SCOTTISH firms Brodies, Burness Paull, Harper Macleod and MacRoberts have teamed up with international outfits CMS, Dentons and DLA Piper to launch a body aimed at promoting the country’s legal sector in overseas markets.

Scottish Legal International (SLI) - which is working in partnership with Scottish Government enterprise agency Scottish Development International and the Law Society of Scotland – said it will focus on marketing Scottish legal services “as an essential component of successful international trade and investment”.

The body’s chairman, Shepherd & Wedderburn partner Paul Carlyle, said SLI had been launched because “now more than ever businesses in Scotland need to send a strong, positive message to the rest of the world”.

“The legal profession is a key component of that message,” he added.

Law Society president Graham Matthews said as Scottish solicitors are “held in very high regard around the globe” it is crucial for the profession “to take a coordinated approach to selling our strengths” given the increasingly competitive business environment.

“The launch of Scottish Legal International represents an opportunity to promote the wealth of experience and talent within our profession on the global stage and to support those firms with international aspirations,” Mr Matthews added.

While the founding firms of SLI have formed the body’s steering group, the initiative is open to all firms with international ambitions.

SLI will tap into SDI’s knowledge of international markets to help law firms develop new business opportunities.