The Legal Netlink Alliance: An Overview
The Legal Netlink Alliance was formed in 1999 and comprises of leading internet-based, member-driven, independent networks of law firms. These networks are dedicated to enhancing the quality and breadth of legal services by enabling member firms to collaborate and refer work to each other . The goal of the alliance is to combine the matchmaking power of this collaborative group into a more global efficient cooperative to effectively meet the diverse needs of their clients and those of their respective member firms.
Currently, the Alliance includes LawExchange International, Meritas, Legal Network International, TerraLex, and TAGLaw. Membership to the various networks is open to any leading law firm that is independent and has no conflicts of interest with their existing members.
Advantages of Joining the Legal Netlink Alliance
The Legal Netlink Alliance provides an invaluable network of contacts for its members that can be a huge benefit to law firms looking for growth and expanded service offerings. Joining the Legal Netlink Alliance allows a law firm to make its services known to a large number of legal professionals that have expertise in different practice areas or are located in jurisdictions that would be beneficial as potential referral sources without the time and effort that a law firm expends in seeking out members of its professional networks on a continuing basis.
The benefits derived from membership will vary by circumstance, but most law firms that join the Legal Netlink Alliance will see one or more of these benefits: The Legal Netlink Alliance has the attention of thousands of lawyers from around the world and is becoming known as a suitable alternative to Martindale-Hubbell Connected for those who are unable to pay the high monthly fees charged by Thomson Reuters. The Legal Netlink Alliance allows simpler contact between lawyers, free of the overbearing controls that consumers of legal services resent in legal directories.
Global Impact and Outreach
At present, Legal Netlink Alliance members are based in 12 countries representing six continents. In addition to the U.S., it has members in Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
LNLA members have a long tradition of working collaboratively with each other, both in the United States and around the world, and frequently refer legal, accounting, financial institution and insurance inquiries. The alliance’s experience and expertise illustrates its ability to seamlessly cross borders and connect clients with lawyers that match their needs.
The LNLNet site is a collaborative effort. It keeps updated profiles of all of the member firms, and contains a library of business law articles, blogs and alerts. It is a well-written, well-designed, sophisticated, and easily navigated tool.
The legal netlink alliance is respected and well known domestically and abroad. Clients of the members are increasingly sophisticated and savvy about choosing counsel who fit their needs based on specializations. In becoming members of the alliance, LNLA member firms have an edge over competitors who are not.
The Role of the Alliance in Safe, Secure, and Convenient Legal Networking
Collaboration is at the heart of the Legal Netlink Alliance ethos, and this dynamic network has gone above and beyond to facilitate the sharing of ideas, expertise, and outcomes among its members. One of the fundamental pillars of the alliance’s structure and philosophy is collaboration, and many benefits come as a result of that focus.
Dan Harris, a member who has broadcast a series called the China Law Blog for nearly two decades, notes that the alliance "has led to literally dozens and even hundreds of additional attorney referrals being sent to and received from my law firm because we are widely seen as a legitimate, honest, and accomplished international business law firm." Thanks to the alliance, his firm has now developed a solid reputation among lawyers in Australia, Brazil, Mexico, China, and Canada. He says that they "regularly and confidently introduce our Asia and China clients to lawyers in these countries thanks to the relationships we have forged in the Legal Netlink Alliance."
The alliance has led to long-term commercial relationships among law-firm members: For instance, one firm in Moscow has combined efforts with a Russian-language firm in London to market a full range of services to Russian-speaking clients in both countries. The alliance has also led successful co-counsel efforts and the formation of team-up arrangements . For example, a Dutch member from Amsterdam collaborated on a significant merger-and-acquisition deal for a Czech company and paired up with a firm in Indonesia to represent a Dutch client in a complex and highly contested real-estate deal in Jakarta.
Global member referrals within the alliance often come without the long-drawn-out relationship search that can characterize client referrals. Attorneys know that the alliance’s member firms are all law firms with the requisite experience and expertise to successfully address issues related to different jurisdictions and cultures.
Creating a network of colleagues that lasts for years is not an uncommon occurrence among members of the alliance, according to Maltese member Roderick Zammit, who praises the swift "collaborations regarding client projects." These can involve attorneys in different countries — speaking different languages — laying the groundwork for lifelong collaborations. He cites a region-wide property deal in which Zammit Tabone & Associates worked with a Spanish member and with another in the Netherlands. While it was a "difficult" deal involving "hectic" work, the attorneys involved enjoyed themselves and secured a happy result for the clients.
Like Zammit, Dan Harris also emphasizes the importance of the network: The results of the collaboration among member firms, he says, "lead to lawyers throughout the world being able to do all manner of legal work for all manner of clients because other lawyers know they can trust us . . . and know we have the experience to get the job done."
The Process to Becoming a Member
Becoming a member of Legal Netlink Alliance is very easy. In fact, one of the guiding principles of the group is to be flexible and non-bureaucratic. We all know that busy people don’t have time and that the usual corporate method of making decisions, rules, and policy pronouncements from on high takes too long. The truth is that we’re all busy people, and being more efficient is better for everyone.
The process to start working with other members of the Legal Netlink Alliance is as follows:
- Appoint a firm representative to become the member of the LNA network – this person will be the primary contact with the Network. We strongly recommend that you combine the efforts of both a lawyer and a marketing / business development person.
- Use the "Membership Application Form" found here to apply for partnership. Just fill it out on line and email it to us.
- A small fee is required to cover the administration costs of the network.
- Once the application has been reviewed and accepted by our membership committee (approval is very quick) a contract is sent to the firm and the nominated representative. This is a very short agreement confirming the term of the agreement and confirming a few simple points. As soon as the form is signed by two partners – the membership contract is regarded as binding by the contracting parties.
- The final step involves a telephone call between the nominated representative(s) of the applicant firm and the Legal Netlink Alliance Board Chair, confirming the details and checking the basics – the telephone conversation is typically very quick to complete.
The costs of membership (as a reference point) are set at $1500 per company employee with a minimum of $3000 and a maximum of $5000.
Examples of Success
The success stories of law firms and individual lawyers who were once members of networks, and have since transitioned to the Legal Netlink Alliance, make for compelling reading.
Anthony W. DeMarlo, managing partner of the firm Sherman DeMarlo and Burroughs, P.L.C., in Chili, N.Y., speaks highly of the service he now receives from Robinson Grant, a member of the LNA in Palm Coast, Florida.
"Robinson Grant performs a multitude of services for the firm," DeMarlo explained, "MasterCard processing, accounting, IT consulting, website design and development of the firm’s social media strategy are just a few examples of the services we have enlisted the company to perform. And, the service is first rate! The firm relies on several of their staff on a daily basis for service. The professional fees charged for these services have been very reasonable and well worth the expenses . "
Lawyers interested in virtual law firm concepts can also find success stories within the LNA membership. For example, Roberta B. Curtis, founding and managing partner of Internationallegal, based in London and with a collaboration worldwide, tells how the LNA helped her with a plethora of issues, ranging from language translation to customs problems.
"Internationallegal is a virtual law office," Curtis explained, "and, therefore, the help of other lawyers within the LNA that spoke multiple languages and were familiar with businesses from around the globe was invaluable. The LNA was there when we needed them; their help in securing air and sea rates for clients in China, from China to Hong Kong was critical. Every member was ready and willing to work together in ways that overcame obstacles that would have prohibited access to other networks."
