Globalaw in the news. 

Globalaw is pleased to add McChain Hamm & Associates to the network and expand our presence in the Americas. McChain Hamm & Associates is a full-service law firm specializing in personal and business law, litigation and government relations.

Jurisdiction: USVI

Founded: 2004

# of Offices: 2 (Christiansted & St. Croix)

Practice Areas:

• Commercial
• Civil Litigation
• Estate Law, Private Foundations & Trusts
• Real Estate
• Taxation

For more information, visit https://usvi.law/.

The 2025 Globalaw Americas Meeting (GLARM) took place in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from February 19 to 22. Many thanks to Globalaw member firm EDGE Legal LLC for hosting a fantastic meeting.

 The meeting began with remarks from Pablo José Hernández Rivera, Resident Commissioner for Puerto Rico, who welcomed Globalaw members and discussed ways to strengthen global and economic connections. This was followed by sessions led by Carlos R. Cobian, Founder & CEO of Cobian Media LLC & Gravital Agency, addressing social media strategies for lawyers, and Jim Cochran of Cochran Client Development, a leading global consultant, speaking on business development. The meeting offered members practical and strategic insights into social media, business development, corporate governance, and an overview of the political and economic outlook in the Americas region.

During a separate track of the meeting, 16 Managing Partners from across the Americas (and Europe) convened for a Leadership Summit. Guided by Jim Cochran, a leading global business development consultant, and Eduardo Arroyo, a top business coach and strategic planner, the Managing Partners focused on law firm success and providing effective client service, beginning with the health and focus of their leadership.  In the words of EDGE Legal, “The summit reinforced how our global partnerships provide unparalleled reach for our clients, combining local expertise with an international perspective.” 

Last but certainly not least, Globalaw continued its tradition of raising funds through the Globalaw Foundation to support a local charity. The highly successful auction of a piece of art created by renowned Puerto Rican artist Jorge Zeno enabled the Foundation to donate $15,000 to Fundacion Banco Popular. This organization seeks to improve the quality of life of Puerto Ricans by promoting access to educational and self-management opportunities that foster excellence, ethics, and civic responsibility.

(March 3, 2025 – SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico) - Globalaw, a leading network of independent law firms, announces that its charitable arm, the Globalaw Foundation, has donated $17,000 to the Fields of Joy Foundation and Banco Popular Foundation based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The contributions were presented at the annual Globalaw Americas Meeting (GLARM).

Donating to local charities is a fundamental component of Globalaw’s event programming. Representatives from selected nonprofits are invited to meet and network with Globalaw member firms, enabling them to increase awareness for their organizations and foster continued connections and engagement. A painting by Puerto Rican artist Jorge Zeno was auctioned at GLARM, raising $15,000 for the Globalaw Foundation to support Banco Popular Foundation.

The Banco Popular Foundation seeks to improve the quality of life for Puerto Ricans by promoting access to educational and self-management opportunities that foster excellence, ethics, and civic responsibility. Since 1979, the foundation has invested over $50 million in community impact projects and supported over 300 initiatives focused on education, community development, social investment and disaster response.

"I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Globalaw for their generous donation to our Foundation. It is incredibly motivating to know that we have the support of this organization as we work to fulfill our mission of improving the quality of life for Puerto Ricans through educational and community development initiatives. On behalf of the thousands of people impacted by our programs, thank you,” said Beatriz Polhamus, Banco Popular Foundation’s Executive Director.

Fields of Joy is dedicated to promoting and safeguarding the mental health of children and youth in Puerto Rico. Established in memory of Dr. Joy Lynn Suárez-Kindy, a pioneer in the fight against bullying and cyberbullying, the foundation focuses on education, raising awareness, and eliminating the stigma surrounding mental health. Through various initiatives and collaborations, Fields of Joy strives to enhance the emotional well-being of young people and ensure they have access to the care they need.

