How to introduce your law firm in English
You may need to introduce your firm at a conference, during networking, when pitching to a client or in a partner interview. Choose only the details that are useful in that situation; you do not need to mention every point below.
Lesson handout
A clear structure
| Topic | Useful language | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Name and role | I work at … / I’m a … at … | I’m a partner at Northbridge Legal. |
| Location | We are based in … / We have offices in … / Our firm is headquartered in … | We are headquartered in London and have offices across Europe. |
| History | The firm was established in … / We have been operating for … | The firm was established in 1995. |
| Size | We have around … lawyers in … and … worldwide. | We have 80 lawyers in Madrid and 600 worldwide. |
| Type and services | We are a … firm specialising in … / We provide … | We are a boutique firm specialising in intellectual property. |
| Clients | We advise / represent / work with … | We advise technology companies and creative businesses. |
| Reputation | We are ranked highly in … / We have a strong reputation in … | We have a strong reputation in commercial litigation. |
| Culture | We are known for … / We value … | We are known for our collaborative culture. |
| Close | That’s a little about our firm. How about yours? | We would be pleased to discuss possible collaboration. |
Types of law firm
| Type | Meaning | Typical work or clients |
|---|---|---|
| full-service firm | offers services across many practice areas | corporate, disputes, tax, real estate, employment, IP and other work |
| boutique firm | small or medium-sized firm specialising in a niche | specialist areas such as IP, family law or white-collar crime |
| high-street firm | local firm serving its community | individuals and small businesses; family, wills, conveyancing and employment matters |
| Magic Circle firm | informal label for a small group of elite London-headquartered international firms | large, complex and high-value transactions and disputes |
| Silver Circle firm | informal label for highly regarded UK-headquartered firms outside the Magic Circle | broad commercial work |
| BigLaw firm | informal term commonly used for large, high-revenue US commercial firms | major corporate clients and complex matters |
These labels are informal and may change over time. In international conversation, a factual description such as international full-service firm is often clearer.
Partner compensation models
| Model | How it works | Possible effect |
|---|---|---|
| lockstep | partner compensation rises mainly with seniority | can encourage loyalty and teamwork |
| eat-what-you-kill | compensation depends heavily on business personally generated | can reward individual performance but increase internal competition |
| modified lockstep / hybrid | combines seniority with performance or business generation | aims to balance collaboration and financial performance |
Compensation models may be relevant in a partner interview, but they are rarely necessary in a short client introduction.
Talk about reputation accurately
- We are ranked in Band 1 for employment law.
- We have been recognised as a top-tier firm for intellectual property.
- Last year, we received an award for excellence in project finance.
- Our firm has a strong reputation in white-collar crime.
Be specific when possible. Do not claim a ranking or award unless it is current and can be verified.
Model introductions
Boutique firm
Hello, I’m Yuki, a senior associate at Kitsuna IP Law Group, a boutique firm based in Kyoto. We focus exclusively on intellectual-property matters, including trade marks, copyright and related litigation. We advise technology start-ups, creative businesses and multinational companies.
Local full-service firm
I’m Tom, a senior associate at Parker Smith, a full-service firm based in Beijing. Founded in 1995, we have around 200 lawyers. We provide corporate, employment and real-estate services to mid-sized companies, public bodies and non-profit organisations.
Your speaking framework
I’m a _____ at _____. We are a _____ firm based in _____. The firm was established in _____ and has around _____ lawyers. We specialise in / provide _____. Our clients include _____. We are known for _____. That’s a little about our firm—how about yours?
Keep your first version short. You can add detail if the other person is interested or asks a follow-up question.
Check out my other blog post related to this topic:
➡️How to introduce yourself as a lawyer
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