LEXPERT MAGAZINE
|
OCTOBER 2017 41
| LEGAL NETWORKS |
tight independent networks are, they can't,
in his view, match the "common approach
to client service, quality, pricing, billing
and communication" that an integrated
firm provides. "Firms like Dentons, for
example, provide a single point of contact
for clients, common values, and a single ap-
proach to conflicts," he says.
According to Portnoy, the fact that in-
dependent law firm networks depend on
membership fees makes them suspect:
"You may not be the best firm or the best
talent, but if you've paid the fee, you're in."
Nextlaw, as previously mentioned, does not
charge fees and does not offer territorial ex-
clusivity to its members.
"Unless a firm has previously worked
with our firm or worked with a client, it
doesn't get in to Nextlaw," Portnoy says.
"But that's not as limiting as it sounds,
because in 2016 alone, before we built
the network, we had to send work to over
1,000 law firms around the world."
For his part, Kallish maintains that
membership fees are a red herring. "Just be-
cause you can afford to join Meritas doesn't
mean you actually can join," he says. "We
have many more firms wanting to join us
than we allow into the group — and at that
point, money's irrelevant."
And while Portnoy points out that many
independent networks operate on a territo-
rial exclusivity model, limiting the choices
available to a client, many networks do not.
However that may be, global firms and
vereins, where lawyers are undoubtedly
under pressure to refer to their partners,
are hardly immune to this line of criticism.
"Lawyers in networks aren't forced to refer
to partners whom they may or may not
know," Torchetti says. "Being in a network
means you can take a lot of the politics out
of the referral process."
ROB GRANATSTEIN
BLAKE, CASSELS & GRAYDON LLP
"Lex Mundi
is definitely part of our
international strategy. The
network contributes to our
global inflow — which is
important for all major firms
because Canada is a net
importer of legal work — and
also allows us to refer clients
quickly in jurisdictions where
we don't play very often."
PHOTO:
SHUTTERSTOCK
