Meritas (law)

Meritas, formerly known as Commercial Law Affiliates, is a services network consisting of a global alliance of business law firms that was founded in 1990.[1][2] As of 2024, the network reported 177 member firms with about 8,600 lawyers in 91 countries.[3] Functioning as a non-profit corporation headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Meritas operates on an invitation-only basis with its member firms requiring recertification every three years in order to maintain their membership.[4]

Membership

Jennifer McPhee, writing for Canadian Lawyer, described Meritas as one of the "more established by-invitation only legal networks that do extensive research before carefully selecting one firm per jurisdiction."[4] Corporate Counsel Weekly also wrote, "Meritas determines significant business or economic centers where member firms' clients may need local counsel in order to determine where it will have its members,"[1] and that "...all member firms provide Meritas with quarterly referral reports, listing all Meritas-originated referrals made to and from the firm for the stated period and cooperate in evaluating specific matters."[1] If a firm does not receive good marks, its membership with the organization may be terminated.[5]

Programs

In 2025, Meritas launched a Legal Technology Education Program to help member firms evaluate and adopt technology through online and in-person curriculum provided by top legal tech companies.[6]

Officers

  • May 1998: Jerome Reso (Baldwin Haspel Burke & Mayer, LLC - New Orleans, LA, USA) named as Meritas Chair
  • May 2001: George Cadman (Boughton Law Corporation - Vancouver, BC, Canada) named as Chair
  • May 2005: A. Lee Lundy (Tydings & Rosenberg LLP - Baltimore, Maryland, USA) named as Chair
  • February 2006: Tanna Moore named President and CEO[7]
  • May 2007 Kenneth Kallish (Minden Gross LLP - Toronto, ON, Canada) named as Meritas Chair
  • July 2008: Jean-Paul Bignon named as Chair-elect[8]
  • April 2009: Jean-Paul Bignon (Bignon Lebray - Paris, France) named as Chair
  • May 2011: Judith Lockhart (Carter Ledyard & Milburn LLP, New York, NY) named as Chair
  • May 2013: Andre Ryan (BCF LLP - Montreal, QC, Canada) named as Chair
  • May 2015: Dennis Unkovic (Meyer, Unkovic & Scott - Pittsburgh, PA, United States) named as Chair
  • May 2018: Jill Wiley (Waterfall Economidis - Tucson, Arizona, United States) named as Chair
  • February 2020: Sona Pancholy named President[9]
  • May 2024: Luca A. Citton, president of Vancouver-based Boughton Law Corporation, was elected board chair for a three-year term[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c Wright, Karen (April 18, 2007). "Focus: Law Firm Associations". Corporate Counsel Weekly. Bureau of National Affairs.
  2. ^ Firms find benefit in law firm networks, Minnesota Lawyer, Mar 17, 2008
  3. ^ a b Macnab, Aidan (January 12, 2024). "Global network Meritas elects Vancouver lawyer Luca Citton as board chair". Canadian Lawyer. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  4. ^ a b McPhee, Jennifer (February 2007). "Report on Law Associations: Going Global" (PDF). Canadian Lawyer. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 14, 2011. Retrieved November 14, 2009.
  5. ^ Tromans, R. (October 2007). "Alternative hits the mainstream". European Lawyer. p. 30.
  6. ^ Martinson, Sarah (February 25, 2025). "Law Firm Network Meritas Starts Legal Tech Ed Program". Law360 Pulse. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  7. ^ Garrison-Sprenger, Nicole (March 20, 2006). "Minnesotan to head global legal network". Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. Retrieved November 14, 2009.
  8. ^ "People On the Move". Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. July 21, 2008. Retrieved November 14, 2009.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  9. ^ "Meritas Global Network of Law Firms Names New President". finance.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
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