Meritas, formerly known as Commercial Law Affiliates, is a services network consisting of a global alliance of business law firms that was founded in 1990.[1][2] As of 2024, the network reported 177 member firms with about 8,600 lawyers in 91 countries.[3] Functioning as a non-profitcorporation headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Meritas operates on an invitation-only basis with its member firms requiring recertification every three years in order to maintain their membership.[4]
Jennifer McPhee, writing for Canadian Lawyer, described Meritas as one of the "more established by-invitation only legal networks that do extensive research before carefully selecting one firm per jurisdiction."[4]Corporate Counsel Weekly also wrote, "Meritas determines significant business or economic centers where member firms' clients may need local counsel in order to determine where it will have its members,"[1] and that "...all member firms provide Meritas with quarterly referral reports, listing all Meritas-originated referrals made to and from the firm for the stated period and cooperate in evaluating specific matters."[1] If a firm does not receive good marks, its membership with the organization may be terminated.[5]
Programs
In 2025, Meritas launched a Legal Technology Education Program to help member firms evaluate and adopt technology through online and in-person curriculum provided by top legal tech companies.[6]
Officers
May 1998: Jerome Reso (Baldwin Haspel Burke & Mayer, LLC - New Orleans, LA, USA) named as Meritas Chair
May 2001: George Cadman (Boughton Law Corporation - Vancouver, BC, Canada) named as Chair
May 2005: A. Lee Lundy (Tydings & Rosenberg LLP - Baltimore, Maryland, USA) named as Chair
February 2006: Tanna Moore named President and CEO[7]
May 2007 Kenneth Kallish (Minden Gross LLP - Toronto, ON, Canada) named as Meritas Chair
July 2008: Jean-Paul Bignon named as Chair-elect[8]
April 2009: Jean-Paul Bignon (Bignon Lebray - Paris, France) named as Chair
May 2011: Judith Lockhart (Carter Ledyard & Milburn LLP, New York, NY) named as Chair
May 2013: Andre Ryan (BCF LLP - Montreal, QC, Canada) named as Chair
May 2015: Dennis Unkovic (Meyer, Unkovic & Scott - Pittsburgh, PA, United States) named as Chair
May 2018: Jill Wiley (Waterfall Economidis - Tucson, Arizona, United States) named as Chair
↑ "People On the Move". Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. July 21, 2008. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2009.
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