Meritas Law Firms Worldwide

Meritas is a global alliance of business law firms that was founded in 1990. [Wright, K. (2007, April 18). Focus: Law Firm Associations. "Corporate Counsel Weekly", 22, 128] According to the Bureau of National Affairs' "Corporate Counsel Weekly" newsletter, the association's membership includes 179 business law firms encompassing 5,800 lawyers from around the world. [Wright, K. (2007, April 18). Focus: Law Firm Associations. "Corporate Counsel Weekly", 22, 128] 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. [McPhee, J. (2007, February). Going global. "Canadian Lawyer", 33-34]

Meritas is one of a number of international alliances [ [http://www.hg.org/lawfirms-assocint.html International Law Firms and Lawyers Associations ] ] that small to mid-sized independent law firms may join as an alternative to opening an office in another jurisdiction or merging with a larger multi-national law firm. [ Thornton, E. (2007, May 31). Networks: Opportunity knocks. "Legal Week". See also http://www.legalweek.com/Articles/1029130/Networks+Opportunity+knocks.html ] In his article, "Networks: Opportunity knocks," Ed Thornton writes, "the sales pitch of the global law firm networks is by now familiar to many - independent firms do not have to be swallowed up by the major global players if they are to respond to the globalisation of their clients; they can join an alliance and refer work to firms in other jurisdictions when necessary." [ [http://www.legalweek.com/Articles/1029130/Networks+Opportunity+knocks.html Networks: Opportunity knocks - Legal Week, legal news, comment, events and legal jobs ] ]

Meritas, according to "Canadian Lawyer" reporter Jennifer McPhee, is one of the "more established by-invitation only legal networks that do extensive research before carefully selecting one firm per jurisdiction." [McPhee, J. (2007, February). Going global. "Canadian Lawyer", 33. See also http://www.canadianlawyermag.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=79&Itemid=18] In her article, Law Firm Associations, Karen Wright writes, "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." [Wright, K. (2007, April 18). Focus: Law Firm Associations. "Corporate Counsel Weekly", 22, 126.] Furthermore, "...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." [Wright, K. (2007, April 18). Focus: Law Firm Associations. "Corporate Counsel Weekly", 22, 127] If a firm does not receive good marks, its membership with the organization may be terminated. [Tromans, R. (2007, October). Alternative hits the mainstream. "European Lawyer", 30.]

Meritas regularly publishes guides to assist businesses expanding into new markets. Meritas has published guides on the following topics: "Doing Business in Canada," "Doing Business in Asia," "Doing Business in Latin America and the Caribbean," "Intellectual Property Laws in Europe," "Intellectual Property Laws in Latin America," "Company Law in Europe," and "Real Estate in Europe." [ [http://www.meritas.org/inner.asp?link=46&SearchNameID=undefined MERITAS Law Firms Worldwide ] ]

Leadership

*Tanna Moore was named President and CEO on February 1, 2006. [ Stalker, J. (2006, February 24). Meritas law alliance names Moore CEO. "The Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal", pp. 11.]
*Kenneth Kallish is Chairman of the Board. [ [http://www.mindengross.com/lawyers/kallish_profile.asp Minden Gross LLP ] ]

References

Further reading

* [http://www.legalweek.com/Articles/1029130/Networks+Opportunity+knocks.html "Legal Week"]
* [http://www.lawtimesnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=547&Itemid=82 "Law Times"]
* [http://www.canadianlawyermag.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=79&Itemid=18 "Canadian Lawyer"]
* [http://www.meritas.org/inner.asp?link=43&SearchNameID= "Canadian Lawyer"]

External links

* [http://www.meritas.org/ Meritas Law Firms Worldwide]
* [http://www.meritas.org/inner.asp?link=43&SearchNameID= Resources for Businesses]