2005 Annual Global Meeting
Mexico City

Leadership, Succession Planning, and Networking

Planning for a Perfect Meeting 

Capín, Calderón, Ramírez y Gutiérrez-Azpe, S.C. Partners Eugenio Hurtado and Enrique Ramírez began planning for Interlaw’s 2005 Annual Global Meeting in Mexico City with Interlaw Executive Director Bev Weise as long ago as their post trip tour through China following the 2005 Global Meeting. The trio wanted to produce a substantive meeting as well as share the wonders, mysteries and hospitality of Mexico.  They’d be sure to demonstrate to the delegates in 2005 that Mexico City is a bustling center of commerce as well as a land of intrigue, with a dual history rich in American indigenous and European culture, wrapped in warm and gracious hospitality. Ms. Weise visited Mexico several months later and with Mr. Hurtado, Mr. Ramirez, spent significant time designing a flawless meeting that was well attended and highly rated by attending delegates.

 

Leadership, Development and Succession Planning                                       

The theme of the program, “Leadership, Development and Succession in Law Firms” featured Tony Raia, Ph.D., a professor of Leadership and Change Management at UCLA Anderson School of Management in Los Angeles, California.  Dr. Raia keynoted the address, “Leadership Skills for Business Success” followed by small group discussions in which discussed these principles and their application to law firms and the legal profession.  Delegates had prepared for the meeting by taking an online Leadership Style Inventory assessment (SDI) and then, receiving the results at the meeting itself, examined how  personal styles of leadership is dictated by one’s underlying assumptions and motivations,  and how interpersonal styles are often altered under pressure or in conflict situations.  “Leadership and Interpersonal Dynamics” created spirited roundtable discussions and delegates were able to gain new insight into their own interpersonal dynamics.  Beverly Weise presented “Succession Planning and Development: Lessons from the Corporate World.”. Ms  Weise, who, before becoming Interlaw’s Executive Director, served four years as the Corporate Director of Executive Planning & Development at Northrop Grumman, where she designed and implemented a succession planning process for this Fortune 100 company. Delegates learned about the importance of early identification of high potential talent and ways of developing key talent within the law firm to ensure a smooth leadership transition.

CCR&G’s Eduardo Rodríguez moderated a business panel, “Leadership Issues and Challenges in Corporations” and featured exceptionally compelling speakers Guillermo Heredia Cabaga, CEO Aerolineas Mesoamericanas; Eduardo Fernández, GC, Banco Santander Serfín; and Francisco Espinoza de los Reyes, head of corporate affairs, Philip Morris Mexico.  “Leaders of Tomorrow—The Next Generation” was addressed by Alejandro Ramírez Magaña CEO of Cinepolis—a young, brilliant scholar and businessman who’s insight into the importance and methods of maintaining dignity and flexibility, was an inspiration.

 

History and Culture                                               

Tours of historical downtown, the natural history museum, and an authentic rodeo--Lienzo Charro –
complete with mariachi music and local  cuisine, provided a context of history and culture for each delegate. Several visitors also chose to visit the firm and others used free time to visit nearby pyramids. The highlight of the entire meeting was the closing gala affair under the stars at the Chapultepec Castle.  At the closing ceremony, Jim Harrowell recognized the  gracious hospitality of Capín, Calderón, Ramírez y Gutiérrez-Azpe, S.C., and the awarded   “Interlawyer of the Year” to Jerry Biederman of  Neal Gerber Eisenberg LLP, Chicago.

Annual General Meeting

A favorite portion of every annual meeting is the new firm introductions.  Zhong Lun Law Firm (Beijing) was represented by Lui Chi, and Noble & Scheidecker, (Luxembourg) was introduced by Marie Beatrice Noble & Katia Scheidecker.  Both firms were profiled in the 3Q05 edition of The Interlawyer. Member firm  resignations due to new conflicts with exclusive networks or conflicting firm expansion strategies were announced on behalf of our friends from Mendelsohn, Stehlin, Henrici Wicki, Kelvin Chia, and Remy & Darus.   The observer firms, represented by Remi Turcon of Alexen of Paris & Lyon, and Michael Siebold of Arnecke Siebold of Frankfurt gave presentations about their firm.   At the conclusion of the conference, the Interlaw board had voted to invite both outstanding firms to join the network, which they accepted after due consultation with their partners.  Both firms are profiled in this issue of The Interlawyer.

