Addleshaws targets better Euro network

Addleshaw Goddard has vowed to strengthen its European network of referral firms after recommendations from key clients at this year's partnership conference.

Five general counsel from key Addleshaws clients told partners during the partnership conference earlier this month that working with a firm that can provide good-quality multijurisdictional capabilities is essential.

Addleshaws managing partner Mark Jones said: "Creating and developing a network of high-quality firms is definitely the right way for us to do this."

The firm's European network includes European firms such as Germany's Görg, Negri-Clementi Toffoletto Montironi & Soci in Italy and Spanish firm Garrigues.

The clients told partners of the need for multijurisdictional expertise and explained that partners with connections with lawyers in various fields in a number of countries is a service that is increasingly important.

Head of private equity at Addleshaws Andrew Carpenter said: "It's important to be able to say to a client that you can do the work in other jurisdictions and in fact know the particular lawyers in a country that would be best for the job."

Addleshaws has further strengthened its ties with firms in its European network through a series of secondments in recent years.

Jones said: "Secondments have been very successful for us. They're definitely beneficial firmwide and create the sense of community that we want to maintain."