Legal awards
2020
WINNERS PACKAGES BOOKLET
Welcome To the 2020 Legal Awards hosted by ACQUISITION INTERNATIONAL Launched in 2015, each year the prestigious Legal Awards recognise and acknowledge the outstanding works conducted by the world’s leading law firms, legal specialists and legal support services. We have considered the 2020 shortlist and selected the best that this constantly evolving, and ever-competitive industry has to offer. You can now be sure that you are amongst these esteemed and dedicated pioneers. Acquisition International launched in 2010, and has, over the years, evolved into a business title that professionals rely on to bring them the business know, ledge, insight and news. As the voice of modern business, here at AI we are dedicated to delivering vital updates to our corporate readers so that they remain ahead of the curve.
The Packages Congratulations for making it to this stage of the competition. As a victor, Acquisition International is delighted to offer you our basic press announcement items at no charge! This includes a completely complimentary entry in our Legal Awards directory, and a copy of the official press release. As well as offering these items, we have also designed several commercial packages, each hosted it’s own set of unique benefits to enhance your award and offer you access to our widely distributed and highly-anticipated awards publication. Please review at your leisure.
Legal awards
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Teir 1 Package 2,795 GBP / 3,675 USD Our highly sought-after front cover position is available should you wish to become the face of our 2020 Legal Awards. Offering the largest, most-viewed
- Main front cover image and headline - 4 pages of editorial - 4 crystal trophies - 1 wall plaque - Personalised digital certificate - Personalised digital logo - 8 Page e-magazine dedicated solely to you - 50 printed copies of your 8page e-magazine - Article Frame
pages of the magazine, the Tier 1 Package is the ideal choice should you wish to put your brand out there to Acquisition International’s vast readers, both strengthening your brand recognition and enhancing your well-deserved success. A four-page editorial inclusion will complimentary your front cover feature, enhancing your coverage as an industry leader, and effectively reaching out to our readers to demonstrate your winning formula and brand success. You will have full access to our experienced editorial experts who will work with you to build your copy which will be tailored to your marketing efforts throughout 2020 and onward. Interviews are available upon request if you’re looking for a more personal approach. Also included in this package are a selection of stylised and bespoke items that will assist in your marketing efforts including personalised trophies, online communications tools and dedicated reprints of your editorial inclusion. Each comes with its own benefits and uses, and should you need to hear more about the incredible levels of exposure this package can offer then please do reach out to the programme coordinator.
Kuntz Advocacia E Consultoria Juridica Christiano Kuntz
Eduardo Kuntz (left) Christiano Kuntz (right) - Son and Father
“Kuntz have established itself, by means of its through their quickness, efficiency and accuracy in obtaining tangible results, as Brazil’s most sought-after white-collar criminal defense law firms. Greatly expanding their performance, also, Kuntz Advocacia e Consultoria Jurídica at the corporate market, with its commercial law area, the firm’s success seams not to have a cloud forecast in tis future.”
Kuntz Advocacia e Consultoria Jurídica São Paulo´s view office
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ounded in 2012, Kuntz is a law firm boutique focused on providing strategic legal advice and services in criminal, civil and corporate areas. Taking on only a few highly complex cases at a time, which require delicate and tailor-made solutions, they work to achieve the best possible results for any client. The firm, in the words of one of its funding partners, Eduardo Kuntz, is focus on creating bespoke solutions for its clients, achieving, thus, great success and, therefore, is always aiming to work toward this goal.
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Under the guidance and coordination of its founding partner, Eduardo Kuntz, the firm’s criminal area is well equipped to assist both individuals as well as legal entities in a wide variety of issues. In either defending then or assisting the prosecution, Kuntz is able, not only, in simply following up police reports, but as well as understanding and acting in more complexed corporate operations.