“Fields of Joy is deeply grateful to the Globalaw Foundation for its generous donation to support our mission to promote and protect children's mental health in Puerto Rico. Your contribution will support vital initiatives and programs that promote early intervention, raise awareness, build knowledge, and drive lasting change for our children and youth.  We are deeply grateful for your solidarity and commitment to this urgent and vital cause,” said Carlos Cobian, Founder of the Fields of Joy Foundation.

About The Globalaw Foundation

The Globalaw Foundation supports community organizations focused on helping young people access legal education and increasing access to justice for those who would otherwise be denied it for financial or other reasons. The foundation is funded through donations from Globalaw member firms and funds raised at Globalaw events. Visit www.globalaw.net for more information.

About Globalaw

Globalaw is a global band one Chambers-ranked leading law firm network of approximately 80 independent law firms and 3,000 lawyers in over 60 countries. Our mission is to foster seamless legal collaboration among member firms and assist them in delivering high-quality, cost-effective solutions to their clients worldwide. We take pride in our commitment to excellence, global reach, and innovative approach to legal services. Visit www.globalaw.net to learn more.

Media Contact:

Jaime Luckey

jaime@luckeycomms.com

DLG Law Corporation has joined the Globalaw network!

Based in Seoul, South Korea, DLG serves a diverse clientele, including startups and multinational corporations. The firm’s skilled team of attorneys brings multicultural and multidisciplinary expertise from prestigious firms, multinational corporations, and accounting and venture capital firms. DLG’s core mission is to promote shared values centered on public interest and environmental stewardship.

Visit https://dlglaw.co.kr/en/ to learn more.

Organized for the upcoming Globalaw Americas Regional Meeting (GLARM) in Puerto Rico, the Silent Auction is open to all Globalaw members to bid on a painting by the distinguished and multifaceted Puerto Rican artist, Jorge Zeno.

The auction will run from Wednesday, 19 February at 7 pm, to Friday, 21 February at 9 pm.

The winner will be announced in the WhatsApp Group on Friday 21 February at 9:30 pm. If the winner is not at the GLARM meeting, the painting will be shipped by the organising secretariat.

Jorge Zeno

Zeno's incredible talent has been recognized both locally and internationally. Since 1985, his works have graced museums, art spaces, and galleries worldwide, captivating audiences with their enigmatic and playful essence. His art represents a unique fusion of Puerto Rican cultural identity and contemporary global art movements. The opportunity to acquire a Jorge Zeno piece is truly exceptional, offering collectors a chance to own a part of Puerto Rico's rich artistic heritage created by one of its most esteemed contemporary artists.  

Todo Bien

Organised by the host firm EDGE LEGAL LLC for the Globalaw Foundation, Jorge Zeno has donated a piece from his acclaimed ‘Todo Bien’ series. Estimated at $12,000, the auction will benefit the Banco Popular Foundation, the selected charity for this year's GLARM in San Juan. The ‘Todo Bien’ series has garnered significant attention in the art market. For instance, a 2022 oil on canvas piece from this collection, measuring 60 × 48 inches, is listed at $25,000. This valuation underscores the demand for Zeno's work among collectors and art enthusiasts.

How to participate

All Globalaw members are invited to participate in the auction and bid for this unique piece of art, by clicking on this link. This will add you to the ‘Globalaw Silent Auction’ group. The auction will run from Wednesday, 19 February at 7 pm, to Friday, 21 February at 9 pm. The winner will be announced in the WhatsApp Group on Friday 21 February at 9:30 pm. If the winner is not at the GLARM meeting, the painting will be shipped by the organising secretariat.

Join the Silent Auction Group

As one of Iceland’s leading corporate advisory law firms, ADVEL Attorneys at Law has earned a reputation for international expertise, a strong network, and exceptional services tailored to clients' needs.

In a recent interview, Stefán Þór Ingimarsson, LL.M., partner and associate at ADVEL since 1999, shed light on the firm’s evolution, specialization, and commitment to nurturing talent.

The Firm’s Evolution

Based in Reykjavik, the firm traces its roots back to 1966 with the creation of Logvisi Law Firm, which in 1999 formed the backbone of Fulltingi Legal Services. Fulltingi split into two specialized entities in 2008, creating ADVEL, a pivotal moment that allowed ADVEL to sharpen its focus on corporate advisory services.

