The loss in the U.S. of a $32 million jury award against Dentons has raised questions over its use of the Swiss verein structure, a popular, growth-inducing business model many global law firms use to structure their operations. And while experts say the problem is less with the actual model and more with the firm's conflict management, law firms similarly structured should take note, they say.

In RevoLaze v. Dentons US, the law firm faced malpractice claims that it should not have represented the plaintiff, RevoLaze, in a patent infringement case because Dentons' Canadian firm represented RevoLaze's adversary—Gap Inc.—in other matters. In February 2020, a Cuyahoga County, Ohio, jury sided with RevoLaze and awarded $32.3 million in damages against the firm.