For years, the world’s leading law firms have talked about thinking globally and acting locally. Today, that mantra is more relevant – and more complex – than ever. As the boundaries between international legal markets continue to blur, success now depends on the ability to combine global reach with genuine local depth.
The launch of SSQ’s West Coast business marks a natural next step in this evolution. It extends the work our teams have been doing worldwide for over two decades: supporting law firms and lawyers who see their careers and businesses not as confined to one city or jurisdiction, but as part of a global ecosystem.
The U.S. remains the beating heart of Big Law. U.S. headquartered firms – and their influence – continue to expand internationally, from London to Singapore and the Middle East; whilst international firms want to break into the U.S. market so as to be seen as players on the top stage. Yet even within the U.S., the market is diversifying. Los Angeles, San Francisco and Silicon Valley have long since ceased to be satellite markets; they are now vital engines of growth, powered by technology, private equity and cross-border capital. Firms are increasingly focused on finding the top talent, agnostic as to where they are currently based.
At the same time, the movement of lawyers between international jurisdictions – once a niche phenomenon – is now routine. Associates trained in London may now find themselves advising on Silicon Valley venture deals, New York litigators are taking their experience to Asia, and partners are building cross-border practices that mirror their clients’ global footprints.
This interconnectedness has created a single, fluid market for elite legal talent – one where firms must understand not only where the best people are, but also what motivates them, and how their skills translate across legal systems. International clients do not confine their operations to specific borders, so law firms cannot afford to think so narrowly either.
But global presence alone isn’t enough: in a market this competitive, depth matters as much as breadth. Understanding the nuances of each jurisdiction – from compensation expectations to cultural dynamics, practice group structure, and partnership track – is what allows firms to hire strategically and sustainably.
That’s where local expertise comes in. The legal markets of London, New York and Los Angeles may all operate at the top end, but they do so in different ways. The ability to advise on these subtleties – to help a UK firm entering California navigate its first partner hire, or to guide a New York associate relocating to London – requires not just a global platform, but on-the-ground relationships built over years.
SSQ’s expansion to the West Coast reflects that philosophy. It’s not about putting a pin on a map; it’s about bringing the same depth of understanding and network we’ve developed elsewhere to one of the most dynamic legal regions in the world.
Clients are increasingly global, and so are the lawyers who serve them. The next generation of legal professionals think internationally from the outset: educated across jurisdictions, trained on cross-border deals, and comfortable working within global teams.
For them, mobility isn’t a disruption; it’s an expectation. Law firms, in turn, must adapt to this reality, creating career pathways that reflect global ambitions and building recruitment strategies that transcend geography.
The future of Big Law will not be defined by one market, but by how effectively firms – and the professionals who support them – can connect markets together.
SSQ sits at the intersection of these markets and our growth on the West Coast is part of that broader story: helping firms build world-class teams that can operate seamlessly across borders, and helping lawyers find opportunities that match not only their skills but their global outlook.
Global reach gives scale. Local depth gives insight. The combination of both is what defines success in the modern legal world.
Get in touch for support thinking globally, hiring locally and building legal teams ready for a connected future.
