Global Counsel Congress

Acritas has been at the forefront of legal market research since 2001. Our portfolio of services is broad, and ranges from brand tracking and client feedback to merger intelligence and analysis of emerging markets and trends.

We supply international legal market insight to the world’s leading law firms, providing them with a strong foundation for successful strategy development.

Our flagship research product, Sharplegal, combines the views of over 2,000 in-house lawyers from leading global companies. Now in its sixth year and containing over $5 million of data, the survey offers the most comprehensive insight into the changing face of the global legal market available and is used by many of the Global 100 law firms.

The value of Sharplegal is not exclusive to law firms, however. The general counsel who agree to be interviewed for the survey every year help to shape the future of legal services delivery. By sharing their views on important subjects including rates, procurement and law firm selection criteria, in-house counsel can communicate their opinions to a wide range of law firms and help to effect the change they want to see in the market.

Participation in the survey – which involves a 20-minute telephone interview – entitles in-house lawyers to one year’s free access to a range of reports covering topics of most importance to the legal profession, such as pricing and budgets, emerging markets and industry sectors. Survey respondents also receive access to exclusive online discussions on hot legal topics hosted by Acritas and prominent members of the legal community.

For further information visit http://www.acritas.com/ThankYou

Control Risks is an independent global risk consultancy that specialises in helping organisations to manage political, integrity and security risks in complex and hostile environments. We support clients by providing strategic consultancy, expert analysis and in-depth investigations, handling sensitive political issues and providing practical on-the-ground protection and support.

Our unique combination of services, geographical reach and the trust that our clients place in us ensure that we can help them to effectively solve their problems and realise new opportunities across the world.

Demarest Advogados is one of the leading business law firms in South America, with 65 years of experience in assisting clients from around the globe. The firm is one of the most reputable in Brazil and one of the largest in Latin America. The primary concern of its highly qualified lawyers is to meet clients’ needs with maximum efficiency and to provide legal services with the highest standard of quality.

Demarest Advogados has developed its greatest assets throughout the years: a solid name and a legal staff with the highest technical expertise and ethical standards. The firm’s philosophy is based on talent, work and technology.

Demarest Advogados has led major domestic and cross-border transactions in the most diversified areas of business activities. Its main practice areas include antitrust, arbitration, aviation, banking, biotechnology, capital markets, contracts, corporate law, debt restructuring, environmental, infrastructure (oil and gas, water, telecommunications, energy, mining, transportation and shipping), insurance, intellectual property, employment and labour, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, securities, securitisation, tax, trade and project finance.

According to clients, “The firm sums up the full-service concept and fills clients with confidence through the quality of its work.”

The firm’s lawyers are also frequently mentioned in international publications as leading practitioners in their fields.

For further information please visit www.demarest.com.br

Houthoff Buruma is a long-established Netherlands-based law firm with over 250 lawyers worldwide. Focusing on the high-end segment of the market, the firm typically advises large international corporations at a boardroom level, assisting them in matters with a strategic impact.

Houthoff Buruma’s lawyers focus on Dutch and EU legal issues; however, the firm has offices in London, Brussels and New York that serve as communication hubs for its cross-border work. Houthoff Buruma also works on a permanent non-exclusive basis with law firms in London and New York, as well as major firms in other global economic centres.

Houthoff Buruma has been a Lex Mundi member since 2004, working actively on many Lex Mundi initiatives. The firm’s Lex Mundi contact partner, Michiel Wesseling, was the Lex Mundi chair in 2010.

Whenever it is in the interest of the firm’s clients, Houthoff Buruma teams up with fellow Lex Mundi member firms, leading to satisfactory high-level results without exception.

