Atlanta last week welcomed law firms from 65 countries during the semi-annual conference of the World Law Group, an alliance founded in part by local attorney Tom Harrold of Miller & Martin LLP.
In 1988, already having been heavily engaged in global business from Atlanta, especially with German firms, Mr. Harrold was one of six attorneys that kick-started the group, helping them band together to refer cross-border business to trustworthy partners in various jurisdictions.
In an era of ever-bigger global law firms, Mr. Harrold says the group ensures each firm’s clients receive localized expertise in the areas where they operate.
“There are ‘no borders to business,’ and lawyers need to have good contacts in the major commercial cities of the world in order to better serve their clients,” said Mr. Harrold in a news release. “We have strong local firms rather than a satellite office of a mega-firm.”
The World Law Group has 60 independent member firms with 400 offices in 91 countries and comprising a total of 21,000 lawyers.
Mr. Harrold said the event was a chance to showcase “the capital of the Southeast” to a group of high-powered attorneys with many international companies among their clientele. Scott Guan, the Shanghai-based rotating president of the group, thanked Miller & Martin for hosting.
“Like members of the World Law Group, they value the relationships they have with the communities they serve, and we look forward to seeing Atlanta through their eyes,” said Scott Guan, parter in the Shanghai-based Zhong Lun law firm, in advance of the event.
In it duties as host, Miller & Martin put together a luncheon at the St. Regis in Buckhead pairing diplomats from the 70-plus countries that have representation in Atlanta at tables with attorneys from their respective nations.
“We have strong local firms rather than a satellite office of a mega-firm.” -Tom Harrold
Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson addressed the audience, giving them an overview of Georgia’s economic trajectory and outlining its successes in attracting foreign direct investment, particularly in the automotive sector.
Prior to the event’s official start, delegates had the opportunity to learn more about the civil rights history of Atlanta, participate in a bike tour and dine at nearby restaurants. They also visited The Carter Center and the Atlanta History Center to get a deeper understanding about the city.
Plenaries and speeches included sessions with Atlanta executives like Delta Air Lines Inc. Executive Vice President Peter Carter, who addressed the future of international travel, and a discussion with Atlanta Journal-Constitution political reporter Greg Bluestein, who gave a talk on the upcoming elections in Georgia.
More than 30 guests and 115 attorneys were slated to attend.
Disclosure: Miller & Martin is an annual partner of Global Atlanta and sponsors the ongoing Consular Conversations series of luncheons with local diplomats. See upcoming luncheons with the British and Dutch consuls general here.