Welcome to the International Alliance of Law Firms: A New Member Orientation
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Your law firm is a member of The International Alliance of Law Firms, a leading association of independent law firms. The Alliance is one of the world’s most highly regarded legal networks and Alliance member firms are among the leading independent firms in their jurisdiction.
Your firm’s membership provides you
In addition to the referrals you may
What Your Firm’s Membership
with outstanding opportunities for
receive from other Alliance member
in The Alliance Means
accessing global legal resources and
firms, an invaluable benefit of
Membership in the Alliance not
can enhance the value you provide to
membership is the confidence you
only provides your firm with an
your clients.
have in knowing that the clients you
unmatched competitive advantage,
refer to top-tier member firms around
it benefits you through:
As business continues to cross borders at increasing rates and companies extend their footprints around the globe, your clients need legal services
the world will be provided the same level of high-quality service that your firm would provide.
in a growing number of jurisdictions.
You may have already discovered the
The Alliance provides members with
myriad of benefits that the Alliance
a trusted network of premier law firms
offers member firms and their lawyers.
that share similar values and a similar
If not, this guide can introduce you
focus on quality through which they
to the resources of the association
can access top-notch legal resources
and provide an overview of the many
for serving clients’ needs around the
ways that the Alliance can help you
globe. Through the Alliance network,
in your practice. If you have any
you can connect clients to the best
questions about the organization,
local market knowledge and expertise
you can:
in more than 40 countries. Moreover, when your clients need legal services in multiple jurisdictions, you can turn to the Alliance to assemble unparalleled multi-jurisdictional expertise and coordinate seamless solutions for cross-border matters,
• Get in touch with one of your firm’s primary Alliance contacts listed in the Directory of Members or on the Alliance website—see www.ialawfirms.com • Contact the Alliance headquarters
transactions or disputes. The ability to
staff at executivedirectors@
offer clients top-notch legal services
ialawfirms.com
practically anywhere on the globe and seamless cross-border solutions are a powerful competitive advantage for you and your firm.
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IN TE R N ATI ON A L A L LIAN CE O F LAW FIRM S N EW M EMBER ORIENTATION
• Extensive global legal resources to complement your service • Opportunities for incoming referrals and a network of top-notch firms to handle your clients’ needs in other jurisdictions • Networking and business development opportunities; and • Continuing education opportunities
Access to Outstanding Global Legal Resources
Membership in the Alliance puts the
Free Advice Policy
Lawyers requesting the temporary use
resources of 60+ full-service law
One of the most important benefits
of office space should state so after
firms, and more than 2200 lawyers
of membership is the access to free
introducing themselves as a lawyer
in 40 countries at your fingertips. In
advice. Any lawyer at an Alliance
at an Alliance member firm. You can
addition, more important than sheer
member firm can contact lawyers at
arrange for office support through the
size, Alliance law firms are excellent
another Alliance member firm free
member firm delegates listed in the
top-tier firms in their jurisdictions.
advice. Free advice includes general
Alliance Directory of Members.
You can seek advice and counsel, share best practices and ideas, and establish rapport with lawyers at these firms in many ways, including:
discussions of the status of law or other issues and should generally take less than 30 minutes. Lawyers requesting free advice should state so after introducing themselves as a lawyer at an Alliance member firm. Requests free advice may be made to a member firm’s delegates listed in the Directory of Members, who would then respond to the request or locate the appropriate person in the firm to respond.
Enhanced Client Service If you have a client with legal needs in another jurisdiction, you can call upon an Alliance member firm with confidence. The Alliance member firms are leaders in their jurisdictions, and you can feel confident that an Alliance member firm will provide your clients with the same level of service that your firm provides. At the same time, there is no requirement to refer a matter to another Alliance firm;
Free Office Policy
you are free to do whatever is in the
Another important benefit of
best interest of the client.
membership is our “Free Office Policy,” which effectively gives you access to over 100 offices worldwide. If you are traveling to another jurisdiction and need the temporary use of an office, a meeting room, or office equipment, you can turn to an Alliance member firm. The “Free Office Policy” states, “Member firms will make available, within reason, to
Our broad international coverage provides you and your clients with access to quality lawyers “on the ground” in most major commercial jurisdictions. All member firms are indigenous, locally-based law firms. As a result, they have developed the expertise and contacts most necessary in their jurisdictions.
all lawyers at member firms: offices, conference rooms, telephones, fax machines, and secretarial support.”