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With an extremely agile, technical, aggressive and tireless team, nothing less than the best possible result is acceptable by Kuntz’s standards. By obtained numerous pioneering results, the firm has taken part in some of the Country’s most relevant cases and their view of the law have guide, thus, the country’s highest courts’ decisions. Considering the all sizes companies’ intention in reducing their financial costs as well as their mismanagement risk, Kuntz team is also hands on to assist them in better implement their criminal compliance programs.
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Regarding the aim in the best possible results for its clients, throughout tailor-made solutions, Kuntz’s team understands that the goal achievement comes down to four basic principles: quickness in the decision-making process; accuracy in such decisions; responsibility to never leave any stones unturned; and, as a result, tangible results. Often more like a marathon rather than a hundred-meter sprint, the law arena requires a steady hand that can also work time efficiently. From gathering evidence and putting the case together, to presenting it convincingly in the courtroom, all Kuntz’s lawyers implement its principles.
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Kuntz’s team is composed by only a few lawyers, but they are working together for a long time. This proximity, by the continuously internal communication as well as collaboration, has brought them a unique understanding of their strengths, ensuring, as a result, that their work is irreproachable. Also, by establishing solid partnerships with larger, in other areas more specialized law firms, its team is, not only, well equipped, but used to deal with a far range of legal matters & issues.
Best White-Collar Criminal Defense Law Firm – Brazil With a highly trained and well-matched team of experienced lawyers, the Brazilian legal firm, Kuntz Advocacia e Consultoria Jurídica, is the country’s best white-collar criminal defense provider. Dedicated to finding the best solutions, we have examined the services of the firm following its recognition at the Acquisition International’s Legal Awards 2019.
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Ultimately, Kuntz have established itself, by means of its through their quickness, efficiency and accuracy in obtaining tangible results, as Brazil’s most sought-after white-collar criminal defense law firms. Greatly expanding their performance, also, at the corporate market, with its commercial law area, the firm’s success seams not to have a cloud forecast in tis future.
“Taking on only a few highly complex cases at a time, which require delicate and tailor-made solutions, they work to achieve the best possible results for any client.”
Eduardo Kuntz
More than profitability, the team understand that creating a reputation of credibility and reliability is equally important to maintain such high standards of work. Since the firm’s inception, they have continued to work with dignity and dedication, and this latest recognition of their efforts is just a small reaping of the seeds they have sown.
Four decades, two generations and one specialty: FINDING SOLUTIONS! Marco Antonio David - Commercial Law Partner
“...the law arena requires a steady hand that can also work time efficiently. From gathering evidence and putting the case together, to presenting it convincingly in the courtroom, all Kuntz’s lawyers implement its principles.”
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Contact: Eduardo Kuntz Website: www.kuntzadvocacia.com.br
2018 M&A AWARDS
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Eduardo Kuntz
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Credit Intel
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Debt Collectors of the Year 2019
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2020 Legal Awards WINNER
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Supporting clients around the world, Credit Intel is recognised as a polite and discreet debt collection service committed to reducing the hassle and stress from recovering monies owed. We profile the firm to find out more about how it came to be recognised in this year’s competitive AI Legal Awards.
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nternationally renowned, Credit Intel is a professional debt collection firm operating in South Africa with group companies under the name Knight Breier Associates based in the United Kingdom, Netherlands and Germany. Together these entities are able to offer a variety of services including the collection of outstanding debts internationally, both before and during legal stage, from and for individuals, business and governments. Any client working with Credit Intel enjoys a superior level of service. The firm’s dedicated staff possess a deep level of commitment towards helping clients with their needs. They treat everyone, including those that owe with dignity and respect.
