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How lawyers dress in the world’s major capitals

A journey through the global “dress code” of the legal profession

For decades, the dark suit, white shirt and sober tie were the almost universal uniform of lawyers. But just as the way law firms work has changed, so has the way lawyers dress. Globalization, hybrid work, tech-driven clients and the pressure to appear approachable have gradually softened dress codes, although not at the same pace everywhere.

A lawyer’s clothing is no longer just a matter of elegance: it is a language. It communicates hierarchy, firm culture, type of client, city and even generation. Although globalization is erasing differences and lawyers around the world increasingly dress alike, subtle details still reveal local culture: in London, tradition; in New York, modernity; in Moscow, status; in Beijing, discretion; in Paris, elegance; in Italy, fashion; and in Tokyo, perfection. That said, let us look at these differences.

London: the ritual of the suit… with cracks in the tie

In London, especially in the City and within the “Magic Circle” firms, the suit remains almost an institution. Navy blue or dark grey suits, light shirts and well-polished black shoes still set the standard for formal meetings and court appearances. Among barristers, sobriety reaches almost ritual levels: gown, bands and, in higher courts, the traditional wig.

However, even London has relaxed. On non-client days, many solicitors have adopted “smart casual”: dark chinos, shirt without tie, fine knitwear, and in firms with strong tech or venture capital practices, discreet designer trainers and unstructured blazers are increasingly common.

That said, the invisible message remains clear. The more regulated and financial the matter, the more classic the suit.

New York: power, personal branding and sector-driven codes

In New York, several worlds coexist:

On Wall Street and in large M&A and financial litigation firms, the suit remains a uniform of power. Tailored cuts, visible watches, restrained but branded ties; for women, trouser suits or dresses paired with blazers in very controlled tones.

Among firms working with startups, entertainment or technology, the style shifts towards “sophisticated business casual”: rolled-up shirts, blazers without ties, luxury trainers, midi dresses paired with white sneakers.
New York is perhaps the city where it is clearest that clothing is part of a lawyer’s personal brand: a litigation partner can afford a distinctive touch (pocket square, glasses, iconic coat), as long as the overall message is clear: “I am expensive, but reliable.”

Moscow: formality with visible luxury

Here the differences are more pronounced: shinier suits, high-end fabrics, visible watches (Rolex, Omega) as cultural symbols of success, bolder colours—deep blues, light greys, even black (rare in London or New York). Female lawyers often adopt a more glamorous style than in Western Europe: high heels, brighter colours, defined makeup. The overall impression is professionalism with a strong emphasis on status.

Paris and Brussels: discreet elegance and institutional sensitivity

In Paris, the legal profession combines formality with a more refined and less rigid aesthetic, although in recent years it has lost some of the elegance traditionally associated with the French capital. Well-cut suits, many light greys and mid-blues, soft-toned shirts, little shine and a strong emphasis on fabric quality.
Female lawyers tend to favour two-piece suits or sober dresses with impeccable cuts and discreet but carefully chosen accessories. In Brussels, home to many competition and EU regulatory matters, the style is slightly more sober but similar: formality without excess, with an increasingly “civil service” aesthetic.

Madrid and Barcelona: from mandatory suit to “Iberian smart casual”

In Spain, twenty years ago there was little debate: suit and tie every day, especially in corporate and litigation practices. Today, in large firms, the suit remains the norm for court hearings, notarised transactions or important meetings, but a hybrid code has emerged. Many partners and associates work without a tie daily and reserve it for key moments. In younger firms or tech boutiques, dark jeans, quality polos and clean trainers are common. In courtrooms, however, a kind of “social contract” persists although unwritten, no one wants to be “the lawyer who dresses too casually” in front of a judge.

Milan and Rome: fashion as part of the argument

Italy adds a distinctive element: the cultural weight of fashion.
Better-tailored suits, slightly bolder colours (vivid blues, warm browns, soft checks) and greater attention to detail: silk ties, coordinated pocket squares, well-crafted shoes; for women, designer handbags and carefully studied cuts.
Even within formal codes, there is a clear search for personal style. Clothing becomes part of the lawyer’s rhetoric: appearing careless is frowned upon; appearing to try too hard is also frowned upon. The virtue lies in looking elegant “without trying.”

