(L-R) Awards host Andrew Ryan; Elaine Brett, ITcustomer services lead, Yvonne Garricks, head of learning anddevelopment, Sarah Beeby, partner, Virginia Glastonbury, partner,Dentons; Louise Byron-Sinclair, marketing manager, Forensic RiskAlliance
Finalists: Conyers Dill & Pearman;Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (joint highly commended); Litwak& Partners; Magnusson; Paul Hastings; Squire Patton Boggs(joint highly commended).
Dentons attained the international law firm innovation title forits efforts to build the world's largest free-to-use lawyerreferral programme, Nextlaw Global Referral Network.
Dentons' model disrupts the traditional 'pay-to-play' legalreferral industry by ditching membership fees and allowing multiplefirms from the same jurisdiction to participate, benefiting smallerfirms that are typically priced out of other referral networks andincreasing the chance of connecting clients with the best lawyersfor the job. The network has so far attracted more than 400 memberfirms in 175 countries, giving clients access to more than 21,000lawyers. Dentons' partners (and soon other members) vet prospectivefirms based on client feedback, independent rankings, awards andaccolades, and practice or sector specialisms. The network hasalready helped Dentons secure cross-border work for UPS Capitalowing to its ability to provide comprehensive,geographically-pertinent expertise through 12 Dentons offices and14 network firms, all linked together by Dentons' projectmanagement technology. The firm next plans to launch a separate,cross-functional public affairs network, giving clients access tocompanies and organisations that help influence governmentpolicy.
An innovative way of approaching building a network, treatingfirms as collaborative partners in serving clients, one judgecommented.
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