With a unique internal culture based around creative entitlement and responsibility, Credit Intel is able to offer staff the opportunity to adapt and tailor their services to meet the individual needs of each specific client and debtor. The result is a flexible process that benefits everyone. Specifically, for clients, the firm is able to reduce bad debt, increase profitability, boost cash flow and improve the quality of their debtors book. With a plethora of new laws and regulations to contend with internationally, many debt collection firms are struggling in the current market, but Credit Intel’s simple yet effective approach has earned it renown from both its clients and industry peers over the years. Unique to the market, Credit Intel has established itself as a key player in the world’s debt collection space thanks to its use of psychological, behavioural and encouragement factors in collecting debts. This combined with a highly automated system based on algorithms, has given the company a clear advantage over its competitors. Overall, having achieved strong growth over the past two years, Credit Intel has exciting plans to enhance its current success moving forward. The firm’s strategy over the medium and long term is to continue to set the technological pace, add more services to its portfolio, together with expansion into international markets. All of these developments will be conducted alongside a focus on remaining compliant with the ever-evolving debt collection laws, ensuring that clients can rest assured that they are in safe hands when they work with Credit Intel.
Company: Credit Intel Telephone Number: +27764777288 Web Address: www.creditintel.co.za
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Teir 2 Package 595 GBP / 2,095 USD – only 1 remaining! - Supporting front cover image and headline - Two pages of editorial (double page spread) - 2 crystal trophies - 1 wall plaque - Personalised digital certificate - Personalised digital logo - 4 Page e-magazine dedicated solely to you - 20 printed copies of your 4-page e-magazine
The Tier 2 Package is the perfect support to our front cover inclusion. Providing you with a cover support image and headline so our readers know exactly where to turn to. Complimented with a double-page spread, and various stylised items to enhance your award, this is a fantastic option for anyone looking for strong coverage.
Best Employment Law Firm – Greece & Award for Client Service Excellence 2019
Lolas - Karakasilioti & Associates Law Firm Lolas – Karakasilioti & Associates Law Firm are an innovative, committed and compelling group of lawyers who have cultivated a reputation as problem-solvers. Following their double win in AI’s Legal Awards, we caught up with Panagiotis Lolas, head of corporate and employment practice, to learn more about the firm’s work.
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n years since the firm’s humble beginnings, LKALF has established itself as a ground-breaking and diverse law practice. Built on the idea that lawyering should be a high-quality experience, the team at the firm constantly and inexhaustibly pursue client needs through a personalised approach to work. Founder and owner Panagiotis Lolas tells us what it means to deliver service as part of the firm.
For this relatively small team of innovative legal minds, never giving up is key to their success. With out-of-the-box thinking and determination to get the best results possible, LKALF constantly strive to solve the unsolvable and win landmark cases. Successfully handling even the most extremely demanding cases, the team see their legal work as more
“For high-value cases, we can arrange no-win no-fee, pre-funded Litigation Funding. Our senior in-house legal counsel manages such corporate cases, especially insolvency, re-structure, and turnaround.”
This global reach and exceptional quality means that many organisations use CCICM as an extension of their credit control function. Frequently, they ask the firm to use a ‘soft touch’ and simply bring the outstanding accounts up to date, while enabling the trading relationship to continue as normal.
Complex disputes can often be resolved by CCICM’s highly-trained team of skilled negotiators, using sophisticated strategies. In particular, according to the circumstances of each client account, they understand escalating the intensity of the arrears collection process, as Carl explains in more detail.
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We work incredibly hard to drive standards forwards and, while we and our clients know that, it is fantastic that our peers have also appreciated it once more.
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“CCICM is the undisputed market leader in health and social care collections, with 80% of UK NHS Trusts, Health Boards, and private hospitals as our clients. In the Higher Education sector, we act for many universities and colleges, recovering loans, tuition fees, and accommodation debts from UK and overseas students. In short, securing your payment in advance of other competing creditors, is our aim.”
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“In conclusion, CCICM would simply like to thank all who voted for us again. We work incredibly hard to drive standards forwards and, while we and our clients know that, it is fantastic that our peers have also appreciated it once more. We look forward to growing with confidence, hopefully winning even more awards, and showcasing the benefits of our best-value services!”
