The United Kingdom is a legal powerhouse, its reputation for excellence forged over centuries. England is the home of Magna Carta and the Bill of Rights, and has since exported its legal system around the world. Stability and flexibility are among that system’s greatest strengths.
We are regularly reminded of the history. But that excellence is very much still with us today. As Nicholas Phillips, former president of the Supreme Court, told me in research for this report: “Our judiciary has a reputation for high calibre and integrity—the two go together.” Our wider legal infrastructure is outstanding. This is important as a matter of constitutional principle but also brings economic benefits. “The majority of commercial contracts around the world are still governed by English law,” Phillips said. “That makes London a natural forum for resolving disputes.”