Global Systems for Seamless Service

It's one thing to say you're a global law firm. It's quite another to actually be one.

As law firms expand around the world, they – and their clients - are discovering the quirks and challenges of international operations. Communication systems that don't talk to each other. Incompatible billing systems. Conflict checks that don't turn up conflicts – until it's too late.

At Baker & McKenzie, we have been building the infrastructure for seamless global service for more than half a century. We know what it takes to align people, processes and technologies so clients are well served. Work flows smoothly across borders. And bills arrive on time.

Ours is not the virtual reality of a virtually global firm. It's the actual reality of a law firm that has always operated with confidence across cultures, time zones, communications grids and power networks. We invest in infrastructure, so our lawyers can focus on client needs.

Systems to Meet Client Needs
In 68 locations worldwide, we use a common scheduling package, a common time and billing package, a common accounting package and a common invoicing package.

With our globally integrated billing system all lawyers enter time in a consistent way, and we can provide clients with reports on the status of their matters and the pace of billings, across all offices and jurisdictions, in real time and in the currency of their choice.

We also have common guidelines on conflicts and a global conflict identification system that helps us reduce the likelihood that conflicts will surface belatedly putting clients in difficult, sometimes costly positions.

Connecting Practicing Lawyers
Here are some of the other ways we connect as a seamless organization worldwide:
A single, common e-mail platform, enables our lawyers around the world to collaborate and communicate free of time-zone restrictions. Most importantly, they can connect from anywhere in the world, assuring we are always connected to our clients.

Direct e-mail connectivity over dedicated lines with all of our office in 38 countries means deliveries are not delayed. Clients enjoy higher levels of security. And because there is no central hub through which communications pass, interruptions are isolated and rare.

We also have developed and operate more than 300 custom-made client extranets or "virtual deal rooms" that provide lawyers and clients worldwide with common, secure, self-maintainable spaces to communicate and share documents.

A centrally coordinated global identity management application enables our offices to develop consistent marketing and presentation materials quickly, at low cost and to high standards.

Dedicated Support for Reliability
Distributed support, backed by 300 IT professionals worldwide, further enhances our network.

A Network Operations Centre in Manila, performs 24/7 monitoring of our global infrastructure to identify potential problems before they emerge, improving service availability and reduces local office monitoring costs.

And if our lawyers or staff have questions or technology issues, they can contact a global help desk 24/7 to get the answers or support they need.

The Prague office of Baker & McKenzie is increasingly becoming a key player in the Eastern European region. Our multinational staff of attorneys has years of experience working in the region, giving us a first-hand understanding of the local culture and business environment.

Working with a worldwide network of legal experts, our office provides clients with a full range of legal services. We have particularly gained prominence in the area of corporate M&A, advising KBC Bank NV on its $1.1 billion acquisition of CSOB from the Czech National Bank and the Czech National Property Fund. In addition, we acted on the further acquisition by CSOB of Investicni and Postovni Banka.

Our strength in the M&A arena has attracted such international clients as Sun Microsystems, Alcoa, Abbott Laboratories, Cisco Systems, and Pepsi-Cola, which we represented on its acquisition of a Czech soft drink producer.

We are able to strengthen our clients' relationship with their business partners and with governmental authorities through the independent contacts established with a number of government organizations and individuals. Our contacts reflect the diversity of our clients, who are engaged in a variety of manufacturing, financial and service activities.

Our accomplishments are a result of our commitment to (and heavy investment in) staff training and quality management systems, which keep our attorneys on the cutting edge of legal developments. To assist our professional staff, our office maintains a complete support staff, including a full-time translation department.

Our office works as a team within Baker & McKenzie's regional and global network to provide clients with the best combination of experience and skills. Clients have direct contact with at least one partner, who ensures the legal team delivers the highest level of quality, professionalism, and cost effectiveness.