How do you exceed the 2006 conference in Istanbul? We said the same about Hong Kong in 2005. Well, it is difficult, but it is not and should never be a competition! Each city, wherever located in the world, has its own personal charm and charisma and Boston certainly filled those requirements. Istanbul was unique for us, because it offered the exotic mix of the west meeting Asia; Hong Kong had similar qualities simply because it was the vibrancy of Hong Kong!

But Boston was modern, clean, organised America at its best - always convenient, always accessible for every need and always friendly; and with a great variety of different events from a traditional lobster clam bake; high tower receptions; an amphibious city and water ride, to the olde worlde history of Boston, at the cornerstone of the creation of today's USA, through to a wide ranging conference business programme including new world law (the collaborative law panel session), international business etiquette, through to up to date marketing techniques for lawyers and an insight into American politics

The Conference Hotel

The former Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, now the Langham Hotel, was our home for the duration of the 20th annual conference of World Link for Law. In the heart of the financial district, it was within easy reach of the harbor front - useful for some of our events outside of the hotel; the historic Faneuil Hall and Quincy market; nearby shopping at Macy's and numerous Irish bars!

The Langham Hotel, Post Office Square - traditional and stylish.	During the conference - an informal group on a walk in the Back Bay - but the expressions say- "where's the nearest bar"?

The business part of the Conference

Some of the 60+ delegates on the first conference day.

Our conference programme kicked off with a high profile session. The concept of collaborative law originated in 1990 and has evolved into both a national and international phenomenon. It shifts the focus from the adversarial system where the courts or other tribunals determine the outcome of a dispute after a combatitive litigation process to a co-operative and respectful problem-solving approach, where each party retains counsel specially trained in collaborative law to assist in achieving settlement.

Michael Zeytoonian of our Boston based member firm of Hutchings, Barsamian, Mandelcorn & Zeytoonian, LLP moderated a panel of high profile collaborative law practitioners and peacemakers, each of whom discussed different tools in the alternative dispute resolution 'toolbox' and their experiences resolving disputes using proactive conferences, collaborative law, mediation and arbitration and the growth trends in ADR internationally.

Panellists included Rodney Petersen (Mediator and Executive Director of the Boston Theological Institute), Rita Pollak (President, International Academy of Collaborative Professionals) and David Hoffman (the founding partner at Boston Law Collaborative, LLC and former editor of the Harvard Law Review).

Later in the morning, Mac Mackay, of Duncan Alexander & Wilmshurst (a UK based professional services development & training firm), spoke about selling professional services, looking at the buying-decision process from the potential client's perspective. His second session on Friday focussed on client care. In a workshop style, we explored how to properly manage a client care programme to turn clients into 'ambassadors' of the firm. Both were stimulating and thought provoking sessions with plenty of material to take back to the office.

After lunch on Thursday, there was a group workshop on international business etiquette led by John Rourke or Reinert Rourke, P.C., St Louis, Missouri. We operate in a global environment and although we respect other people's cultures, there are always risks of misunderstandings over communication; acceptable behaviour; and general etiquette. We have perceptions that may be inaccurate and making assumptions can be a big mistake. The workshop set out to discover some of these issues so that we are all better informed and therefore more capable in our dealings with others. Working in groups, informally, we considered different geographic regions, in particular looking at issues such as 'the art of the deal'; 'conversation topics'; 'making appointments and meetings'; 'introductions/names and titles'; and 'entertaining/social interaction'.

Finally, on Thursday, Dean Christopherson of Dawe & Christopherson LLP, California, gave us a comprehensive guide to 'Enforcement of Proceedings' in the USA.

Part of the panel session on collaborative law becomes participative.	President of World Link for Law, Jim Dawe with Satish Srivastav of Srivastav & Co, Mumbai & Anthony Barsamian of our Boston member firm of Hutchings, Barsamian, Mandelcorn & Zeytoonian, LLP.

There were additional sessions on 'Opportunities and risks in an evolving global economy',
by Chris Sheldon of BNY Mellon Wealth Management, Boston; a guide to new and alternative UK and USA stock market opportunities for growing international companies - a joint presentation provided by Paul Sillis of Collyer Bristow LLP, London and George Boychuk of Ziegler & Ziegler Associates, New York; and also a visionary presentation by Scott Ferson of the political PR based, Liberty Square Group, Boston, on the current political climate in the USA, with some interesting anecdotes, based on his experience, of the USA's politics, both past and present.

