Editor’s note: This article is provided by Miller & Martin PLLC as part of the firm’s partnership with Global Atlanta.
Having “best friend” law partners around the world is a crucial advantage for companies doing business internationally, says Joe DeLisle, Atlanta-based Miller & Martin PLLC Partner who co-chairs the World Law Group’s corporate transactional practice.
The World Law Group is an invitation-only network of 61 law firms across 88 countries that operate independently but work collaboratively to help businesses navigate complex cross-border transactions, litigation and legal matters.
Founded in 1988, in part by Miller & Martin Senior Partner Tom Harrold, the World Law Group includes over 21,000 attorneys, each with local expertise and deep connections within their jurisdictions. Described as a “best friends” network, the World Law Group fosters personal relationships between lawyers across the globe.
“When I call up a firm in Germany, I’m calling my best friends in Germany,” Mr. DeLisle says. “I know if I contact any one of these friends around the world, they are going to treat the case like it’s their own, and they’re going to feel a high sense of ownership and take care of my client just like it’s theirs,” he adds.
Miller & Martin’s involvement in this network allows the firm to serve clients across the globe without the overhead or administrative complexities that come with multinational firms.
“We believe it’s a more efficient way to practice law across borders,” Mr. DeLisle says.
How the World Law Group Works
One of the key advantages of the World Law Group is its emphasis on collaboration and trust among member firms. Every six months, the group holds conferences where lawyers from member firms meet to strengthen these relationships.
In 2022, Miller & Martin hosted one of these conferences in Atlanta, bringing together 140 lawyers from around the world. These meetings, Mr. DeLisle notes, are an opportunity for lawyers to deepen their connections and build the trust that is the foundation of the network’s success.
Practice groups within the World Law Group also help to maintain close ties among member attorneys who have specific expertise in different countries. Mr. DeLisle is one of the chairs of the Corporate Transactional Practice Group and meets with other members at least twice a year in addition to the annual conferences.
The network’s invitation-only structure ensures that clients are consistently supported by top-tier firms, with each one reviewed every five or six years to maintain high standards, Mr. DeLisle asserts.
A Network Built for International Business
As Atlanta has grown into an international hub since the 1996 Olympics and the expansion of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the need for sophisticated cross-border legal services has increased. Companies like Delta and Coca-Cola, as well as a growing number of international businesses, have driven demand for legal support that can operate on a global scale.
The World Law Group, with its emphasis on personal relationships and local expertise, offers an ideal solution for businesses with international transactions, Mr. DeLisle says.
The group offers not only in-country knowledge and efficient service but also the same level of care and attention they would expect from their hometown firm. It provides Miller & Martin with the ability to tap into a global network of lawyers who can quickly assemble teams to handle complex, multi-jurisdictional transactions, litigation and legal matters.
“We have a 24-hour rule—any partner firm in the World Law Group will respond within 24 hours,” Mr. DeLisle explains. This agility allows Miller & Martin to provide clients with broader skill sets and jurisdictional expertise than a single firm with international offices could offer.
The World Law Group’s structure also provides a significant advantage for clients in terms of local knowledge. While multinational firms may have offices in key global cities, they may lack the deep connections to the local economy and legal systems that World Law Group member firms bring to the table.
“You don’t know if you’re getting someone who’s truly connected to the local political structure, the economy and the legal landscape,” says Mr. DeLisle, referring to the challenges that some multinational firms face when opening offices abroad. In contrast, World Law Group firms are firmly rooted in their local markets, ensuring clients receive the best possible service in each jurisdiction.
For Miller & Martin’s clients, the firm’s membership in the World Law Group is a differentiator that sets it apart from other law firms.
“It goes into just the core of what the World Law Group is like and how well we know each other and serve each other’s clients,” Mr. DeLisle notes. “The reaction we get from our clients when they see that level of service and responsiveness, that warmness and kindness and care, is an amazing experience.”
To learn more about the World Law Group and Miller & Martin’s international business legal services, contact Mr. DeLisle here.