Founded in 1958, Jackson Lewis is one of the fastest-growing workplace law firms in the United States, with over 750 attorneys practising in 52 locations nationwide.  For the 11th consecutive year, Jackson Lewis has been recognised for delivering client service excellence to the world’s largest corporations, once again earning a spot on the BTI Client Service A-Team.  Jackson Lewis has also been recognised by in-house counsel in a comprehensive survey by BTI Consulting Group as both a “Powerhouse” and “Standout” in employment litigation.  In addition, Jackson Lewis is ranked in the first tier nationally in the category of Labour and Employment Litigation, as well as in both Employment Law and Labour Law on behalf of Management in the US News – Best Lawyers ® Best Law Firms. It is also recognised by Chambers and Legal 500.  As an AmLaw 100 firm, Jackson Lewis has one of the most active employment litigation practices in the United States, with a current caseload of over 6,500 litigations and approximately 415 class actions. 

About L&E Global:  L&E Global is a worldwide alliance of premier employment law firms. Each member firm concentrates its practice on the breadth of employment and workplace laws in its country, and each firm is recognised by clients and legal organisations as a leader in this field.  In March 2012 the alliance was named Leading Employment Law Network in Chambers & Partners Spotlight, which stated: “The firms are recognized as premier exponents in the market and offer a worldwide service in more than 50 offices across the globe.” L&E Global member firms offer deep experience in a broad array of sectors and markets, including financial and insurance services, high-tech, pharmaceutical, telecommunications and information services, luxury goods, retail and energy.

Jun He is widely recognised as a leading full-service law firm in China. As one of the country’s first private law firms, Jun He is a pioneer in the re-establishment and development of the legal profession in this era.

Jun He is also one of the largest China-based law firms, with over 100 partners and nine offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dalian, Haikou, Hong Kong, New York and Silicon Valley. The firm operates under an integrated system with state-of-the-art communications technology. The firm’s practice areas focus strongly on assisting foreign companies investing and doing business in China. The firm is particularly experienced in such areas as antitrust and competition, banking and finance, dispute resolution, intellectual property, international trade, mergers and acquisitions, mining and natural resources, real estate and construction, securities and capital markets, tax and customs, and telecommunications and Internet.

Jun He’s clients are diverse and span many geographic regions and industries.  Over the years, the firm’s lawyers have served as China counsel in a number of landmark deals.

Jun He places great importance on maintaining close and regular contact with legislative, administrative and judicial authorities in China. The firm also maintains strong cooperative relationships with many professional institutions, such as investment banks, accounting firms and asset appraisal firms.

Jun He’s reputation for excellence is widely acknowledged by the Chinese judiciary and various international professional organisations, which have presented the firm with various commendations and awards for its high standards and outstanding professional services to its clients.

Lex Mundi is the world’s leading network of independent law firms, with in-depth experience in 100-plus countries. Lex Mundi member firms can offer their clients preferred access to more than 21,000 lawyers worldwide – a global resource of unmatched breadth and depth.

Each member firm is selected on the basis of its leadership in – and continued commitment to – its local market. The Lex Mundi principle is one independent firm for each jurisdiction. Firms must maintain their level of excellence to retain membership within Lex Mundi.

Through close collaboration, information sharing, training and inter-firm initiatives, the Lex Mundi network is an assurance of connected, on-the ground expertise in every market in which a client needs to operate.

Working together, Lex Mundi members can seamlessly handle their clients’ most challenging cross-border transactions and disputes.

Member law firms are located throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean and North America. Through our non-profit affiliate, the Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation, members also provide pro bono legal assistance to social entrepreneurs around the globe. 

Visit www.lexmundi.com or www.lexmundiprobono.org for more information.

Lex Mundi – the law firms that know your markets.

We are Canada’s first truly international legal practice. With close to 700 lawyers based in Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Quebec, we are the third-largest practice in Canada. We have served the business needs of clients - Canadian and international, established and emerging - since 1879.

Norton Rose Fulbright in Canada provides clients with seamless connections to business routes across the world. Our six key industry sectors are financial institutions; energy; infrastructure, mining and commodities; transport; technology and innovation; and life sciences and healthcare.

Client care is at the heart of everything we do. Our commitment to exemplary service and reputation for clear, honest judgement helps our clients achieve results. It has also earned us their confidence and trust.

