When Beijing recently became embroiled in a dispute with international contractors over an infrastructure project, it turned to British barristers for advice.

London-based Atkin Chambers, which was hired by the Chinese government, this year became the first barristers' chambers towin a Queen's Award for exports. Robert Akenhead, an arbitration barrister at Atkin, says the chambers' international work has increased from 30 per cent of turnover 10 years ago to about 45 per cent today.