Sydney is well positioned to strengthen its standing on the world stage as a leading centre for legal services. Home to more than 35,000 practising solicitors, and two law schools ranked among the global top 20, the city benefits from a common law system, efficient commercial courts, and a substantial legal technology sector. Sydney has significant potential to expand its international reach and elevate its position as a global legal hub. 

Making the case: Sydney as a global legal hub examines Sydney’s position among international legal centres and the opportunity to attract a greater share of global legal work. The report highlights opportunities to increase the number of international arbitrations seated in Sydney, strengthen connections between the legal profession and emerging industries, and build greater recognition of Sydney and NSW’s legal capabilities.
The report puts forward six ideas to build Sydney’s case as a global legal hub, focused on strengthening coherence and communication, as well as capacity and capability, including:

1. Put NSW front of mind, at home and abroad
2. Build the sector relationships that turn the case into contracts
3. Build the coalition to tell Sydney’s story
4. Back Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (ACICA) to compete
5. Connect the courts to international parties and to arbitration
6. Compete for legal functions and legal talent.

Together, these ideas provide a pathway to build on Sydney’s existing strengths, attract more international legal activity and strengthen its position as a globally competitive legal centre.

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