How to shape internationalization: Footprint configurations of knowledge-intensive service firms

In today’s increasingly complex and globalized business landscape, knowledge-intensive service (KIS) firms face both opportunities and challenges—particularly in determining the optimal geographic scope of their internationalization strategies. Existing literature offers two contrasting narratives: one underscores the difficulties posed by KIS-specific characteristics such as knowledge intangibility and institutional embeddedness; the other highlights the advantages of expanding global reach. To reconcile these views, we adopt a configurational approach to examine how international footprints can be structured to enhance firm evaluation. Drawing on a categorization lens, we analyze how two key dimensions of international footprint—extent and dispersion—interact with firm-level contingencies to influence evaluation outcomes. Based on a configurational analysis of 50 European law firms, we identify multiple equifinal configurations of internationalization associated with superior evaluation. These configurations range from minimal to extensive international presence, and from regional concentration to broad geographic dispersion. Notably, our findings emphasize international dispersion as a critical factor in achieving favorable evaluations. This study contributes to a more nuanced understanding of KIS internationalization and informs ongoing debates about the optimal scale and spatial reach of global expansion strategies for KIS firms.