Institutional Bridging: How Large Law Firms Engage in Globalization

Abstract

This Article introduces the “Born Global” concept into the discussion of law firms and lawyers. Born Global firms are companies that globalize at an accelerated rate. This Article illustrates that English and American law firms are the precursors to Born Global companies and highlights how the common law facilitated this process. It also demonstrates, through modern case studies, how lawyers and the common law continue to have a globalizing effect in the business world. Last, the Article argues that the disparity between U.K. and U.S. law firms created by the U.K. Legal Services Act of 2007 may create an opportunity for U.K. law firms to truly break out ahead of their U.S. counterparts.