Despite its smaller size post-split, the firm thrived. Its dedication to excellence has been recognized repeatedly, earning high rankings in prestigious legal directories like Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners.

Diversity Across Sectors

ADVEL offers services in company law, commercial law, financing and banking law, mergers and acquisitions, securities market law, (re) insurance, European law, competition law, tax law, restructuring and bankruptcy law, maritime law, and litigation. 

Its litigation team provides specialized advice on EU law from partners with firsthand experience in Brussels. The firm also plays a vital role in Iceland’s high-energy sector, advising companies engaged in hydro and geothermal energy projects—two cornerstones of the nation’s renewable energy landscape.

International Expertise

One of the firm’s most defining traits is its international expertise. Many of its partners and associates have studied or gained professional experience abroad, bringing their clients a wealth of knowledge and a global perspective. This international acumen proved invaluable during Iceland’s 2008 economic collapse when the firm was critical in restructuring and relisting companies on the Stock Exchange.

The Globalaw Advantage: Facilitating Success for Global Clients

ADVEL stands out for its robust cross-border work. The firm’s ability to navigate the complexities of multinational operations stems from its long-standing connection to the Globalaw network. Stefán, who forged this relationship with the association in 2007 during his PhD studies in the Netherlands, emphasized the association's importance in quickly providing high-quality information, support, and connections to clients. The firm frequently collaborates with Globalaw members, particularly in Denmark and the Netherlands, as well as Luxembourg and the UK, to offer seamless, comprehensive legal support to companies with multinational operations.

One example is ADVEl’s work with Hampidjan Group, a NASDAQ Nordic-listed company and global supplier of fishing gear, aquaculture equipment, and super towing ropes. In collaboration with Globalaw members, the firm has facilitated several multinational M&A transactions and advisory for Hampidjan, including the acquisition of an 80% controlling stake in two Scottish companies. Globalaw advice has been sought in several jurisdictions for Hampidjan Group, including in Denmark, Faroe Islands, Lithuania, Spain, and the Netherlands.  

A Culture of Growth and Inclusion

Perhaps ADVEL’s most significant differentiator is its commitment to cultivating talent from within. Many partners began their careers as associates and have been with the firm for 10 to 20 years, with several professionals returning after gaining experience elsewhere. This dedication to internal growth has fostered a loyal, close-knit team and built a culture of inclusion and organic development that has become central to its success and longevity.

Visit https://advel.is/ to learn more.

Russell Weir, a partner at Simpson Western, spoke with me about the firm and its history. The firm opened in 1985 and is now regarded as the North Shore of Auckland’s leading law firm. Next year, Simpson Western will celebrate 40 years in business!

For the past forty years, Simpson Western has been providing tailored and personalized services to clients onshore and offshore. I asked Russell what clients love most about the firm. He passionately said, “We are focused on and look to establish long-term relationships with our clients, rather than working for people on a one-off transactional basis.”

The firm prioritizes strong connections with clients and colleagues. To do this, when possible, they leverage their geography to forge relationships, creating opportunities for people to meet in person, whether that be clients or colleagues. The firm has a culture committee that helps foster an approachable environment and serves as an open forum for everyone to get together.

New Zealand's Economic Strengths

Tourism, along with agriculture, makes up a large part of the country’s economy. And green business is important and viable in New Zealand. Many New Zealand businesses are incorporating ESG into their business practices – In fact, Simpson Western published a business brief on legislation that was passed in 2023. The Companies (Directors’ Duties) Amendment Act 2023 stipulates that company directors can consider matters other than profits when acting in the best interest of the company. And, New Zealand is also highly regarded from a business transparency perspective.

Sustainability Focus

Simpson Western is also committed to being a responsible and sustainable business, with a strong sense of community and social responsibility. The firm supports various local initiatives and charities, such as the North Harbour Club, and the North Shore Hospice.

