The How & Why of LEI

The year 2024 marks LawExchange International’s (LEI) 30th anniversary, a time for both reflection and, more importantly, looking ahead.

 

Founded in 1994 by Hewitsons LLP, along with two co-founding firms from Germany and France, LEI was built on a simple philosophy: members must treat a client referred by another member firm with the same commitment to quality and service as they would their own clients. Now, 30 years later and with 35 member firms, this commitment remains unchanged. While legal directories existed then as they do today, LEI's emphasis on fostering close personal relationships has always been at the core—especially when urgent advice is needed in another jurisdiction for a client.

 

Like any forward-thinking organization, LEI has evolved significantly over the past three decades. The half-yearly global conferences have expanded to two full days of intensive work.

In addition to these major global conferences, LEI hosts annual regional conferences for member firms across the Americas, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific regions. These regional events encourage members to involve individuals who may not attend the main global conferences.

 

As LEI moves forward, it will continue to grow with carefully planned expansions and will never lose sight of its core mission: providing swift and effective legal advice to each other’s clients.