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The Handbook: Law Firm Networks
161 is not something new but is essentially no different than any other corporate association.162 The only
difference is that a law firm has simply adopted the network model. This may using a Swiss association
versus a U.S. corporation like Lex Mundi or World Services Group. It may only be a better way to brand the
organization as different.
Baker & McKenzie, which was founded in 1949, adopted the verein in 2004. There are now seven Swiss
vereins in the legal profession, the others forming after 2009. Like other networks, the corporation allow the
members to be independent. Strategy, marketing, technology, and other operations can be integrated.163 This
may result in substantial cost savings. The open issue is whether there is a marketable increase the quality of
services beyond those provided by the independent members of non-branded networks.
The Swiss associations have positioned themselves as one firm for statistical purposes in most rankings in
publications such as The American Lawyer, The Lawyer, Law360, etc. Much larger non-branded
networks with more than 15,000 attorneys are not included in these rankings. The vereins make every effort
to use these rankings for the purposes of marketing.164 For example, Dentons has made it a point with the Am
Law 100 to dispute their criteria for rankings, going so far as creating a website devoted to their argument.165
Networks can also be organized by entrepreneurs that use the network model to
provide services. Examples include TAGLaw,166 ISFIN,167 First Law International,168 and
others. In these cases the firms are not member/owners but pay fees to the organizer
who manages the network on behalf of the firms. In some instances this means that
professional services are being provided by the network administration themselves,
which appears to be the case with First Law International. In these types of networks
the law firm member may sit on an advisory board to assist in setting the direction of
the network.
155 See DLA PIPER, www.dlapiper.com (last visited Feb. 2, 2016).
156 See HOGAN LOVELLS, www.hoganlovells.com (last visited Feb. 2, 2016).
157 See NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT, www.nortonrosefulbright.com (last visited Feb. 2, 2016).
158 See BAKER & MCKENZIE, www.bakermckenzie.com (last visited Feb. 2, 2016).
159 See KING & WOOD MALLESONS, www.kwm.com/en (last visited Feb. 2, 2016).
160 See SQUIRE PATTON BOGGS, LEGAL NOTICE, http://www.squirepattonboggs.com/footer/legal-notice (last visited Feb. 2, 2016):
“Squire Patton Boggs is the collective trade name for an international legal practice, the practicing entities of which are separate and distinct law firms
and other entities. Squire Patton Boggs International Association (a Swiss Verein) does not itself provide, directly or indirectly, any legal or other
client services.”
161 SCHWEIZERISCHES ZIVILGESETZBUCH [ZGB], CODE CIVIL [CC], CODICE CIVIL [CC] [CIVIL CODE] Dec. 10, 1907, SR 210, RS 210, art. 61
(Switz.).
162 See Appendix 6 See Chris Johnson, Global Law Firms and Vereins: The End of the Affair? The Am Law Daily, March 22, 2017,
http://www.americanlawyer.com/id=1202781867597/Global-Law-Firms-and-Vereins-The-End-of-the-Affair?slreturn=20170229143243,discusses the
rise of the CLG as an alternative form of network that reduce risk of vicarious liability; Chris Johnson, Vereins: The New Structure for Global Firms,
THE AMERICAN LAWYER, March 7, 2013; see also Nick Jarrett-Kerr & Ed Wesemann, Enter the Swiss Verein: 21st-Century Global Platform or Just
the Latest Fad?, EDGE INT’L, www.edge.ai/2012/10/enter-swiss-verein/.
163 Edwin B. Reeser, Are Verein-Style Law Firms Ignoring Fee-Splitting Ethics Rules?, ABA J., Oct. 1, 2013.
164 See Matt Byrne, K&L Gates’ Kalis Renews Attack on Swiss Vereins in Video Interview, THE LAWYER, March 25, 2013,
www.thelawyer.com/firms-and-the-bar/kl-gates-kalis-renews-attack-on-swiss-vereins-in-video-interview/3003318.article; see also Peter Kalis, The
Am Law 100: Grand Illusion, AM LAW DAILY, May 2, 2011.
164 Natasha Bernal, What’s the Deal with Dentons Merging with 21 Firms?, LAWYER 2B, June 22, 2015, l2b.thelawyer.com/whats-the-deal-with-
dentons-merging-with-21-firms/.
165 See Gavin Broady, Dentons Takes Out Anti-AmLaw Ad as Ranking Feud Heats Up, LAW360, May 11, 2015
www.law360.com/articles/654458/dentons-takes-out-anti-amlaw-ad-as-ranking-feud-heats-up; see also Brian Dalton, World's
Biggest Law Firm Wants To Blow Up The Whole Am Law 100 Rankings, ABOVE THE LAW, June 17, 2015 abovethelaw.com/2015/06/worlds-
biggest-law-firm-wants-to-blow-up-the-whole-am-law-100-rankings.