Our Canadian lawyers and professionals are recognieed in leading legal and business publications, including The Chambers Global Guide to the World's Leading Lawyers, International Financial Law Review 1000, Best Lawyers in Canada, PLC Which Lawyer, Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory and more.

Norton Rose Fulbright is a global legal practice. We provide the world’s pre-eminent corporations and financial institutions with a full business law service. We have more than 3,800 lawyers based in over 50 cities across Europe, the United States, Canada, Latin America, Asia, Australia, Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia.

The Red Flag Group is The Compliance Firm™ that helps companies to turn compliance into a competitive advantage. We create customised and integrated compliance solutions that add value to your business.

The Red Flag Group is one of the world’s leading independent compliance firms providing thought leadership around compliance to Fortune 1000 companies. Our main goals include helping companies to develop and maintain efficient and effective compliance programmes in emerging markets, as well as providing professional due diligence services to companies around the world. Our technology solutions are leading edge – providing practical web-based solutions to manage compliance risks globally.

In line with our integrated compliance offerings, The Red Flag Group undertakes complex compliance investigation procedures and provides auditing and monitoring services to help clients to identify compliance issues and high-risk areas. We offer global integrity due diligence solutions for mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, sales channels, vendors, suppliers and resellers, agents and third parties, key employees, business partners and government interfaces. As part of our integrated services, The Red Flag Group advisory team provides guidance, direction and coaching to boards and compliance and legal departments.

With approximately 1,700 lawyers in 19 offices strategically located in the major financial and business centres of the world, Sidley Austin LLP has built a reputation as a leading adviser for global business. Many of our clients are the world’s most prominent international companies that face risk management issues arising from doing business on a global scale. We offer our clients leading transactional, regulatory and dispute resolution resources capable of addressing their most delicate risk management issues. Sidley’s white collar group is recognised for its significant experience in all aspects of corporate criminal defence and enforcement-related litigation, from managing internal investigations to representing clients in grand jury investigations or at trial. The white collar group is also highly adept at navigating often sensitive parallel criminal and civil proceedings, handling extraditions and counselling on foreign criminal investigations, as well as advising on jurisdiction-specific voluntary disclosure and regulatory compliance issues.

Globalisation can mean an increasing number of headaches for the general counsel and head of compliance. With operations in more than 75 countries, TMF Group is the global expert that understands local legal administrative needs. Whether you want to globalise or need support to streamline existing operations, our local experts know what it takes to do business wherever you are or plan to be.

 We can take care of your compliance needs across multiple jurisdictions - for example, by the incorporation and registration of legal entities, reviewing and preparing corporate legal documents, preparing and filing statutory returns, maintaining statutory records or submitting reports to central banks or local registries, organising and recording board and shareholder meetings, liaising with local legal and tax advisers, acting as a local process agent, supporting group reorganisations and legal entity rationalisation, initial public offering support, and secondments and interim resources.

 By providing you with a single point of contact to coordinate the day-to-day management of your outsourced operations, we ensure clear communication across multiple jurisdictions – in turn helping to make your business life that little bit more efficient. Global reach, local knowledge: helping you do business seamlessly across borders.

The Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) is the world's largest organisation serving the professional and business interests of attorneys who practice in the legal departments of corporations, associations and other private-sector organisations around the globe. ACC promotes the common interests of its members, provides resources to help save time, money and effort, contributes to their continuing education and provides a voice on issues of global importance. With more than 29,000 members in over 75 countries, employed by over 10,000 organisations, ACC's community connects its members to the people and resources necessary for both personal and professional growth. By in-house counsel, for in-house counsel.®

ECLA is an international non-profit association and is the umbrella organisation for 19 company lawyers associations in Europe. Through its members, ECLA represents more than 20,000 company lawyers in 19 countries.

Membership is open to company lawyers associations only. While individuals are not members of ECLA directly, each company lawyer who is a member of a national company lawyer association can benefit from ECLA's activities as outlined in its programme. These include benefits such as conference discounts, legal education training and publications.