Company: CCI Credit Management Ltd Name: Carl Hackman (Director) Address: The CCI Centre, Snowdonia Business Park, Porthmadog LL48 6LD, United Kingdom. Telephone: +44 (0) 1766 772288 Web Address: www.ccicm.com
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of a responsibility than a profession. To hear Panagiotis talk about the firm’s work, one can understand his level of passion and enthusiasm.
Overall, the firm’s legal prowess is down to their ethical and committed practice that seeks to help everyone in society. Radically changing the employment landscape across Greece, LKALF’s work is the result of a team philosophy that is completely synchronised and dedicated to ensuring the very best outcomes for clients across the country.
Contact: Panagiotis Lolas Website: https://www.lolaslegal.gr/
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As Carl looks ahead, he believes CCICM will succeed even more, and is keen to thank supporters for their part in the firm retaining such a prestigious accolade.
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“We, lawyers, have the privilege to be entrusted with our clients’ business. This privilege, this ‘relationship of entrustment’ is the biggest asset for a lawyer…it is our duty to ‘educate’ our clients, to communicate to them this new aspect of lawyering as a responsibility, rather than a profession. Additionally, social responsibility must become a strategic choice for each law firm: we must recognize our social 'debt' and return to society the confidence it shows us. At the same time, our social profile must become an important asset, reinforcing our corporate identity.”
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“Clients can pursue legal claims globally using CCICM’s litigation service. We manage your whole case, from Issue through to Enforcement, maintaining a positive dialogue to substantially increase recovery ratios.
“At CCICM we are naturally delighted to have gone one better than last year – by winning this even more prestigious award, as nominated again by our industry peers globally. Going from the UK’s ‘Best International’ agency in 2018 to ‘Best Global Supplier of Recovery Services’ this year clearly shows we are consistently the world leader, which is a fantastic achievement in a fiercely-competitive market such as ours.
Successfully representing corporate clients ranging from multinational corporations to public sector entities, LKALF’s corporate practice are completely focused on contributing daily to any clients needs in handling complex legal issues in any operations. By concentrating every effort on helping clients with legal issues, the team have managed to develop and meet clients strategic objectives.
“The immediate result of our legal actions was the payment of a public expenditure that totalled the amount of 115 million euros. Most importantly, however, is the fact that the aforementioned legal outcome was applied to all public health professionals, represented by our firm or not. Hence, we are extremely proud that our legal actions benefitted and had a considerably favourable impact to the general public.”
Regarding Trade Credit Insurance for export businesses, CCICM has worked in partnership with major, global providers for many years, so knows this work is rarely straightforward. Carl says their solutions range from financial re-structuring, expert reports, negotiated settlements, or litigation.
As testimony to the success of its global approach, CCICM has won one of Acquisition International Magazine’s coveted International Finance Awards for the second year running. Carl explains the importance of winning again and how it proves his team’s dedication to excellence.
“To act ‘above and beyond the call of duty’; to implement new ideas, initiatives and practices; to explore unknown client needs, and inspire our clients with new dimensions of our services, always trying to add an ‘wow’ factor to our service. Additionally, we strongly believe that Legal Service is an interpersonal process; it is human communication.”
At the same time, LKALF are extremely proud of their award-winning employment practice. The team have been instrumental in radically changing and forming the legal landscape of employment in the Greek public sector. With excellent legal action and court representation of numerous health professionals, the team have managed to compel the authorities to drastically change the salary scheme of the public sector with the adoption of new laws. The firm proved vital to these changes, as Panagiotis reveals the extent of their success.
“Our ICE Partnership has 3,000 people in 90 offices and in 130 countries. Clients can rest assured that the ICE solution is always the best available in each country. Our partnership is comprised exclusively of the largest and most highly-regarded agencies. Each member works to the highest compliance standards from a centralised IT platform.”
