Net_benefits

In the burgeoning age of multi-national mergers - with City firms courting foreign brides from the US, France and Germany - it would have appeared that the international network was dead.

The trend seems to be in favour of full marriages as opposed to loose relationships.

Or does it? Not everyone wants to be, or can be, global, especially if it means being eaten up by a larger foreign practice, as has happened recently to two City firms.

So there might yet be life in the old concept of an international network, although on a more specialised level.

This week we report on moves by a pan-European network of specialist employment law firms - IUS Laboris - to recruit an English member.

Already one niche, but high profile, City firm has expressed significant interest.

Proponents say the advantages of networks are clear for the smaller, specialised firm; why not reap all the referral benefits and jurisdictional expertise of a formal but independent relationship without suffering the heartache of culture clash that a full-blown merger can wreck, they suggest.And indeed, culture clash is a serious problem, as another of our news articles illustrates this week.

Research indicates that US lawyers are appalled by the fact that their English counterparts spend a few minutes having a chin-wag in the corridor, not to mention that the Brits might enjoy a pint or two after work.

Perhaps joining a network instead of jumping into the full merger would be more comfortable for both sides.