The Belgian Institute of Company Lawyers (IJE) was established in March 2000. In Belgium, only members of the IJE can carry the title of ‘company lawyer’; advice given by members of the IJE is confidential. The IJE guarantees the intellectual independence of company lawyers, organises training and collaborates with other legal professions both within and outside of Belgium.

MDA was founded in 2003 to promote the common interests of lawyers in Brazil. It has a board of directors with 63 members from different areas of practice, and a chief executive and two officers who manage its daily activities. MDA has also four special committees, including the In-house Counsel Committee. The In-house Counsel Committee was founded in 2010 as a forum for corporate counsel to share their experiences, further the development of the corporate counsel profession in Brazil and defend their common interests. It has members from both national and foreign companies.

The French Association of Corporate Counsel (AFJE) is the first professional organisation for in-house corporate counsel in France. Comprising more than 4,000 members from 1,200 companies (600 of whom are legal directors), the AFJE endeavours to serve as a platform for practitioners. The AFJE promotes the practice of corporate counsel and defends their interests.  It organises regional debates and workshops on topical subjects, as well as more than 80 workshops/conferences per year within its  framework of 16 legal area-focused commissions.  It also produces a series of videos in order to help the profession to inspire, and to be better perceived and understood.

The Japan In-House Counsel Network (JICN) is a diverse and dynamic community of corporate legal professionals working in Japan. Its members give legal related advice to both large and small companies in a broad range of industries, including banking and finance, insurance, healthcare, manufacturing and technology. The JICN seeks to enhance the competency and professional development of its members through regular continuing education courses and skills training seminars. It also offers members opportunities to network and exchange ideas and information relevant to their work as corporate legal professional.

The ANADE aims to promote and facilitate the exchange of information, experience and knowledge between its members, and to enhance their academic and intellectual capabilities, by organising courses, roundtables, meetings and seminars. 

ANADE has no political objectives and does not interfere in the internal relations between its members and law firms. It aims to bring together people within the legal field who share a clear commitment towards the practice of law, and to promote the further development of its members, helping them reach the highest professional standards.

The Corporate Counsel Section of the New York State Bar Association is comprised of more than 1,600 attorneys who serve as in-house counsel to corporations and other business entities, as well as attorneys in government and academic institutions. Members collaborate on activities that enhance the role of in-house corporate counsel as contributing members and leaders of their communities, the legal profession and the Bar Association, and provide a medium for cooperation, encouragement and assistance in the resolution of problems common to them and the legal profession.
 

Bedriftsjuristene was founded as a separate section of the Norwegian Association of Lawyers in 2010. It aims to secure and develop the interests of company lawyers, and to promote networking and seminars in the fields of law which are of interest to them. For several years, the Company Lawyers' Section has been organising its October seminar, establishing a traditional forum for company lawyers in Norway. Under the auspices of the Norwegian Association of Lawyers, which represents the interests of more than 15,000 Norwegian lawyers, the section is the voice of company lawyers in Norway. Bedriftsjuristene has over 1,200 members.

Instituto dos Advogados de Empresa (IAE) is part of the Portuguese Bar Association. Its main goal is the defence and representation of Portuguese company lawyers.  In addition, the IAE identifies and clarifies the particularities of the company lawyer’s profession, drafts legal opinions for other bodies of the Portuguese Bar Association, and advises on specific concerns of company lawyers in the performance of their function within corporations.

The IAE also aims to promote the inclusion of company lawyers in activities of the Bar, provide continuous training to its members and to lawyers in general, and to offer support to the president of the Bar and the General Assembly of the Bar Association.

CLASA was formed in 1982 to promote the common interests of corporate lawyers in South Africa. It aims to improve and promote the proficiency and competency of its members and to encourage professional and ethical conduct. CLASA provides a forum for the exchange of views and mutual liaison on matters of common interest to corporate lawyers in South Africa, and liaises with representative national and international organisations in the interests of its members. CLASA has approximately 340 members.