Practice Areas

Simpson Western has diverse practice areas. From employment, corporate/commercial, M&A, and business litigation to marriage dissolution and family law, the firm advocates for every client. Their team of 40 is large enough to handle complex matters yet small enough to offer personalized services. This specialty of dealing with businesses of scale allows them to handle transactions from a few million to a few hundred million.

Since 1985, the firm has stayed true to its client-centric approach. As the firm celebrates its anniversary and reflects on the past forty years, we look forward to seeing what they do over the next forty years.

Visit www.simpsonwestern.co.nz/ to learn more.

The Globalaw Foundation, the charitable arm of Globalaw, a network of independent law firms, donated to two local charities in Sao Paulo, Brazil, as part of its commitment to giving back to communities and organizations in need, with a focus on legal education and access to justice.

Read the full press release here.

The Globalaw Foundation is committed to giving back by supporting legal education and increasing access to justice around the world. 

Your generous donations help the Foundation continue its vital work. We invite you to join our mission by contributing today and making a meaningful impact on communities in need. 

Donations can now be made throughout the year, as well as at Globalaw events.  

Donate now

Welcome to the August Member Spotlight on Lexincorp, one ofGlobalaw's Latin America member firms. Lexincorp serves the Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica markets.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with partner PhilipAndré Sanchez. Lexincorp's history exemplifies the international ties of Globalawmember firms—for example, the history of Lexincorp's Costa Rica office. The Costa Rica office was founded by Philip's father, Dr.Arnolodo André, and it exemplifies the values of Globalaw for meeting international clients' needs by providing a stellar service enhanced by local connections and knowledge.

Dr. Arnoldo André earned his PhD in Hamburg, Germany, and in 1989 came back to Costa Rica to practice law. At the time there were fewer than 1000 lawyers in Costa Rica, few of whom understood the German language and culture.

Because of this, Dr. André developed a strong German client-base and ended up focusing his practice on foreign investment.

His firm, previously called André Tinoco & Asociados, became the bridge between both cultures – Costa Rica and Germany. He provided – as Lexincorp does today – local knowledge, connections, and legal know-how to investors from other countries. And the firm continues to provide this meaningful work. Dr. André is currently out of the office as he is serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs for the term 2022-2026.

In fact, Lexincorp continues to develop. Not only does it provide legal resources throughout multiple Central American countries, it has expanded its services to meet other needs for this same clientele. The office also created ATA Trust S.A., to provide escrow services and custody of funds for many foreign investors to use to facilitate sending investment funds, with a personalized and accessible team.

Today, Lexincorp is highly ranked among its peers – with top scores for client satisfaction. This is a direct result of Lexincorp’s approach to developing and nurturing client relationships. As Philip passionately said, “we speak in plural when we’re working with our clients.” The firm becomes a part of the client's team, and that specialized and focused relationship is one of their biggest advantages.

Coupled with their client-centric approach is their caring culture for their internal team – an approach that treats people with an understanding and appreciation of the necessity of a work/life balance.

Lawyers and staff can bring their children to the office. They can even bring their pets – the office has a dog park! The firm has taken several steps to help their professionals balance and integrate all the different aspects of their life. And by doing so, the firm has seen significant improvements in productivity.

Leaders at Lexincorp have a vision: a firm where every lawyer is passionate about the work that they are doing. This vision has drawn passionate young workers, and the client response has been overwhelmingly positive, with clients welcoming fresh perspectives to their teams with traditional values and the expertise of the senior counsels.

Recently, Lexincorp opened a branch in the Pacific Coast – Santa Teresa. Santa Teresa is a remote town in Puntarenas Providence, Costa Rica, and started as a remote fishing village. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people from the United States came to Santa Teresa and used it as a haven and place to escape. Tourism has become a significant economic driver in the area, with a related demand for legal services, often with very quick turn arounds as people are often only in town for a short amount of time. To meet that need, Lexincorp started a local office, to allow it to provide consistent, local client services in expedited time frames.

By the end of the interview, it was clear: Lexincorp not only serves an international market, but it also continues to look for ways to improve and expand those services, while remaining true to core Globalaw values.

