Lex Mundi Institute marks its 10th anniversary

At the conclusion of the recent August 2014 programs in Monterey, California, the Lex Mundi Institute celebrated its 10th anniversary. Since the inaugural program in 2004, more than 800 member firm lawyers from 84 countries have completed thirty-four week-long, intensive programs offered through the Lex Mundi Institute. The programs of the Lex Mundi Institute (LMI) are designed to prepare senior associates and junior partners to work with multinational clients and to provide new partners and firm leaders the skills they need to be effective in their management and leadership roles. The custom-designed programs are led by an international faculty, including academics, in-house counsel, well-known consultants and senior Lex Mundi member firm lawyers, and provide both substantive and skills training through interactive lectures, individual skills sessions, group discussions, case studies and simulated exercises. "From the start, we recognized the Lex Mundi Institute as an excellent way to prepare young lawyers from our firm. The professional training they receive is collaborative, interactive and hands-on, and they leave prepared to take the next step in their careers. The LMI is an invaluable resource available to us through our membership in Lex Mundi," said Keith Vaughan, chairman of Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, LLP, Lex Mundi member firm for USA, North Carolina and chair of Lex Mundi. Participants in the Lex Mundi Institute are selected through a rigorous nomination process. Member firms may nominate their lawyers for each of the four LMI programs held in Monterey, California: Advanced Leadership and Management, Foundation Management, Cross-Border Transactions and Cross-Border Dispute Resolution. "The Lex Mundi Institute provided some of the best professional training I have received," commented Paula Linna, a partner at Roschier, the Lex Mundi member firm for Finland who participated in the inaugural 2004 program. "The highly-interactive discussions created a platform from which everyone could benefit. I was able to immediately put to use skills I learned through the LMI." Because Lex Mundi member firms from jurisdictions around the globe send their most promising and accomplished lawyers to the Lex Mundi Institute, the interaction among participants is an exceptional professional and multi-cultural experience. During their week spent together, participants are able to establish lifelong friendships and a highly valuable professional network. Said Michelle Liberman, a partner at S. Horowitz & Co, the member firm for Israel and another participant in the 2004 Lex Mundi Institute program, "There was an immense value in the diversity at the institute. I met and worked side by side with fellow lawyers from all corners of the globe. Through our discussions, I left more knowledgeable of the practices and standards of their jurisdictions. I still remain in close contact with many of the participants from my LMI experience." Over the years, the Lex Mundi Institute has grown and evolved to support the changing professional development needs of lawyers practicing in an increasingly competitive marketplace for legal services. In addition to the annual programs in Monterey, a Business Management Program is now offered to member firm lawyers at the University of Cambridge and is taught by the professors of the Judge Business School. The Lex Mundi Business Management Program is designed to increase lawyers' understanding of their clients' business challenges and the concepts that underlie their business operations. "Clients now expect more from their legal advisors," commented Carl Anduri, president of Lex Mundi. "They expect their advisors to understand their business and where they can add value." A decade later, the Lex Mundi Institute remains focused on equipping member firm lawyers with the knowledge and skills needed to help their clients succeed globally and to enhance the ability of their firms to effectively compete in an increasingly globalized economy. For additional information, visit www.lexmundi.com and www.lexmundiprobono.org. Published: Thu, Sep 11, 2014