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While remaining independent, each member law firm shares a remarkable dedication to client service. Our methods for promoting quality include but are not limited to:
Service Standards
Rigorous Recruiting Procedures
The Alliance holds four conferences
Each Alliance member adheres to
Member firms are admitted only after
annually, including three regional
a general philosophy of providing
substantial due diligence. Potential
meetings and an Annual General
excellent service, as well as to
members are evaluated on quality,
Meeting. In addition, there are
specific Service Standards in serving
responsiveness, ability to provide a
four quarterly conference calls for
both clients and other members.
full range of legal services, reputation,
each region, which provide another
Our Service Standards set forth
technology, management structure,
opportunity for firms to get to know
procedures that member firms put in
ethical standards, conflict-avoidance
one another. There are also several
place to ensure rapid and effective
procedures, size, court admissions
active practice groups, including
responses to requests from clients
and other criteria.
and from members, consistency and
• Employment Group
well-managed handling at matters,
Membership Compliance Review
and effective uses of technology for
Membership in The Alliance is not
delivering client service. Compliance
permanent. The Alliance employs an
• International Tax Group
to the Service Standards is necessary
annual membership review process to
• International Trusts & Estates Group
in order for clients and members to
ensure members remain in compliance
retain confidence in the consistency
with member requirements.
and high level of service of all Alliance member firms. It is imperative that each firm lawyer and firm professional who handles Alliance matters be familiar with and comply
Networking Opportunities Alliance member firms are predisposed to working together and frequently turn to fellow member
• Intellectual Property & Information Technology Group
• Latin America Group • Litigation Group • Real Estate Group • Law Firm Marketing Directors Group
firms for referrals and joint business
These groups may hold stand-alone
development opportunities. By
meetings during the year or meet at
The Alliance Service Standards are
participating in Alliance Practice
industry and professional conferences.
outlined the Alliance website in the
Groups, conferences, events and other
He Alliance calendar of events on
Members-Only section.
networking opportunities, members
the Alliance website provides more
can build trusted relationships with
information on events or group calls.
with the Alliance Service Standards.
member firm lawyers around the world and draw on the Alliance for business development.
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IN TE R N ATI ON A L A L LIAN CE O F LAW FIRM S N EW M EMBER ORIENTATION
Tracking Referrals
To communicate the advantages
Best Practice Programs
Being able to track and measure
of membership to your clients and
Best Practices programs seek to
Alliance referrals is a requirement
prospects, you can incorporate the
actively support Alliance quality
of members in the Alliance. If you
Alliance logo into your marketing
objectives for member firms by
send or receive an Alliance referral,
materials using the resources
developing, in consultation with
be sure to report it to your firm’s
provided in the Members Only
members, best practices on specific
delegates and if applicable, enter the
portion of the Alliance website. These
topics. Available on the Alliance
matter in your referral tracking system
include case studies and examples
website, the following best practices
with the appropriate Alliance referral
of how other members promote their
and case studies have been compiled:
source attribution.
Alliance membership. Examples of
Pitching New Business The access to global legal resources and to international service capabilities through the Alliance network of member firms is a powerful competitive advantage that member firms and their lawyers can market to clients and potential clients. In proposals or discussions with prospective clients, citing your membership enhances the perception of your firm’s international capabilities. Your membership offers
joint client pitch presentations are also available for members when they are developing a multi-jurisdictional
• Best Practices in Referral Tracking • Best Practices for Becoming Ranked in Chambers and Legal 500
pitch with other member firms. Please
• Best Practices for Proposals
visit the Marketing Resources section
• Using Your Alliance Membership to
under Members Only on the Alliance website.