Globalaw is pleased to announce that it has entered into a co-operation with AESIS, a leading global insurance broker network.

Read the full press release here.

The Globalaw Foundation is proud to support the Aboriginal Lawyers Forum Warrior Project, which helps fund articling positions for Indigenous students in British Columbia. As part of its Americas Regional Meeting (GLARM) in Vancouver, Canada, Globalaw donated CAD $10,000 to invest in future legal warriors.   

Read the full press release here.

Continuing with Globalaw’s 30th-anniversary celebration, the next member firm spotlight is Pelaghias, Christodoulou, Vrachas LLC from Cyprus. Over the last few weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of talking to managing partner Alexandra Pelaghias-Christodoulou.

As Alexandra started talking, it was palpable that the Firm is surrounded by the dense and rich history of Cyprus. The saying, “Scratch the soil anywhere in Cyprus, and you will find traces of its magnificent past”, is not an exaggeration. The island’s history is not confined to the ancient tombs or the oldest wine label; it’s entrenched in one of the most established and oldest law firms in Cyprus – Pelaghias. Alexandra proudly explained that the Firm celebrated their 100th anniversary in 2020. For over 100 years, Pelaghias has committed to build lasting relationships, both with their clients and firm members.

Alexandra explained that since they are not a big firm, they can strive to provide personal service to each client. As opposed to many larger firms, clients of Pelaghias not only know who their lawyer is but can speak to that lawyer anytime they need assistance. Their motto is personal service, and caring for their clients is paramount. A recent example? The firm advised a foreign tech company active in the power and telecommunications sector with revenues exceeding 1 billion euros. The company has physically relocated its headquarters to Cyprus, and Pelaghias assisted with its corporate restructuring and reorganization.

And it’s not surprising to find a company moving there. Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean and is between Europe and Eurasia, and Northern Africa and the Middle East. Its strategic position has led it to be among the most prosperous and educated countries in the Mediterranean region. In fact, it hosts several recognized universities that draw students from all over the world. Cyprus also has a friendly business environment. Pelaghias can help those who want to invest in the MENA region (Middle East, North Africa), since the Firm has strong relations with the region that partly operates under Sharia law. An increasing number of individuals are using Cyprus to invest in other jurisdictions that do not operate under a common law system.

As we neared the end of our time, I asked Alexandra how the Firm has pivoted to the changing technological innovations in the 21st century, especially Artificial Intelligence. Alexandra quickly responded that Pelaghias is becoming a regional hub for technology companies. They host the Reflect Festival, the largest Tech & Entrepreneurship event in Limassol. It has thousands of attendees per year – which is no simple feat for an island of 1,000,000. Alexandra also spearheaded the technology and AI department to ensure that the Firm stays relevant in its use of technology and AI to provide clients with excellent, personalized legal services. However, the increased emphasis on technology and AI results in organizations needing to deploy security protections – and Pelaghias has done just that. The firm will be certified by June with the following ISO modules:

• ISO 90001:2015 = Quality Management Systems (QMS)
• ISO 45001:2018 = Occupational Health & Safety System (OH&S)
• ISO 14001:2015 = Environmental Management System (EMS)
• ISO 27001:2022 = Information Security Management System (ISMS)

It is a great accomplishment for Pelaghias and rare for law firms to earn ISO certifications, another reason why Pelaghias is among the leading firms in their region.

The adage “the more things change, the more they stay the same” holds true for Pelaghias, a Cyprus law firm celebrating a 100-year tradition. They have and continue to assist companies and individuals with aviation, banking & finance, blockchain & technology, corporate and commercial, litigation, taxation, and much more. They’ve pivoted in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the rise of artificial intelligence, and the security awareness movement, while staying true to the values engrained in the firm’s leadership since it was founded in 1920 by John G. Pelaghias.

Visit www.pelaghiaslaw.com/ for more information.

Globalaw is honoured to announce that it has been ranked again in the highest band (Band 1) of the Leading Law Firm Networks table in Chambers and Partners’ ranking of Global Market Leaders for 2024.

Read more here