Founded 1980 (1980) Number of locations 300 | Headquarters Chicago, United States | |
Type 501(c)(6) non-profit corporation registered in Delaware Area served Africa, Asia, Australia/New Zealand, Europe, North America, South America Key people Carol B. Ervin, Chair, Board of Directors; Lee Stephen MacPhee, Interim Chief Executive Officer | ||
ALFA International The Global Legal Network Inc., commonly known as ALFA International, is a global legal network consisting of 145 independent law firms, including 80 U.S. law firms and 65 member firms in other countries. As with other types of professional services networks, the organization serves as a business referral and resource pooling network between member law firms.
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History
The organization, which was originally named the American Law Firm Association, was founded in 1980. It is the oldest U.S.-based law firm network and one of the largest law firm networks in the world. At its creation, it consisted of 12 U.S. law firms that performed insurance defense work for insurance companies with nationwide operations. During the 1980s, ALFA expanded to include more than 50 law firms in the United States. The membership included firms that handled other types of litigation, not just insurance defense, as well as transactional legal work. During the 1990s, ALFA membership grew to include 80 law firms in the United States and 25 law firms in Europe, Latin American, and the Pacific Rim. During the 2000s, ALFA expanded its international membership to include 60 member firms.
Membership
As of 2013, the ALFA International network comprises 145 law firms and approximately 10,000 lawyers in 300 offices worldwide. ALFA International membership is exclusive to one law firm in each metropolitan area, state, or country. Member law firms are full-service corporate firms and, on average, each firm consists of approximately 75 attorneys. Firms must undergo a rigorous application process prior to being admitted to the organization. Member firms are then regularly audited, and underperforming firms may be removed from membership. Member law firms have no legal ties to one another.