In 2000 Finers Stephens Innocent became the chosen London representative of Meritas, a global alliance of business law firms delivering localised legal service of the highest quality on a fully coordinated basis. FSI became a member of Meritas in order to provide existing clients with support across jurisdictions and to further its reputation for advising international clients on their business interests in the UK.
History of Meritas
In 1990 a lawyer became frustrated with the lack of quality control in hiring business law firms outside his jurisdiction. He set about developing his own system for selecting and evaluating firm performance. He then began inviting like-minded firms worldwide to join a non-profit organisation for their mutual benefit. Today, that organisation is Meritas with over 179 firms spanning more than 66 countries and encompassing 5,800 lawyers. Membership in Meritas is growing and continues to be extended by invitation only.
Quality assurance
Meritas is the only law firm alliance with an established means of monitoring and enhancing the quality of its member firms. Meritas firms are held in the highest regard in terms of quality and versatility in legal service. Regular recertification by all firms is a requirement of membership. This ensures alliance firms continually provide superior legal service to their clients.
Cost effectiveness
As part of the alliance, Meritas firms provide exceptional legal services linked to a cost-effectiveness that giant law firms simply can't match. Members invest in improving services and resources rather than opening costly branch offices.
Global legal services
Meritas firms offer clients the multi-national legal service necessary in a global economy. The Meritas model caters to the need for personal attention, fee value and regional expertise that can only be experienced in a mid-sized firm.
A business approach to business law
Meritas firms are chosen not only for their high level of legal expertise, but also because of their business acumen. Before a membership invitation is extended, Meritas verifies that the firm offers the full complement of litigation and corporate services necessary to handle business matters in any industry.
For further information on Meritas and member firms, please visit the Meritas website www.meritas.org or contact FSI’s Meritas liaison partner, Howard Goulden.