On October 1, 2025, Schoenherr announced the opening of a London liaison office, aiming to bring its CEE expertise closer to London’s financial and legal community. Sebastian Lukic, Partner and Head of the new London Office, shares how the new office will connect markets, build networks, and utilize regional expertise.
CEELM: To start, what led to the London liaison?
Lukic: From a strategic perspective, one of our key pillars at Schoenherr is internationalization. London has always been a gateway to international markets, including the CEE. We want to be the bridge from London to CEE markets. The timing feels perfect, especially as many US law firms are expanding in London, and the market is dynamic, with infrastructure funds and other key players active. Through the London office, we want to focus on established industries like energy, as well as emerging sectors such as defense. Our goal is not simply to have a presence but to be visible, broaden our network, and bring our regional insights to London.
CEELM: What role do you see the London office playing – how will it operate, and who will it serve?
Lukic: We won’t be practicing English law, but I’ll be there, and various team members will rotate in and out. Team members will come from Romania, Poland, the Czech Republic, Serbia, and, of course, Austria. It’s flexible and can scale as needed. The legal work itself will still happen locally, but London will be our liaison office for networking, visibility, and connecting the dots across borders.
The primary focus will be law firms, but we’ll continue nurturing existing in-house relationships and, if appropriate, identify new opportunities through referrals.
CEELM: What drew you to lead this initiative?
Lukic: I joined Schoenherr roughly ten years ago. I didn’t know much about law firms at the time, but I wanted to work internationally. I’m originally from Bosnia but grew up in Austria, which fueled my curiosity about international business. Schoenherr's profile seemed like a perfect match for me. Over the years, I progressed through the firm, gaining experience in cross-practice and cross-border work. I also spent a year living in England, having studied at the University of Oxford, so I’m familiar with the market. Within Schoenherr, I’m known as someone business-oriented who can link different practice groups, which is essential for running this initiative. Importantly, this move has strong backing from the firm, so it’s a strategic priority.
CEELM: You mentioned “strong backing.” What does that mean exactly?
Lukic: It means we collaborate closely across practice groups and offices, which is our unique selling point. In London, we’ll cover the entire CEE region, bringing market trends, developments, and strategic insights from countries like Poland, the Czech Republic, and Romania. The firm’s commitment ensures that this office has the resources and support it needs to make an impact.
CEELM: What was the preparation work leading up to this?
Lukic: While the idea existed at the management committee level, the actual preparation began earlier this year. Alexander Popp, our Managing Partner, approached me to bring the project together. By July, we had approval, and we’ve been taking the necessary steps to launch this week.
CEELM: Was there an internal “sales pitch” for the idea?
Lukic: As I said, internalization is key for Schoenherr as a firm. As we grow, our focus shifts from individuals to the brand. London is a gateway that gives us brand visibility and allows us to bridge CEE with the London market. Unlike other firms entering London, we’re not new to the international scene, but for CEE, this approach is unique.
CEELM: What are the critical next steps?
Lukic: Building the team is the priority. We’ll focus on practice groups and industries, but what makes this office special is its cross-office collaboration. Teams will work on specific industries, making our offering more attractive. We’ll identify market trends and investment opportunities, approach law firms primarily, and secondarily, companies based in London. The launch will include an opening event in November, followed by a series of individual events on relevant topics, alongside key industry gatherings.
CEELM: Have you identified strategic sectors yet? Any promising ones?
Lukic: Energy and infrastructure projects always rank high on the list, with battery storage projects in various CEE markets already attracting attention. Defense is also a growing sector due to geopolitical developments, and so are somewhat newer sectors like technology, sports, and entertainment have shown increasing interest from law firms.
CEELM: What excites and what concerns you most about this project?
Lukic: The collaboration across offices is the most exciting part. I’ve enjoyed working cross-office for years, and now we’ll bring that dynamic to London. The challenge will be patience – building a presence requires commitment and resilience.
