The firm is part of a global network of law firms that was appointed as advisors
MinterEllison is set to assist the UK government on key trade negotiations as the UK looks to build up its trading landscape after Brexit.
The firm and its New Zealand arm, MinterEllisonRuddWatts, are part of a global network of law firms that emerged victorious in what MinterEllison described as “a competitive tender process” for a contract to serve as legal advisors to the UK’s Department for International Trade (DIT).
Following the appointment, the group will support negotiations for the UK’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, as well as two bilateral free trade agreements with Canada and Mexico.
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MinterEllison explained that the group was awarded the UK contract due to its “collective strength of expertise in international trade negotiations, international jurisdictions and government advisory work.”
“This appointment, in partnership with MinterEllisonRuddWatts, highlights our unique strength as the only independent Australian law firm to bring together deep Trans-Tasman expertise and capability in this space,” MinterEllison international managing partner Jeremy Blackshaw said. “We're delighted to be appointed to advise on accession to one of the world's largest value trade agreements.”
In addition to MinterEllison and MinterEllisonRuddWatts, the network consists of firms from the US, UK, Canada, Asia and Latin America. TLT Solicitors (UK), McDermott Will & Emery (US) and Borden Ladner Gervais (Canada) lead the global network as a consortium.
Other members of the group include Abrahams, Davidson & Co (Brunei Darussalam), Carey Abogados (Chile), Mori Hamada & Matsumoto (Japan), Allen & Gledhill (Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam), SAI Law & Economics (Mexico) and Rebza, Alcazar & De Las Casas (Peru).
“MinterEllison and the broader consortium combines international trade experience spanning four decades, multilateral, plurilateral and bilateral fora, dispute resolution, domestic implementation and compliance, and promotion and advice for the private sector in utilising the various benefits these types of agreements make available,” MinterEllison international trade director David Morfesi said. “We are looking forward to delivering gold-standard advice to DIT in collaboration with an outstanding group of partners.”
Last year, MinterEllison and MinterEllisonRuddWatts were tapped to advise on the UK government’s free trade agreement negotiations with Australia and New Zealand.