The heterogeneity of internationalisation in knowledge intensive business services

The general process of internationalisation of knowledge intensive business services (KIBS) is widely recognised, but knowledge of the forms, motivations and spatial patterns of this type of internationalisation remains limited. This article addresses this gap by comparing the sectors of legal services and engineering consulting, which differ in their specific service characteristics. Based on an analysis of the office networks of international firms, we attempt to identify typical patterns of international expansion and examine the heterogeneity among the firms in both sectors. We reveal that the specific service characteristics, especially in terms of knowledge and client relationship, influence significantly the spatial outcome of international expansion. Also the country of origin with its particular institutional environment may affect the opportunities of, and targets for, expansion.