TLT, the Bristol-headquartered national law firm, has agreed its first alliance with an overseas practice as part of its strategy to strengthen the international offer for clients. 
TLT said the link-up with Dutch firm Holla Advocaten, which it already has already worked with in a number of legal areas, will be the first of a number of alliances in key European countries as well as the US and India.
It comes more than two years after TLT appointed its Bristol-based commercial disputes head Chris Owen as the firm’s first international head with the task of developing the informal ‘best friends network’ of firms it already collaborates with on cross-border work into harder-edged affiliations.
TLT views these international link-ups as a key part of its ambitious growth plans. David Pester, who stepped down in April after 19 years as managing partner, has supporting the firm’s international strategy in his new role as head of strategic growth. 
TLT said it had a long history of working with Holla to support clients on a range of matters including complex disputes, employment, intellectual property (IP), and corporate finance/mergers and acquisitions.
Under the alliance agreement, the firms will move to a closer collaboration, sharing know-how and collaborating on marketing and service delivery. TLT said this would “ensure consistent high-quality and seamless cross border services for clients”.
Holla employs more than 100 people in its offices in Utrecht, s-Hertogenbosch and Eindhoven offering legal advice to medium-sized and large businesses.
TLT head of international Chris Owen, pictured above, said: “Like TLT, Holla is an ambitious and growing firm in The Netherlands. We have great crossover in terms of approach, legal expertise and industry insight and a strong history working together to support our clients.
“With The Netherlands a key business location and gateway to the European Union post-Brexit, we see cross border work increasing.
“There are clear opportunities for our clients with a growing financial services sector, increasing investment in renewable energy generation as well as real estate, retail and logistics opportunities in mainland Europe amongst others.”
TLT managing partner John Wood, pictured right, added: “Although we are focussed on the immediate challenges of the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, we are not standing still.
“We are ambitious for the future and how we continue to develop and deliver opportunities for our people and our clients; pushing forward with our international strategy is a critical part of that.
“Our alliance with Holla is the first step in our strategy to develop further our offer for clients as they look for more support from us internationally. That offer will be a closer alliance of like-minded firms across Europe, India and the US with a similar cultural fit and client-driven ambition to develop their cross border offer.” 
Holla managing partner Robert Gebel, pictured right, said the number of legal matters the firm worked on that had an international aspect had grown significantly.
“Our alliance with TLT allows us to offer clients with cross-border legal issues a high-quality and seamless service,” he added.
“TLT shares Holla’s DNA. For both firms, the client-centric approach and the sector-focussed success of our businesses are important driving forces. Our partnership is not solely aimed at improving both organisations’ international services, but also at sharing knowledge, expertise and innovation. We look forward to further exploring these developments together.”
TLT has been one of the UK’s fastest-growing law firms for the past five years, expanding from its Bristol and London roots to open in Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester.
It said alongside the development of an international strategic alliance, it would continue its largely organic UK growth strategy which has increased its headcount by 14% in the past year alone to around 1,200 people, including 15 new lateral partner hires.
