Irwin Mitchell has been awarded a King’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade, recognising the firm’s sustained international growth and its contribution to supporting overseas businesses investing in the UK.

Granted by His Majesty The King, the Award recognises organisations that have demonstrated outstanding achievement in international trade over a number of years. It is the highest official UK award a business can receive.

Irwin Mitchell has expanded its international work across a range of sectors, advising overseas corporates, investors and private clients on matters including UK market entry, foreign direct investment (FDI), immigration, tax and estate planning, employment, real estate, disputes and regulatory issues.

The firm works closely with international referrers, trade bodies and inward investment agencies, and has been an active advocate for the UK as a destination for global investment. Its international related work has grown by more than 24% year on year. Irwin Mitchell has offices in 25 locations across the UK including in the top 10 regions attracting investment from abroad.

The Award also reflects Irwin Mitchell’s long standing commitment to FDI, through which the firm has highlighted the economic value of overseas investment to UK regions, supported international businesses establishing or expanding operations in the UK, and contributed to policy discussions around the UK’s competitiveness on the global stage.

Craig Marshall, Chief Executive of Irwin Mitchell, said:

“We are incredibly proud to receive a King’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade. It is a significant and independent recognition of the work our colleagues do every day to support international clients and investors choosing the UK.

“International trade and foreign direct investment play a vital role in driving economic growth, innovation and job creation across the UK. Through our FDI campaigning and our work with overseas businesses, we have consistently made the case for the UK as an open, attractive and competitive place to invest.”

Bryan Bletso, head of International at Irwin Mitchell, said:

“We’ve seen a significant increase in providing English legal services to international clients during this financial year, and helping both business and individual clients resolve their sophisticated muti-jurisdiction legal issues forms a key part of our strategy.

“In addition, our international network is hugely important in helping us to support UK business elsewhere in the world and is particularly valuable in the current economic climate given the various geo-political tensions. The strength of our network means we can be nimble and flexible to adapt to the changing global picture rather than being tied to physical office locations.

“This award reflects the expertise within the firm to provide complex advice to international clients, the strength of our international relationships and our commitment to helping both international and our UK client base to succeed in an increasingly complicated global environment.”

The King’s Awards for Enterprise are awarded annually to UK based organisations that demonstrate excellence in fields including International Trade, Innovation, Sustainable Development and Promoting Opportunity.

Irwin Mitchell is uniquely positioned to assist businesses and private clients looking to invest in the UK and connect globally. Its international lawyers help clients with their private and business legal needs in over 100 countries worldwide. They provide guidance and representation when it comes to international laws and immigration processes.

The firm has a deliberate strategy of not having overseas offices in favour of being a member of numerous strategic international networks, including First Law International, where Bryan Bletso chairs its Advisory Board, and the Commonwealth Enterprise & Investment Council where Bryan co-chairs the Commonwealth Legal Network – a network of around 100 Commonwealth business and government members – with a seat on its Global Advisory Council. Irwin Mitchell is also a founder member of the Bridge Group alongside 10 powerful regional US law firms and a founder partner and Board member of Avrio Advocati, a European focused legal network.

While Irwin Mitchell does not have offices overseas, it has 12 dedicated international desks, each led by a market specialist with a deep knowledge of their specific region and the language skills and cultural understanding to match.