Finally, after the World Link for Law General Assembly on Friday, there was a visual and musical presentation (a first time for us!) by Cristiana Stoica of Stoica & Associatii, of Bucharest, introducing us to next year's conference in Romania.

Comments by some of the delegates. "Very informative discussion sessions, very useful for my practice, and all set in a great location." Eduardo Cuevas Casamitjana, Cuevas y Villarreal, Mexico "I had a fantastic time in Boston; thank you for organising an excellent conference." Patrice Cipre, Cipre Avocats, Nice, France "As relatively new members and attending our first conference, we greatly enjoyed meeting everyone and making new friends. We hope to see you in Bucharest, if not sooner." Glenn Solomon, Solomon Grosberg LLP, Toronto, Canada. "A good combination of nice social events, a good business programme, and a great opportunity to meet fellow international lawyers. " Satish Srivastav, S K Srivastav & Co., Mumbai, India "A great event, extremely useful, and good to meet so many other member lawyers to discuss and share similar business ideas, while also learning more about international legal issues." Sergio Jimenez & Norman de Pass, Alvarez, Jiménez, De Pass, Santa Ana, Costa Rica "The Boston conference will always be an unforgettable meeting for me. It was a real experience of meeting different colleagues from different parts of the world". Naile Ülkü Karaaslan, Le Buro, Istanbul, Turkey "I want to thank especially Anthony Barsamian and his firm; and Angela and Tony Firth for the perfect organisation of this conference. I really enjoyed staying in Boston and meeting you all. I hope to see you again next year in Bucharest". Michael Raschendorder, Coeler Rechtsanwälte, Hamburg, Germany

Thursday evening- very fishy!

Our theme for Thursday evening time had a 'fish' flavour. To set the scene, we made the short walk from the hotel to the harbor front and straight to the huge screen of the IMAX theatre, to see a short 3D shark movie; and then through the Aquarium (past the sleeping penguins, who were soon to be awakened!), to a traditional Massachusetts Clam Bake dinner with musical entertainment from a 6-piece rock n' roll band in the Aquarium's outside terrace marquee. The menu included clam chowder, lobster, clams, corn on the cob, and various accompaniments.

The New England Aquarium's terrace marquee in the day time.	Inside the marquee and pre- dinner drinks.
Anthony Barsamian explains the protocol of eating a Clam Bake.	The steaming lobsters and clams - mine's the fat one on the right.
Good, but messy eating - when was the last time you wore a bib?	Special guest appearance drummer, Anthony Barsamian, re-captures part of his youth.

Friday evening- drinks, more drinks, and eventually dinner

On Friday there was a dinner at the hotel, preceded by a drinks reception at the University of Massachusetts Club on the 34th floor of the State Street Bank building. Great views of the city and 'high volume' aperitifs made it very tempting not to go back to the hotel for dinner and the World Link for Law quiz!

Jim Dawe makes a short introduction of thanks at the drinks reception kindly hosted by the United States Trust Company.	New friends - Sergio Jiminéz & Norman de Pass of World Link member firm in Costa Rica (right of picture), meet two prospective member firm lawyers of Rebollo Abogados, from Oviedo, Spain, at the UMASS Club.

Saturday excursion - land and sea

Like the Beatles song, it was a 'magical mystery tour', aboard our 'Duck' - an authentic renovated World War II amphibious landing vehicle. In an amusing style, our 'Conducktor' (a John Lennon look-alike with accompanying Beatles music) took us on a tour of Boston, pointing out highlights along the Freedom Trail and other famous landmarks, such as the original concept for the famous TV 'Cheers' pub in Beacon Hill; the trendy Back Bay area, culminating in a splashdown into the Charles River, providing a fun and unique perspective of Boston. This was followed by a constitutional, historic tour of the North End; Paul Revere's house; the North End Church (with our guide dressed in traditional historical costume), followed by a lobster ravioli lunch at an Italian trattoria.

All aboard the Duck, outside the Langham Hotel on Saturday morning. Luckily it was not as hot weather as earlier in the week. Those at the back did not know they were about to get slightly wet!	Let a lady drive a bus and where do you end up? - in the water!
Isn't that the ghost of John Lennon driving and talking? -but please keep your hands on the wheel!	'Like a duck to water'
Our Saturday group in the North End with our guide. He's the one with the silly hat.

(Many thanks to Satish Srivastav of S K Srivastav & Co. of Mumbai for supplying many photographs in this review)

 

See you in Romania in October 2008!