With a network of 40 independent law firms who work together on cross-border transactions and other multi-jurisdictional casework. The member firms who are part of AEL have offices based a large number of different jurisdictions across Europe.
One or two member firms from each European country are selected for membership and the members collectively have affiliates throughout the rest of the world. Some of the AEL member firms also have offices outside Europe.
AEL members pride themselves on being good friends as well as colleagues, sharing information, working together and providing expert local lawyers whom AEL believes can give a better service to multinational clients than one law firm with branches across Europe.
AEL firms are well known and resourced professional organisations in their own countries, and AEL is constantly developing systems to enable them to deliver the integrated legal services that clients require, and organising joint training to develop expertise and share experience in specialist fields. As part of the strategy to deliver integrated legal services for clients AEL member firms have a number of Special Interest Groups “SIGs”. These SIGs facilitate the identification of expert lawyers in a given field and promote knowledge management between the member firms. They share information and establish relationships so are fun and informative. SIGs regularly hold conference calls and most meet once a year kindly hosted by one of the member firms.
Some SIGs have business plans to establish ambitions of the SIG and communicate this to others. Action points within the business plans can be attributable to individuals within the group and so all members are encouraged to join.
There are currently 7 SIGs:
AEL runs two main seminars per year, the AGM in the Autumn and the Training Seminar in the Summer. Member firms take it in turns to host these events. At each we arrange for speakers on given topics and arrange break out groups for delegates to discuss issues in groups and provide feedback. Participation in the events is key to the success of AEL and its member firms and every member firm is expected to send one or two representatives to each event. Other events and conference calls are hosted and convened by the Special Interest Groups (SIGs) individually as mentioned previously. In terms of costings there is no overall charge to attend the events however delegates are expected to pay for their own travel/accommodation and dining costs – the AEL Host organises a hotel and where to dine. We also welcome spouses to these events who are provided with their own itinerary with a view to more exploring the local area.Events