Generate Local Media Attention • Case Study: Winning the Jabil ERISA Contract • Coordinating Legal Counsel in the United States and India • Partnering to Provide Health and Welfare Benefits Counsel
clients access to quality legal services worldwide. In seeking new clients with multi-jurisdictional matters, you can also collaborate with other Alliance member firms in your business development efforts.
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The Alliance Resources
The Alliance has many resources to communicate the organization’s initiatives and to promote the association. These include:
Website
E-Bulletin
Located at www.ialawfirms.com,
All members receive our monthly
the Alliance website contains up-to-
e-newsletter. This includes news,
date, comprehensive information
features and tips to connect members
on member firms, publications and
to the many resources and benefits
resources. It can be an excellent
of membership in the Alliance. If you
resource for connecting your clients to
are not receiving the e-bulletin, please
our resources.
contact us at executivedirector@
The Alliance Member Portal The Members Only section on the
Guides to Doing Business
Alliance website provides easy
The Alliance hosts various Guides
access to information and resources
to Doing Business on our website,
for members to learn about and
under “Client Resources” on our
take advantage of the benefits of
website. These are among the most
membership, including:
sought after resources on the Alliance
• Conference and Events • Practice Groups • Marketing and Business Development Resources
website. Compiled by member firms, the guides provide comprehensive overviews of the legal and business environments in many jurisdictions worldwide. If your firm produces
• Publications
a Doing Business Guide for your
• Resources for Alliance delegates,
jurisdiction, please make sure we
Marketing Professionals and more. • Directory of Members and Alliance Brochure These materials are available on the Alliance website and can be printed for easy office reference. The directory provides details for every firm including contact details for each member firm delegate. The brochure is oriented to clients and potential referral sources. It explains the benefits of Alliance firms. 6
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IN TE R N ATI ON A L A L LIAN CE O F LAW FIRM S N EW M EMBER ORIENTATION
have this in soft copy to host on our site.
How You Can Maximize the Benefits of Membership
Consult this summary checklist of
• Collaborate with other member
Accessing the Alliance
opportunities available to you through
firms on business development
Members-Only Portion
the Alliance when developing your
efforts.
of our Website
personal marketing or professional
• Seek free advice from another
Many online resources described
development plan.
member firm on an issue outside
in this guide are available for
Send the Alliance news of your firm
your jurisdiction.
members on our website. They can
or any publications your firm prepares
• Take advantage of the facilities
so that these can be highlighted on
available at other member firm
the Alliance website.
offices when you travel on business.
Consider using other Alliance member
• Talk to your firm’s delegates about
firms when you have a referral or
participating in:
when you need to call on another firm
– An Alliance practice group
for assistance.
– An Alliance regional meeting – A quarterly regional conference call – Updating your firm’s Guide to Doing Business – An Alliance committee • Participate in meetings of Alliance member firm lawyers when gatherings of members at other legal and industry organizations are announced. • Visit other member firms when you are in their jurisdiction. • Include the Alliance logo on your
be accessed with a user ID and password. If you do not have a user ID and password, please contact us at executivedirector@ialawfirms.com for more information. Diversity Vision Statement The Alliance and its member firms value diversity. We respect and embrace all people, including those of different ages, cultures, ethnicities, genders, nationalities, physical abilities, races, religious beliefs and sexual orientation. We value the experience, knowledge and talents of all individuals in our firms and in our communities. We support and promote non-discriminatory practices that advance equal treatment of, and opportunity for, all people, and encourage meaningful participation
e-signature block, on your business
by a broad cross-section of people in
cards or on your firm website
our firms and in our communities.
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Alliance Headquarters 527 Marquette Avenue South, Suite 1925 Minneapolis, MN 55402 USA Tel. +1 612 454 5242 Email: ExecutiveDirector@ialawfirms.com ialawfirms.com