This session will explore the practical realities of practising law across borders, including the experience of lawyers whose careers and practices span more than one jurisdiction. Through the perspectives of lawyers trained or qualified in one jurisdiction who practise, advise clients, work with local counsel, or lead teams in others, the panel will consider how legal education, professional regulation, market structure, and local business culture shape legal practice.

Drawing on examples from across the Arab world, the discussion will examine how regional legal traditions and professional practices align with—or differ from—international expectations, including the roles of foreign and local lawyers, professional ethics, client expectations, and cross-border legal service delivery.

Although grounded in the Arab region, the themes are relevant to lawyers everywhere whose clients, colleagues, transactions, or disputes span more than one jurisdiction. At a time of significant geopolitical and economic change, the panel will also consider how lawyers can build trusted cross-border practices while remaining responsive to local legal, regulatory, and cultural realities.