Page 7 - MDPs - Chapter 14 - Multidisciplinayr Practice and Partnershps
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services, investigative services, and related services. In total there are more than 40 different services
offered. The members are the companies, firms or networks of firms. Each group has placed detailed
information on the members and on each professional into a database. With a few clicks, each
professional can choose among 100,000 professionals in 140 countries. The firm, company or network
pays an annual fee. The fee covers the technology, which is also supplied by Microsoft, internal networking
programs and external marketing.
As an association of independent entities, a board of directors sets general policies with which each
member must comply. In addition, WSG members regularly meet based upon their overlapping interests.
The multimillion-dollar marketing budget is used for joint client seminars and publications.
The members’ principal competition for projects is the Big 5. As a result of the reputations of the
members, existing contacts with major clients and governments WSG has gained a reputation for having
the best independent firms. In recent years, members feel that WSG has made it possible for them to
acquire a disproportionate amount of work for its members.
While PSI and WSG are fictional, the building blocks for such organizations are already in the market
place.’3 These services include matching services such as Elance.com and First Law, UK.4 There are also
associated service providers (ASPs) that permit professionals to create secure extranets with their clients.5
Combining these functions with those of a traditional professional network would result in a
multidisciplinary organization.
PSI, a highly sophisticated directory, is an example of a possible Independent Multidisciplinary
Organization (I-MDO) where independent professionals pay a fee to a third party to match their needs
with the expertise of other professionals. To locate one or more professionals from the database to meet
their needs, consumers, both individuals and small businesses complete a form. The needs are matched
with those of professionals who would like to handle the matter. The professionals are notified by email
when there is a match.
WSG is the Relationship Multidisciplinary Organization (R-MDO)6 where the service providers themselves
created an association to systematically establish relationships among a number of networks, firms,
companies and, most importantly, the professionals themselves. Membership is limited by the type of
service and by jurisdictions depending upon the nature of the services.
The result is that all types of professional services are available through WSG. In this way each professional
can easily locate end assemble a team by choosing the exact professional to meet clients’ needs from
firms with whom they have a relationship. The MDO extends the concept of a professional networking,
which is common in the legal profession,7 to other service providers. Combining the traditional functions
3 One can find them in a number of industries such as steel, oil and gas, and automobile parts. Matching services for expert witnesses have been
around for a number of years through TASA. Each witness and each person seeking a witness pays a fee. Serengeti, Inc. (http//www serengetius
com) intends to create a location to purchase 50 services. Vorhees, Am. Law., Apr. 2000 at 3028.
4 First Law, http://www.firstlawsolicitors.co.uk.
5Niku, http //www niku com.
6 Freidheim, The Trillion-Dollar Enterprise (Perseus Books 1998) uses this term to define a network of networks or alliances.
7 Martindale Hubbell publishes a list of networks, alliances and affiliations in its directories. Updated Background Information Report and Request
for Comment, May 12, 2000 (http://www.abanet.org/cpr/febmdp.html). Martindale Hubbell, Volumes I, II and III, International Law Firms. HG.org
— the Comprehensive Law and Government site (http//www.hq or9) has a similar list. McGarry, Practicing Law in the 21“Century Will Require
2
offered. The members are the companies, firms or networks of firms. Each group has placed detailed
information on the members and on each professional into a database. With a few clicks, each
professional can choose among 100,000 professionals in 140 countries. The firm, company or network
pays an annual fee. The fee covers the technology, which is also supplied by Microsoft, internal networking
programs and external marketing.
As an association of independent entities, a board of directors sets general policies with which each
member must comply. In addition, WSG members regularly meet based upon their overlapping interests.
The multimillion-dollar marketing budget is used for joint client seminars and publications.
The members’ principal competition for projects is the Big 5. As a result of the reputations of the
members, existing contacts with major clients and governments WSG has gained a reputation for having
the best independent firms. In recent years, members feel that WSG has made it possible for them to
acquire a disproportionate amount of work for its members.
While PSI and WSG are fictional, the building blocks for such organizations are already in the market
place.’3 These services include matching services such as Elance.com and First Law, UK.4 There are also
associated service providers (ASPs) that permit professionals to create secure extranets with their clients.5
Combining these functions with those of a traditional professional network would result in a
multidisciplinary organization.
PSI, a highly sophisticated directory, is an example of a possible Independent Multidisciplinary
Organization (I-MDO) where independent professionals pay a fee to a third party to match their needs
with the expertise of other professionals. To locate one or more professionals from the database to meet
their needs, consumers, both individuals and small businesses complete a form. The needs are matched
with those of professionals who would like to handle the matter. The professionals are notified by email
when there is a match.
WSG is the Relationship Multidisciplinary Organization (R-MDO)6 where the service providers themselves
created an association to systematically establish relationships among a number of networks, firms,
companies and, most importantly, the professionals themselves. Membership is limited by the type of
service and by jurisdictions depending upon the nature of the services.
The result is that all types of professional services are available through WSG. In this way each professional
can easily locate end assemble a team by choosing the exact professional to meet clients’ needs from
firms with whom they have a relationship. The MDO extends the concept of a professional networking,
which is common in the legal profession,7 to other service providers. Combining the traditional functions
3 One can find them in a number of industries such as steel, oil and gas, and automobile parts. Matching services for expert witnesses have been
around for a number of years through TASA. Each witness and each person seeking a witness pays a fee. Serengeti, Inc. (http//www serengetius
com) intends to create a location to purchase 50 services. Vorhees, Am. Law., Apr. 2000 at 3028.
4 First Law, http://www.firstlawsolicitors.co.uk.
5Niku, http //www niku com.
6 Freidheim, The Trillion-Dollar Enterprise (Perseus Books 1998) uses this term to define a network of networks or alliances.
7 Martindale Hubbell publishes a list of networks, alliances and affiliations in its directories. Updated Background Information Report and Request
for Comment, May 12, 2000 (http://www.abanet.org/cpr/febmdp.html). Martindale Hubbell, Volumes I, II and III, International Law Firms. HG.org
— the Comprehensive Law and Government site (http//www.hq or9) has a similar list. McGarry, Practicing Law in the 21“Century Will Require
2
