Meeting in Person: Why it Now has an Enhanced Value

Technology has revolutionized global working. But, what has become very apparent to me during the first quarter of the year, is that there’s still an important role for meeting face-to-face, particularly when it comes to delivering the best service to our clients and partner firms.

I have recently had the pleasure of visiting several Interlaw partner firms across the world, including some of the newest additions to the network. There is nothing quite like having engaging and vibrant discussions in-person, and experiencing and understanding the cultures and working practices of our lawyers in real life is hugely important.   

The efficiency and effectiveness of the Interlaw network is built on the relationships we have with our colleagues in different countries. Meeting in-person is vital to really getting to know our partner firms and to understand their locations, work practices, culture, opportunities and local business practices. It also gives us a great opportunity to meet more people from the firm and explain how being part of the Interlaw network can support their practice.     

These visits also remind me why Interlaw exists. Through our extensive network of first-rate law firms and colleagues across the world, we have been able to create a connected community that has the best of both worlds. We operate like a global firm, and we deliver like an independent, meaning our firms can be part of something bigger, with all the benefits of being exactly who they are.   

For example, at the start of the year, I was hosted in Egypt by Mena Associates in Association with AMERELLER, which also has Interlaw bases in Iraq and Libya. Speaking with them to find out more about legal practices in more challenging jurisdictions, such as Iraq and Libya, was vital to understanding the wider opportunities for our global network of lawyers and our clients.   

Similarly, when meeting with Juridis in Mauritius, I could understand more about the culture of the country, as well as the legal and business landscape. During the visit, I learned a considerable amount, particularly about the importance of Mauritius as a bridge between Africa and Asia, and how Mauritius is often the primary location for structuring investments into these regions.   

Equally, in-person discussions with Trowers & Hamlins in Dubai and Luthra & Luthra Law Offices in India will help us shape our further growth strategies across Asia and Africa.   

Finally, the quarter ended with visits to Stuttgart, Düsseldorf and Frankfurt in Germany to meet with colleagues at Interlaw firms BRP Renaud, Lang & Rahmann and Arnecke Sibeth Dabelstein, where it was fantastic to hear more about their plans for the rest of the year and the future.   

These meetings have highlighted that, in a world that has seen the use of technology revolutionize how we work and interact, there is still an important place for seeing each other face-to-face. It helps us to shape our strategy and continually evolve how we work with our partner firms to deliver best-in-class service for our global clients.   

Of course, for a global organisation such as ours, the shift to virtual since the pandemic has been immensely helpful in keeping us all connected and ensuring better engagement. We are also very focussed on minimizing our environmental impact, which is why we have reduced the number of in-person events we host each year, and provide the option to attend some of our sessions virtually. When we do meet in person, it is important that these sessions have a real purpose, helping to drive the ongoing development of Interlaw and the close relationships between colleagues across the world.   

As we head into our busy regional meeting program, with our Americas’ regional meeting in Detroit and our EMEA regional meeting in Prague, followed by our annual global meeting in Taipai later this year, I look forward to catching up with colleagues from around the world.   The use of technology to enable us to meet and collaborate virtually has, without doubt, had a hugely positive impact on how our network has evolved. But, sometimes, there’s nothing quite like meeting face-to-face, and it’s something I value increasingly.