Meritas (law)

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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 2019, the association's membership included over 190 law firms in 97 countries, with more than 7500 lawyers worldwide. [3] Functioning as a non-profit corporation 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]

Contents

Membership

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]

Officers

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Wright, Karen (April 18, 2007). "Focus: Law Firm Associations". Corporate Counsel Weekly. Bureau of National Affairs.
  2. Firms find benefit in law firm networks, Minnesota Lawyer, Mar 17, 2008
  3. Middlemiss, Jim (April 9, 2008). "Alliance extends reach of regional firms: Meritas tax group even works jointly on files". Financial Post . Retrieved November 14, 2009.[ dead link ]
  4. 1 2 McPhee, Jennifer (February 2007). "Report on Law Associations: Going Global" (PDF). Canadian Lawyer. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 14, 2011. Retrieved November 14, 2009.
  5. Tromans, R. (October 2007). "Alternative hits the mainstream". European Lawyer. p. 30.
  6. Garrison-Sprenger, Nicole (March 20, 2006). "Minnesotan to head global legal network". Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. Retrieved November 14, 2009.
  7. "People On the Move". Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. July 21, 2008. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2009.
  8. "Meritas Global Network of Law Firms Names New President". finance.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2020-03-18.