“LOCAL LOCALE, GLOBAL GROWTH”With the expansion of the global economy in recent years, law firms in Northeast Ohio have come to appreciate the importance of providing service to their clients in countries throughout the world. However, they have also learned that they do not necessarily have to invest in office space in these nations in order to provide the assistance that their clients may need. Recognizing that the practice of international law is likely a growth area for the Cleveland legal community, partners with a number of local firms have taken steps to increase their presence overseas without increasing the size of their legal staffs. Some firms, for example, have chosen to partner their practices with those of firms which are located in the countries where their clients are doing business. Others have joined organizations consisting of legal entities from numerous locations across the globe. One such organization is “Lexwork International,” which lists the Cleveland firm of Walter & Haverfield LLP among its members. According to Michael T. McMenamin, who heads the firm’s Litigation and Employment Group, “If midsize firms like us want to stay competitive we have to be able to answer our clients’ questions if they say, ‘Hey, we want to set up a company in Germany...can you help us?’” Consequently, Walter & Haverfield now sends between seven and nine matters a year to law firms affiliated with Lexwork. These legal organizations are also beneficial because they tend to bring business to Cleveland firms from other countries. Others which have paid dividends to the Northeast Ohio legal community are “Lex Mundi” and “Meritas.” In addition, such associations provide area firms with a ready-made listing of local counsel, in a variety of overseas locales, who are familiar with their countries’ laws and customs. Aware that the volume of international legal work will probably continue to grow, Cleveland firms are now positioning themselves to capitalize on this trend. (In order to read the entire article, please see the April 16-22, 2007 issue of Crain's Cleveland Business, Vol. 28, No. 15, published by Crain Communications, Inc.) |