CERTIFICATE Some of CCICM’s International and Overseas teams with our award
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Tier 3 Package 995 GBP / 1,305 USD - Front cover logo - One full page of editorial - Crystal trophy - Personalised digital certificate - Personalised digital logo
Our mid-level promotional entry package provides fantastic coverage in this years’ magazine, as well as offering a great means to promote your success both physically and digitally. Your company logo will be featured on the cover of this years’ magazine, providing great exposure to our readers.
Company: Soteris Pittas & Co LLC Contact: Marios Pittas Website: www.pittaslegal.com
Soteris Pittas & Co LLC
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Best Commercial Law Firm - Cyprus
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Boutique in size only, Soteris Pittas & Co LLC has the expertise and international reach to be able to offer its clients the service and support they need to ensure the smooth running of their business. We profile the firm to find out more about how it came to win in this year’s competitive AI Legal Awards.
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Award Title ocusing on the areas of law related to business activity Soteris Pittas & Co is dedicated to providing its clients with outstanding, highly personalized, legal representation.
As part of this focus, the dedicated lawyers and associates of the firm their combined skills-set and knowledge can provide comprehensive legal solutions according to the clients’ particular business needs, requirements and objectives. This expert team is committed to representing clients at all stages of disputes, including negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and litigation, in order to secure just compensation and legal vindication. To ensure it can offer a full service, Soteris Pittas & Co boasts a petite, but very experienced team in the M &A department. This expert team can provide due diligence reports, issue legal opinions, review and draft various corporate documents depending on the deal in question i.e., shareholders agreements, memorandum and articles, investment agreements, pledges, escrow agreements, SPAs etc.,
The firm also has wide experience in complex transactions including escrow, both with the monetary and documentary elements. With close links and strong associations with reputable audit firms, private equity managers, and fiduciaries in Cyprus, Russia and the former CIS countries, Soteris Pittas & Co can collaborate with its industry peers to offer clients international support and the service they need in today’s global corporate market.
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Seeking to build upon its success, moving forward Soteris Pittas & Co will continue to work hard to provide them with top quality legal representation alongside the personal touch characteristic of a boutique law firm.
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Tier 4 Package 595 GBP / 782 USD Our entry-level point is the perfect option if you’re working under a budget. Providing a full page of editorial in this years’ magazine, and a couple of
- One full page of editorial - Crystal trophy - Personalised digital logo
items that are personalised to your success, the Tier 4 Package is here to ensure you make the most of your award even with budgetary restraints.
Poswa Incorporated Best Black-Owned Commercial Law Firm - South Africa
2020 Legal Awards WINNER
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Partnering with clients across the corporate and public spectrum in South Africa, Poswa Incorporated is able to offer award-winning legal services that exceed clients needs and expectations. Having recognised the firm in the 2019 AI Legal Awards, as the best black-owned Commercial Law Firm in South Africa we profile it to find out more about the services it provides.
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stablished in the year 2010, Poswa Incorporated is a progressive corporate commercial law firm providing services across all aspects of commercial law, including the structuring of transactions, negotiation and drafting of agreements, legal opinions and legal due diligences. The firm also offers conveyancing and notarial expertise, litigation and dispute resolution through commercial and civil spheres, forensic investigative and advisory services as well as labour and employment law services. As a wholly black-owned corporate commercial law firm, Poswa Incorporated promotes its ethos of Brilliance, Action and Heart when rendering legal services to its clients. In 2020 the firm will be entering its second decade within the business arena and through its high value transactions and deal closures has proven to be a consistent and credible legal services provider, within the South African landscape. Through specialist insight and personalised service, the firm is able to provide tailor made legal solutions that broaden business horizons. As a result, clients can enjoy the personalised solutions they expect from a
boutique law firm combined with the knowledge and industry expertise when they partner with Poswa Incorporated. Supporting and partnering with clients across South Africa, Poswa Incorporated’s head office is situated in Sandton, Johannesburg with its provincial footprint in both Durban and Bloemfontein. Thanks to its national reach, the firm is able to service clients across the country’s corporate landscape, ranging from state owned entities to small, medium and large prominent corporate entities. All of these diverse clients are united by the exceptional standard of service they receive when they select Poswa Incorporated as their legal services partner. Thanks to its experienced, diverse and dedicated team of Attorneys the firm is able to provide clients with quality and valuable services they can rely on. Fundamentally, Poswa Incorporated is on a mission to become South Africa’s preferred corporate commercial law firm of choice for clients. Contact: Nima Gagjee Website: http://www.poswainc.co.za/
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Individual items Crystal Trophy: 295 GBP / 385 USD Wall Plaque: 295 GBP / 385 USD Personalised digital logo: 250 GBP / 325 USD Personalised digital certificate: 250 GBP / 325 USD Full page of editorial: 295 GBP / 385 USD
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Best Legal Technology Consultancy - the Netherlands
2020
Only going into business two years ago, the founding team at L-IME have gone from strength to strength within the legal technology business. Entering a new field of expertise can be daunting, but a formidable force indeed has grown from those humble beginnings.
