsi Yeong) are native mandarin (putonghua) and cantonese speakers and are based in Singapore with easy access to North Asia. Zac Lucas also splits his time between the region, South East Asia and the UK. The firm is almost constantly involved in China-related matters in particular, including in the corporate and intellectual property areas. Members of the firm’s IP team have advised on trademark issues and licensing arrangements and commercial agreements in South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Japan and Mongolia.
Richard Beresford spent over two and a half years studying and working in Japan and also played a key role in developing the Japan practice of a major City law firm. He is also a regular visitor to China.
The firm has excellent connections with major law firms in Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland and Japan and is easily able to obtain first-rate local law advice throughout the region.
Australia & New Zealand
McCarthy Denning lawyers have substantial experience in the region having worked on many significant matters there. They also have first-rate connections with a wide variety of law firms ranging from specialist boutiques to the leading national firms in these countries. McCarthy Denning lawyers have particularly strong experience in energy, insurance, renewables and IP matters in the region. Justin Conway is qualified as a barrister and solicitor in New Zealand and spent 8 years in practice there.
USA & Canada
McCarthy Denning can address both US and Canadian legal issues, as well as the needs of North American clients conducting business in Europe and vice versa.
McCarthy Denning has US (New York and California bars) and Canada-qualified attorneys who can provide expert advice on a broad range of litigious, corporate, finance, commercial and regulatory issues, and work with local counsel where required. They are familiar with the interface of European and International legal and practical needs with North American legal and practical issues.
Our team in London can coordinate all North American-related issues and work closely with specialist local counsel as appropriate. We maintain strong relationships with North American-based law firms, notably in New York, Washington DC, and Toronto, but also in other major US and Canadian cities, and that network provides advice on specialist areas of practice ranging from employment law, tax law, securities and real estate matters to commercial litigation and immigration.
Central & South America
McCarthy Denning lawyers have extensive experience in Central and South American jurisdictions including in corporate, licensing, intellectual property, and energy and renewables. We have some excellent relationships with strong local law firms in several key countries in the region including, through our membership of the E-Iure network, in Brazil, Peru and Ecuador.
