The Chartered Institute of Public Relations has formed a working group to support the government’s English Law Promotion Panel as ministers look to raise the international profile of English law and the UK’s legal services sector.

The CIPR said the group will bring together communications specialists from the legal, corporate, government and international sectors to ensure public relations expertise is represented in the panel’s work.

The Ministry of Justice established the English Law Promotion Panel under the Government’s Modern Industrial Strategy to support economic growth and strengthen the UK’s global competitiveness.

Sarah Sackman MP KC, Minister for Courts and Legal Services, said: “The UK’s legal services sector is an economic powerhouse, driving growth and employing over 364,000 people across the country. 

“The English Law Promotion Panel, together with the CIPR, will reinforce English law’s position as the destination of choice for international business, maintaining the legal sector’s world-leading status and turbocharging the economy.”

The panel is chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor David Lammy, with Courts and Legal Services Minister Sarah Sackman as vice-chair.

The legal sector contributes about £42.6bn to the UK economy.

The CIPR working group will be chaired by Farzana Baduel, president of the CIPR and a member of the English Law Promotion Panel.

Members include Sam Ellis, senior public affairs manager at the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers; Tony Langham, executive chair and co-founder of Lansons | Team Farner; Jon McLeod, partner at DRD Partnership; Angharad Mountford, senior communications manager at Schillings; and Charlotte Sansom, associate director of PR and communications for EMEA at Dechert LLP.

Farzana Baduel, president of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and member of the English Law Promotion Panel, said: “English law is one of the UK’s great competitive advantages. 

“It underpins international trade, investment and dispute resolution, while also serving as an important source of British influence and soft power around the world.

“Through this working group, communications professionals will contribute expertise that helps showcase the strengths of English law to international audiences and support the Government’s wider economic growth audience.” 

The working group is expected to support the panel’s efforts to communicate the commercial and reputational strengths of English law to overseas markets, as the government seeks to position the UK as a leading global centre for legal services and dispute resolution.