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n an ever-changing world, where technology continues to grow in power and ubiquity, it’s difficult to view it as a fad that will just ‘go away’. This might have been the case for the Netherland’s law firms, were it not for the efforts of Eva Peeters and Marjan Hermkes. Sharing the same core values of independence, honesty, integrity, professionalism and enthusiasm, they both make up the driving force behind L-IME. L-IME, in turn, helps law firms of all sizes to move into a new and exciting world of technology. Ultimately, it’s not an easy landscape to break onto. In their experience, lawyers tend towards a ‘wait-and-see’ attitude, especially when it comes to innovation in their business. That being said, movement towards the digital, especially following the financial crisis, has begun. L-IME specialises in using the optimisation of internal services to instead act as a first step into the world of legal technology. A major advantage that L-IME has is a lack of affiliation to any one vendor of technological solutions. What they offer is not based on fulfilling some quota, but on what best suits their client at that time. This fiercely kept independence is exemplified by the creation of a vendor comparison site (www.it-kieswijzer.nl) to show good, honest comparisons between the different options available to their clients.
Another advantage that Eva and Marjan bring is a considerable amount of experience from both the technical side and the legal perspective. Understanding the mentality of a law firm from years of experience, means that solutions are focused on satisfying the enduser. This ‘inside-out’ approach means that any changes consulted upon are not met with resistance and fought but welcomed and accepted as part of a process. Both Eva and Marjan act not only as a project manager for the change of system, but also as a manager of the internal change. This ensures that the processes put in place are able to satisfy any potential concerns on the part of company and employees, which leads to encourage further investigation into the world of legal technology. This is shown most successfully by the positive reception from their first few clients who kick-started the business. This spawned positive reception from other companies and a willingness to learn and explore what technology had to offer an industry that traditionally would not be willing to examine such options.
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So, what’s next for the world of L-IME? In the future, there are exciting plans for expansion beyond the worlds of legal companies. Already an accountancy firm has joined a formidable list of clients, with notary offices being interested in the work that L-IME offer too. It’s an exciting development which Eva and Marjan are already consider the results of. Currently, the company is small – with just Eva and Marjan - but there is consideration being given to establishing a resource pool of high-level trainers if the workload becomes too heavy. The aim would be the same for both – the introduction of innovating legal technology that perfectly matches their needs – and facilitated by the third.
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L-IME is a fast-growing company, with enormous potential to grow even more as time goes on. With an attention to detail in their bespoke services, L-IME looks set to continue trail-blaze for its clients. With L-IME, Eva and Marjan wanted to challenge the status quo with two women in a male dominated area being refreshingly honest about IT and innovation. Sharing the same ambition and the same goals makes for an exciting mix, one that has made for success.
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Contact: Eva Peeters Company: L-IME Telephone: 0031 6 44 99 53 27 Website: https://www.l-ime.nl/
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