Hong Kong and Singapore: heat, formality and financial influence

In Hong Kong and Singapore, the combination is unique: tropical climate, Asian culture and a strong presence of banking and international arbitration. In offices, skyscrapers and arbitration rooms, the suit remains the norm, but with lighter, high-quality fabrics. In less formal situations, shirts without jackets are common. Ties are more prevalent in Hong Kong than in Singapore, where many international firms have relaxed the dress code to “business casual” except for client meetings.
In both markets the message is clear: in courtrooms or international arbitration, dressing less formally than the client is a mistake.

Dubai and Gulf hubs: Western formality with local codes

In Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Doha, lawyers in international firms combine classic Western suits for men—often without a tie except for institutional meetings—and sober suits or dresses for women, always respectful of local modesty codes.
At the same time, many clients, judges or officials wear traditional attire (dishdasha, abaya). In this context, the international lawyer occupies a middle ground: formal, neutral and culturally cautious.

São Paulo and Mexico City: formality shaped by climate and personality

In Latin America, major legal capitals show similar patterns: suit and tie remain common in corporate, financial and arbitration work, although climate and culture allow for lighter suits, coloured shirts and, in some contexts, the absence of a tie. Female lawyers often combine formal tailoring with more creative use of colour and accessories, especially in firms working with creative or tech sectors.
The difference from Europe is that formality coexists with more expressive body language: colour and garment combinations convey approachability without losing authority.

Tokyo and Seoul: extreme sobriety and visible hierarchy

In Japan and South Korea, lawyers are among the most formal in the world. Dark suits almost always, discreet ties, white or very light shirts, little room for eccentricity. The emphasis is on seriousness, modesty and respect for client and court hierarchy.
In these environments, dressing too casually can be interpreted as disrespect rather than “personal style.” As mentioned earlier, Japanese fashion today is fashion of perfection.

Beijing and Shanghai

Formality projects seriousness, reliability and discipline—essential values for corporate and state clients. Moreover, in China’s Big Four firms (King & Wood Mallesons, JunHe, Fangda, Zhong Lun), a “global” image is expected, very similar to London or New York, but with less stylistic risk and greater seriousness.

How the lawyer’s suit has changed: from “rigid uniform” to “variable code”

What are the common trends?

The tie is losing ground, but not disappearing;
it shifts from daily use to a symbol of key meetings.

“Business casual” is expanding, largely due to tech clients and hybrid work, although casual requires far more care and attention to combinations; poor colour and garment choices are more noticeable.

Gowns and judicial dress remain in many jurisdictions—London, Paris, Santiago de Chile, Madrid, Buenos Aires and most Latin American capitals—but are confined to procedural contexts.

Generational tension is increasing:
younger lawyers accept the suit but see it as an “operational costume,” not an identity; they prefer more flexible codes.

What a firm’s dress code reveals

Beyond aesthetics, a lawyer’s clothing says very specific things about a firm:

How much it values internal hierarchy
(more traditional suits = more rigid structure).

What type of client it prioritises

(institutional finance vs tech startup).

Its generational culture
(whether it allows expressiveness or enforces uniformity).

How it understands the lawyer–client relationship

(professional distance versus collaborative closeness).

In a world where almost, everything can be done via video call, first visual impressions still carry enormous weight. It is not about dressing expensively, but about dressing coherently: with the city, the type of work and the message the firm wants to convey, and above all avoiding vulgarity. Because a lawyer’s clothing remains a silent declaration of seriousness, competence and trustworthiness.
The 21st-century office may be hybrid, digital and flexible, but when it comes time to close a strategic transaction, defend a sensitive case or enter a major courtroom, in London, New York, Madrid, Hong Kong or São Paulo something very simple will happen:
lawyers will open the wardrobe…
and once again choose their suit.