Meritas (law)

Founded in 1990, Meritas is a professional services network consisting of a global alliance of business law firms formerly known as Commercial Law Affiliates.^[1][2] In 2008, the association's membership included 170 law firms in 60 countries, employing 6500 lawyers.^[3] Meritas is a non-profit corporation headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Membership is extended by invitation only, and regular recertification by all firms every three years is a requirement of membership.^[4] There is a staff of about 13 who handle the organization's administration and review referrals to ensure that the organization's standards are maintained.^[5]

Providing Value to Clients^[6]

For businesses with a global growth imperative, the difficulty of finding qualified, local legal counsel around the world means higher expenses and lost opportunities – until they discover Meritas.

Meritas is an established global alliance of independent, full-service law firms that connects businesses to its carefully selected membership. Clients can easily connect with pre-qualified legal expertise worldwide.

Businesses trust the Meritas alliance of worldwide law firms for top-tier quality, convenience, consistency, and value.

Consistent Quality

• Meritas membership is selective and by invitation only. Its extensive due diligence process saves clients time in validating law firm credentials and experience. Firms are regularly assessed and recertified for the breadth of their practice expertise and client satisfaction. Only firms performing under the tenets of Meritas’ uniquely comprehensive Quality Assurance Program are allowed to maintain membership, ensuring that clients receive the same high quality legal work and service from every Meritas firm.

The Meritas Quality Assurance Program includes:

• Rigorous screening before inviting members to join the alliance;
• Continuous monitoring for quality of service, reflected in a Satisfaction Index score, along with client performance feedback that is available online, and;
• Regular recertification to ensure member firms maintain practice capabilities and client satisfaction, and adhere to Meritas policies.

Convenient Access

• Qualified lawyers with skills and experience can be conveniently found through a searchable database on the Meritas Web site (www.Meritas.org), by calling a Meritas law firm directly, or by contacting Meritas headquarters at [phone].

Consistent Service

• Working with Meritas firms is a predictably efficient and positive experience because Meritas selects independent, mid-sized firms that are flexible, accommodating and attentive. All Meritas firms share a positive, consultative approach to business and a common commitment to excellent client service.

Proven Value

• Because Meritas firms are local, independent, and mid-sized, they can offer greater flexibility – customized billing, deep expertise and local rates – while minimizing the chance of conflicts. Meritas clients benefit from the advantage of partner-level expertise, personal service and a more collaborative, customized business approach.

• Meritas law firms are well established in their local markets, with years of valuable practical experience in local laws and business customs. Their working knowledge of local cultural and jurisdictional issues typically exceeds that of most international law firms and facilitates positive and timely outcomes.

Quality. Convenience. Consistency. Value. In today’s changing world economy, the Meritas model provides essential peace-of-mind. Meritas offers businesses global guidance and a proven path to successfully navigate the volatile legal landscape – and keep their business strategy on course.

Membership

See also Category: Meritas members.

Jennifer McPhee, writing for Canadian Lawyer, described Meritas as one of the "more established by-invitation only legal networks that do extensive research before carefully selecting one firm per jurisdiction."^[4] Corporate Counsel Weekly also wrote, "Meritas determines significant business or economic centers where member firms' clients may need local counsel in order to determine where it will have its members,"^[1] and that "...all member firms provide Meritas with quarterly referral reports, listing all Meritas-originated referrals made to and from the firm for the stated period and cooperate in evaluating specific matters."^[1] If a firm does not receive good marks, its membership with the organization may be terminated.^[7]

Officers

• February 2006: Tanna Moore named President and CEO^[8]
• July 2008: Jean-Paul Bignon named as Chair-elect^[9]
• April 2009: Jean-Paul Bignon named as Chair
• April 2010: Judith Lockhart (Carter Ledyard & Milburn LLP, New York, NY) named as Chair-elect
• May 2011: Judith Lockhart (Carter Ledyard & Milburn LLP, New York, NY) named as Chair

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Wright, Karen (April 18, 2007). "Focus: Law Firm Associations". Corporate Counsel Weekly (Bureau of National Affairs). 
2. ^ Firms find benefit in law firm networks, Minnesota Lawyer, Mar 17, 2008 
3. ^ Middlemiss, Jim (April 9, 2008). "Alliance extends reach of regional firms: Meritas tax group even works jointly on files". Financial Post. http://www.financialpost.com/story-printer.html?id=96f40304-b6a1-4b35-95b7-a4d772dd82ad. Retrieved November 14, 2009. ^{[dead link]}
4. ^ ^{a b} McPhee, Jennifer (February 2007). "Report on Law Associations: Going Global". Canadian Lawyer. Archived from the original on February 21, 2007. http://www.canadianlawyermag.com/Report-on-Law-Associations.html. Retrieved November 14, 2009. 
5. ^ Jens I. Drolshammer, Michael Pfeifer, The internationalization of the practice of law, p. 334, http://books.google.com/books?id=tDUis4t-j74C 
6. ^ Hechler, David (August 2009). "Network of Small, Midsize Firms Look for Opportunity in Hard Times". http://www.law.com/jsp/cc/PubArticleCC.jsp?id=1202433294416. 
7. ^ Tromans, R. (October, 2007). "Alternative hits the mainstream". European Lawyer: p. 30. 
8. ^ Garrison-Sprenger, Nicole (March 20, 2006). "Minnesotan to head global legal network". Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. http://twincities.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2006/03/20/daily6.html. Retrieved November 14, 2009. 
9. ^ "People On the Move". Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. July 21, 2008. http://twincities.bizjournals.com/twincities/potm/2008-07-21. Retrieved November 14, 2009. ^{[dead link]}

External links

• Official website