Lex Mundi Launches South American Professional Development Resource Services

Initiative Will Enhance and Strengthen the Professional Development Capabilities of Member Firms HOUSTON (June 25, 2008) — Lex Mundi has launched an initiative — South American Professional Development Resource Services — that will significantly enhance the training and learning opportunities of its South American member firm lawyers and staff. The new initiative will enable Lex Mundi's South American member firms to develop further their professional development departments, jointly work on and share training opportunities, jointly develop and share knowledge management systems, and enhance the skill levels of their lawyers and staff and their level of client service. Among the first services provided through South American Professional Development Resource Services was a workshop held in Buenos Aires for the professional development staff of Lex Mundi's South American member firms. The workshop was conducted by Lex Mundi Professional Development staff, led by its Director of Professional Development, John Claydon http://www.lexmundi.com/lexmundi/John_Claydon.asp , and focused on ways to help member firms design and implement professional development programs suitable for both large and small firms. The workshop also provided a platform to discuss ideas and share experiences, as well as practical tools to enhance professional development programming within a firm. John Claydon commented, "The workshop was very successful. Our firms came away with a clear understanding of what is needed to implement or improve their professional development strategies. One of the key areas of interest that emerged from the workshop was knowledge management and our member firms in this region have a keen interest in collaborating on best practices in harnessing and managing knowledge within their firms." Guyer Regules, Lex Mundi's member firm for Uruguay, already has a well-developed knowledge management system in place. The firm has agreed to share its know-how and experience in this area with its fellow South American member firms. "This is exactly the type of collaborative activity that will be facilitated through our South American Professional Development Resource Services," said Carl Anduri, President of Lex Mundi. "Through the initiative, our member firms in the region will have access to professional development resources and training to strengthen their own professional development activities that might not be otherwise readily available. They will also be able to leverage best practices and learn from each other. Professional development is a core strategic focus for Lex Mundi." In addition to collaborating on knowledge management systems, future activities of South American Professional Development Resource Services include the development of regional training programs and assistance with the review and analysis of professional development materials of member firms. John Claydon further explained, "The services and programs we are offering through our South American Professional Development Resource Services will serve as a model for enhancing the delivery of professional development resources in other regions. We hope to be able to launch similar programs for our member firms in Eastern Europe, Asia and Central America." Lex Mundi has a full-time professional development staff of four persons whose mission is to ensure that member firm lawyers can develop the knowledge and skills needed to provide excellent client service at different career stages and to compete effectively internationally. In addition to helping member firms with their own professional development capabilities, the group designs and implements training programs for member firms (including the week-long programs of the Lex Mundi Institute http://www.lexmundi.com/lexmundi/LexMundi_Institute.asp ), develops best practices and provides other services and resources to compliment Lex Mundi member firms' own career development functions. For more information on Lex Mundi's Professional Development programs please contact John Claydon, Tel: 1.416.932.3952, email: jclaydon@lexmundi.com. Lex Mundi is the world's leading association of independent law firms. The association has more than 160 member firms around the world, representing approximately 21,000 lawyers. Membership in Lex Mundi provides member firms with a trusted network of law firms that share similar values and a similar focus on quality through which they can access global legal resources that enable them to serve their clients better and to improve continuously all aspects of their firms. Member law firms are located throughout North America, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. Through its nonprofit affiliate, the Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation, Lex Mundi member firms provide pro bono legal assistance to social entrepreneurs around the globe. For more information, please visit http://www.lexmundi.com. News Contact: Carl Anduri Email: canduri@lexmundi.com Phone: 925-962-0115