Dear Interlegal Colleagues and Friends,

Once again here is the Interlegal newsletter from Milan, where a timid bright sun has appeared today after a cloudy December and January and a promising weekend out of the city gets closer.

Nothing comparable to the shining sun of St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, where participants to the Network Meeting there were pleased to lodge in the Caribbean style Marriott’s Frenchmen Reef Resort hotel, to enjoy the sea breeze on a catamaran day-cruise to Jost Van Dyke at the BVI islands, a visit to the historical Charlotte Amelie, a much appreciated reception at the Lieutenant Governor’s house, a relaxing evening at Hervé Restaurant, a good General Meeting, to conclude with a hectic live band dancing gala dinner on Saturday evening. Interesting sessions took place on the investment opportunities in the USVI while I must admit to be still tempted to set up a branch of our practice there, like our excellent hosts from NY have done, just – in my personal case differently from them – to have an excuse to visit periodically those beautiful islands. Thanks again for their warm hospitality to Bill Blum, Robert Solomon and all the USVI resident lawyers of the firm, excellent hosts who made us feel at home during our stay there. Despite the recent financial and economic global turmoil, it was a successful Meeting!

We carried forward the specialist group project begun in Budapest through the contributions of the Business Law and the Law Management Groups, we discussed – among other – about the new web site, the alliance with Eura Audit International and our marketing strategies. Other new members joined the Group, notably from Spain and Barbados. At the upcoming general Meeting in Geneva , some other candidates might participate as observers, as we are still looking Members from several Countries, as for instance Japan, Russia, Denmark, Scotland, France, Greece etc. As we are all aware, new Members are important for the Network since they enrich our geographical scope and knowledge and may increase the opportunities of business referrals. If you may have contacts or names to recommend, please let Hanjo Vogel, Jeremy Shulman or me know about it!

No doubt that the upcoming Meeting in Geneve-Lausanne is going to be a successful one. Geneve is  the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland, a cultural and artistic centre, as well as a worldwide centre for diplomacy and international co-operation, and is widely regarded as a global city, mainly because of the presence of numerous international organizations, including the headquarters of many of the agencies of the United Nation and the Red Cross. Lausanne is the capital of the Canton of Vaud and of the District of Lausanne. The headquarters of the International Olympic Committee are located in Lausanne and the IOC officially recognizes the city as the Capitale Olympique, and the headquarters of the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The interesting program set up by our esteemed colleagues Christian Fischele and Georges Reymond going to match our expectations. A couple of hours on Friday afternoon should be devoted to the specialist groups sessions, perhaps at the Olympic Museum. Come along to a this beautiful city, rich of history to meet your Interlegal friends once again.

As it seems some of us intend to participate to the 2010 IBA Annual conference, which will take place between October 3 through 8 in Vancouver. Notwithstanding it will be a long journey for the majority, the Interlegal event during the IBA Annual Conference is now well renowned among the community of IBA delegate lawyers, as we have been hosting it ever since 2002. The more we are, the more chances we will get to organize a successful marketing event to the benefit of the Network in Vancouver. So think about it.

November 2010: a Meeting in the Uruguay hosted by Estudio Dr. Mezzera Abogados. Cannot miss it! But let us first have a pleasant and fruitful time in Geneve/Lausanne. I do hope you are all doing and look forward to seeing you all in May!

Riccardo from Milan