ALFA International

ALFA International

Company type	501(c)(6) non-profit corporation registered in Delaware [1]
Founded	1980 (1980)
Headquarters	Chicago , United States
Number of locations	300
Area served	Africa, Asia, Australia/New Zealand, Europe, North America, South America
Key people	Edward T. Hayes, Chair, Board of Directors;[2] Jessica Zaroski Bauer, Chief Executive Officer[3]
Website	ALFA International

ALFA International The Global Legal Network Inc., commonly known as ALFA International, is a global legal network consisting of 140 independent law firms, including 80 U.S. law firms and 60 member firms in other countries.^[1][4] As with other types of professional services networks, the organization serves as a business referral and resource pooling network between member law firms.

History

The organization, which was originally named the American Law Firm Association,^[5] was founded in 1980.^[5][6] It is the oldest U.S.-based law firm network^[1] At its creation, it consisted of 12 U.S. law firms that performed insurance defense work for insurance companies with nationwide operations.^[7] During the 1980s, ALFA expanded to include more than 60 law firms in the United States. The membership included firms that handled other types of litigation, not just insurance defense, as well as transactional legal work. During the 1990s, ALFA membership grew to include 80 law firms in the United States and 25 law firms in Europe, Latin American, and the Pacific Rim. During the 2000s, ALFA expanded its international membership to include 60 member firms.

Membership

As of 2019, the ALFA International network comprises approximately 140 law firms and approximately 10,000 lawyers^[4] in 300 offices worldwide.^[8] ALFA International membership is exclusive to one law firm in each metropolitan area, state, or country.^[5][9][10] Member law firms are full-service corporate firms^[9] and, on average, each firm consists of approximately 75 attorneys.^[1] Firms must undergo a rigorous application process prior to being admitted to the organization.^[5][11][12] Member firms are then regularly audited,^[10][11] and underperforming firms may be removed from membership.^[13] Member law firms have no legal ties to one another.^[14]

See also

• Umbrella organization
• Business networking
• Professional services networks
• Multidisciplinary professional services networks
• Law firm network

References

1. "ALFA website". ALFA International. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
2. "ALFA International Board of Directors". ALFA International. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
3. "ALFA International Staff". ALFA International. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
4. "Young Clement Rivers News". Retrieved 19 December 2013.
5. Hearn, Rebekah (30 April 2005). "Burch Porter Touts Usefulness of Legal Network". Memphis Daily News. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
6. "ALFA International Global Legal Network". Guidestar. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
7. "ALFA International History". ALFA International. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
8. "ALFA International Law Firm Associations Profile". LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell. Archived from the original on 21 August 2010. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
9. Doe, John (31 July 2009). "Joining the Alliance". Asia Legal Business. Archived from the original on 25 April 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
10. "Becoming an ALFA International Firm". ALFA International. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
11. Doe, John (5 October 2009). "Smart Networking Considers the Risks". Lawyers Weekly (Australia). Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
12. Dahl, Dick (2 January 2008). "Networking". New England In House. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
13. Whealing, Justin (11 June 2010). "The Ties That Bind" (PDF). Lawyers Weekly (Australia). Retrieved 19 December 2013.
14. Kane, Brad (19 September 2011). "Local law firms leaning on global affiliations". HartfordBusiness.com. Retrieved 19 December 2013.

External links

• IRS Form 990 filings for 2009–2011