166 See TAGLAW, www.taglaw.com (last visited Feb. 2, 2016).
167 See ISFIN, www.isfin.net (last visited Feb. 2, 2016).
168 See FIRST LAW INTERNATIONAL, www.first-law.com (last visited Feb. 2, 2016).
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161 is not something new but is essentially no different than any other corporate association.162 The only
difference is that a law firm has simply adopted the network model. This may using a Swiss association
versus a U.S. corporation like Lex Mundi or World Services Group. It may only be a better way to brand the
organization as different.
Baker & McKenzie, which was founded in 1949, adopted the verein in 2004. There are now seven Swiss
vereins in the legal profession, the others forming after 2009. Like other networks, the corporation allow the
members to be independent. Strategy, marketing, technology, and other operations can be integrated.163 This
may result in substantial cost savings. The open issue is whether there is a marketable increase the quality of
services beyond those provided by the independent members of non-branded networks.
The Swiss associations have positioned themselves as one firm for statistical purposes in most rankings in
publications such as The American Lawyer, The Lawyer, Law360, etc. Much larger non-branded
networks with more than 15,000 attorneys are not included in these rankings. The vereins make every effort
to use these rankings for the purposes of marketing.164 For example, Dentons has made it a point with the Am
Law 100 to dispute their criteria for rankings, going so far as creating a website devoted to their argument.165
Networks can also be organized by entrepreneurs that use the network model to
provide services. Examples include TAGLaw,166 ISFIN,167 First Law International,168 and
others. In these cases the firms are not member/owners but pay fees to the organizer
who manages the network on behalf of the firms. In some instances this means that
professional services are being provided by the network administration themselves,
which appears to be the case with First Law International. In these types of networks
the law firm member may sit on an advisory board to assist in setting the direction of
the network.
155 See DLA PIPER, www.dlapiper.com (last visited Feb. 2, 2016).
156 See HOGAN LOVELLS, www.hoganlovells.com (last visited Feb. 2, 2016).
157 See NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT, www.nortonrosefulbright.com (last visited Feb. 2, 2016).
158 See BAKER & MCKENZIE, www.bakermckenzie.com (last visited Feb. 2, 2016).
159 See KING & WOOD MALLESONS, www.kwm.com/en (last visited Feb. 2, 2016).
160 See SQUIRE PATTON BOGGS, LEGAL NOTICE, http://www.squirepattonboggs.com/footer/legal-notice (last visited Feb. 2, 2016):
“Squire Patton Boggs is the collective trade name for an international legal practice, the practicing entities of which are separate and distinct law firms
and other entities. Squire Patton Boggs International Association (a Swiss Verein) does not itself provide, directly or indirectly, any legal or other
client services.”
161 SCHWEIZERISCHES ZIVILGESETZBUCH [ZGB], CODE CIVIL [CC], CODICE CIVIL [CC] [CIVIL CODE] Dec. 10, 1907, SR 210, RS 210, art. 61
(Switz.).
162 See Appendix 6 See Chris Johnson, Global Law Firms and Vereins: The End of the Affair? The Am Law Daily, March 22, 2017,
http://www.americanlawyer.com/id=1202781867597/Global-Law-Firms-and-Vereins-The-End-of-the-Affair?slreturn=20170229143243,discusses the
rise of the CLG as an alternative form of network that reduce risk of vicarious liability; Chris Johnson, Vereins: The New Structure for Global Firms,
THE AMERICAN LAWYER, March 7, 2013; see also Nick Jarrett-Kerr & Ed Wesemann, Enter the Swiss Verein: 21st-Century Global Platform or Just
the Latest Fad?, EDGE INT’L, www.edge.ai/2012/10/enter-swiss-verein/.
163 Edwin B. Reeser, Are Verein-Style Law Firms Ignoring Fee-Splitting Ethics Rules?, ABA J., Oct. 1, 2013.
164 See Matt Byrne, K&L Gates’ Kalis Renews Attack on Swiss Vereins in Video Interview, THE LAWYER, March 25, 2013,
www.thelawyer.com/firms-and-the-bar/kl-gates-kalis-renews-attack-on-swiss-vereins-in-video-interview/3003318.article; see also Peter Kalis, The
Am Law 100: Grand Illusion, AM LAW DAILY, May 2, 2011.
164 Natasha Bernal, What’s the Deal with Dentons Merging with 21 Firms?, LAWYER 2B, June 22, 2015, l2b.thelawyer.com/whats-the-deal-with-
dentons-merging-with-21-firms/.
165 See Gavin Broady, Dentons Takes Out Anti-AmLaw Ad as Ranking Feud Heats Up, LAW360, May 11, 2015
www.law360.com/articles/654458/dentons-takes-out-anti-amlaw-ad-as-ranking-feud-heats-up; see also Brian Dalton, World's
Biggest Law Firm Wants To Blow Up The Whole Am Law 100 Rankings, ABOVE THE LAW, June 17, 2015 abovethelaw.com/2015/06/worlds-
biggest-law-firm-wants-to-blow-up-the-whole-am-law-100-rankings.
166 See TAGLAW, www.taglaw.com (last visited Feb. 2, 2016).
167 See ISFIN, www.isfin.net (last visited Feb. 2, 2016).
168 See FIRST LAW INTERNATIONAL, www.first-law.com (last visited Feb. 2, 2016).
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