 

Results of the Annual Survey, trends in referral activity, and the establishment of a business development task force—all of which are discussed throughout this issue—were discussed at length before each region broke into separate meetings.  The Executive Director reviewed the year’s conferences, media coverage, member coverage and her visits to law firms worldwide as well as suggested initiatives, such as Business Development Web Seminars and the tracking of pro bono work by our member firms.

Chair Jim Harrowell then thanked the outgoing members of the Board of Director’s, Eduardo de Alba, Arias, Fabrega & Fabrega, (Panama) and Steven Weinberg, Kronish Lieb Weiner & Hellman LLP (New York) for their years of service to the network. 

Jim Harrowell bids good luck to Eduardo de Alba and Steven Weinberg as they retire from the Board of Directors

He then discussed the capabilities of newly nominated members for the Board of Directors, José Luis Letelier, who along with Darío Cardenas of Cardenas & Cardenas (Bogotá) will represent Latin America, and Jack Cullen, nominated to join Tom Raleigh of Akerman Senterfitt (Florida) and Bill VanderBurgh of Aird & Berlis (Toronto) in representing North America. Both nominees were elected unanimously to the Board. (See article below)

   
The overall meeting concluded on a very high note with Nilo Peña inviting Asia Pacific members to Manila February 23-26 as his firm Quasha, Ancheta, Peña and Nolasco hosts the Interlaw Asia Pacific Regional Meeting as well as the inaugural Asia Pacific IP/IT Special Business Team Meeting.  Bill Capps of Jeffer, Mangels, Butler & Marmaro LLP (Los Angeles) launched a crossword puzzle invitation to delegates to spark their interest in the Americas Meeting scheduled for March 23-March 26.  The Women Lawyers of Interlaw-Americas and the Latin Lawyers are having conjunctive meetings, and Central American Interlawyers will arrive a day early to speak to the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce on the issues of CAFTA.  An invitation from Håkon Bleken of Advokatfirmaet Haavind Vislie AS was extended to Interlaw members for the Regional Meeting of Europe/Middle East/Africa scheduled for Oslo June 8-11.  And Erwin Hanslik, of e/n/w/c, headquartered in Vienna, and with offices in Budapest and Prague, distributed early welcome gifts to all delegates for the October 22-26, 2006 Annual Global Meeting in Prague.  Undoubtedly  plans are fully underway for a fabulous 2006 AGM in Prague.

 

Two New Members Elected to the Interlaw Board

Newest Members of the Board of Directors

José Luis Letelier, managing partner of Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos, Santiago, Chile, who practices in the areas of Corporate and Commercial Law, Mergers and Acquisitions, Antitrust and Foreign Investment, has led several company acquisitions, from large public companies to small privately owned businesses and asset-based transactions.  He provides corporate and commercial assistance to local subsidiaries of transnational corporations such as shipping and logistic companies, retail, fruit exporters and foodstuffs manufacturers. A native of Santiago, Chile, he received his law degree from Universidad de Chile, Santiago and his LL.M from UCLA School of Law. Other professional affiliations include International Bar Association (IBA), Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA), American Intellectual Property Association (AIPLA), Interamerican Intellectual Property Association (ASIPI), Licensing Executives Society (LES) and European Community Trademark Association (ECTA).  

Jack Cullen is the former managing partner of Foster Pepper, Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon, U.S.A. An international insolvency attorney, he represents the entire range of participants in creditor / debtor law. He has represented both creditors and debtors in reorganizations, as well as trustees, creditor and bondholder committees, and buyers of assets in bankruptcy cases. Admitted to practice in Washington State as well as three U.S. District Courts, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the U.S. Tax Court, he holds degrees from the University of Puget Sound and Western Washington State University. He is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute and the Business Law Section of the American Bar Association and noted by Chambers, Best Lawyers in America and Washington Law & Politics magazine as a top attorney in his field.  A licensed pilot and certified scuba diver, Mr. Cullen is an outdoorsman who is also devoted to Seattle-based civic organizations.