Given the challenging landscape for legal service providers and the increasingly complex role of the in-house legal department, there has been no better time for corporate counsel to consider hiring outside law firms that are members of one of the global legal networks. Being in a network—such as Meritas, a leading player with more than 170 member firms around the world—enables outside counsel to provide the worldwide reach of an international law firm, while preserving the high level of customer service, value, and local expertise that only an independent law firm can provide.
Here’s how networks can help corporate legal departments meet their key challenges.
Dealing with an increasingly complex, global legal market.
Corporations’ business models and structures are evolving, while cross-border transactions are becoming more sophisticated and complex. Business risk is through the roof due to conflicts, political upheaval, economic fluctuations, and trade disruptions. Legal and regulatory landscapes around the globe are also constantly evolving.
Maintaining a balance between global capabilities and local expertise is more important than ever, and this is where networks shine. Global networks provide corporate counsel transparency into their process for quality assurance—a deeper dive than might be available when relying on a single global firm to monitor quality work. For example, each of Meritas’ firms, which cover more than 240 markets in 90 countries, has intimate knowledge of the legal and business landscape in its local jurisdiction. Each is a quality firm that passes through a rigorous evaluation not only when it joins the network but every three years thereafter; no other organization has a quality assurance program like ours. And, through a variety of platforms facilitated by the network, each has built strong relationships with Meritas colleagues globally.
Say you need legal representation for a merger involving parties with operations in Asia, Latin America, and Europe. Through Meritas, you have access to high-quality, service-oriented firms in every affected market. In fact, you can tap into local representation on the ground in many more markets globally than Big Law can offer. You can have confidence that you will receive seamless cross-border service, dedication, and local knowledge that go beyond your expectations, and the good value of a mid-sized firm.
Staying at the forefront of technology.
From artificial intelligence, to automation of legal tasks, to cybersecurity, it can be a daunting task to stay apprised of new legal tech offerings and to ensure that you—not to mention your outside counsel—have the best solutions in place. Network-affiliated firms are better positioned than most to be technologically flexible, innovative, and responsive.
Being compliant with Meritas cybersecurity standards is one of the requirements we evaluate in our rigorous quality-assurance process. Meritas’ Legal Tech Advisory Program and its IT Group, which brings together IT professionals from all firms worldwide, support our members in remaining cybersecure and staying at the forefront of the latest legal technology. Our members’ network affiliation means they can be trusted to maintain your data privacy and work efficiently and cost-effectively.
“Our legal technology resources make our firms a great source of information for clients as their technology needs evolve,” says Sona Pancholy, president of Meritas. “Not only do our firms share information on the best solutions and keep up on the latest trends and technologies, but they are also willing and able to quickly answer questions on behalf of their clients, using the expertise of their Meritas colleagues.”
Handling more responsibilities without adequate budget or staff.
Law departments are busier than ever, dealing with a constantly transforming regulatory and legal landscape, playing an instrumental role in environmental, social, and governance and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and having a hand in corporate decision-making with a seat in the C-suite. All of this is happening in the midst of reduced legal department budgets and recruitment and retention challenges.
“Looking to network-affiliated outside law firms for assistance makes sense,” says Pancholy. “The resources networks like ours provide keep our firms informed about the latest legal developments across practice areas, industries, and geographies. By leveraging colleagues who have a shared commitment to each other, our members have access to local legal developments, are regularly briefed on developments that may impact their clients, and can seek reliable solutions for their clients quickly.”
Independent law firms that are connected through legal networks benefit by keeping costs and overhead contained at the local level, while still being able to ensure the completion of work in every jurisdiction where a client may need support. This allows them to take on projects of a range of sizes in a cost-efficient manner.
Managing the costs and instability of outside counsel.
Big Law is expanding as the players scoop up formerly independent firms, while smaller firms are disappearing as they merge into global or powerful regional players. Law firms of all sizes, especially Big Law, are also experiencing high lawyer and staff turnover, increasingly closing offices or losing entire departments to competing firms, or even shuttering entirely. Meanwhile, outside counsel fees continue to rise, particularly at the larger firms.
All these factors have contributed to fraying relationships between in-house counsel and their outside law firms. Surveys show negative perceptions about external firms’ lagging technology, lack of specialist expertise, and slow response times. There can also be issues with global coverage, as international firms do not always have a strong presence or long history on the ground in every jurisdiction where they handle matters and may lack experience with the nuances of a given market.
Here again, networks are the solution. They give their small and mid-sized members the connections and support to not only survive, but also stay at the forefront of technology and legal trends; to offer thorough coverage of global markets while maintaining their in-depth local expertise; and to preserve a culture focused on client service at competitive pricing. All of this is to the advantage of overburdened in-house counsel.
In the case of Meritas, clients can easily find a firm in their backyard as well as tap into the knowledge and capabilities of more than 8,700 lawyers globally. They can count on quality representation. And there is stability as well; legal networks prioritize selecting well-established proven firms to join the affiliation. Within Meritas, many of our firms have been with the network for more than 30 years and, when there is turnover, the market can be covered by Meritas’ colleagues while other firms of the same high quality are evaluated for membership.
Have you considered network-affiliated law firms for your global legal needs? In today’s legal landscape, more than ever, networks are your solution.
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Luca Citton is president of Boughton Law Corporation (Vancouver, British Columbia) and head of its business law practice group. He assumed the Chairmanship of Meritas in May 2024.
