17 - 18 May 2002

MINUTES of the GENERAL MEETING

held on 17th and 18th May 2002 in Oslo

Present (See list annexed)

1. Meeting Opening

1.1 John Clarke, the Chairman opened the Meeting and welcomed the Members and guests present. He thanked Helge Tryti and his colleagues of the Oslo Member Office, for the effort and the organisational work especially with a view to all last minute co-ordination due to the strikes in the Norwegian service industry.

1.2 John Clarke referred to the proposal to re-establish Avrio Advocati as an “Association Internationale sans but lucratif (“AISBL”). That involved the establishment of the AISBL; the transfer of the EEIG assets, etc to the AISBL; and various administrative approvals. John Clarke asked for the Meeting’s approval for the resolutions set out in the Notice of this Meeting and, there being no objection, the resolutions were approved unanimously.

1.3 New Firms from Spain (Sevilla and Barcelona) as well as a new Member Firm from the Czech Republic (Brno) were unanimously accepted to join the organisation.

1.4 The structure of the Business Agenda for this General Meeting was introduced. John Clarke stressed the necessity for the Working Groups to get together and review their progress as well as to set themselves further guidelines for future aims and objectives. It was noted that all Members wish for Working Groups to have regular Workshops at all Avrio Advocati General Meetings.

2. Working Groups: Workshop (Part I)

The following Avrio Advocati Working Groups held meetings:

Sports Law Group, International Fraud Group, Tender Group, International Employment Law Group (IELG), International Criminal Defence Group (ICDG) and E-Commerce Group.

Suggestions to establish a new Working Group was made by Sean Callaghan, who introduced the idea for a Litigation Working Group.

Other ideas communicated and circulated prior to the General Meeting included the establishment of an Intellectual Property Working Group (by Tracey Rose of Thomas Eggar Solicitors), which could be linked or integrated into E-Commerce  as well as the creation of a Working Group for Real Estate (by Daniel Verstraete) and a Wine Law Group (by Graham Christie, Jesus Bores Lazo, Fernando Yolanda and Andrea Martinelli).

These  proposals are being ‘launched’ and will be reviewed at the next General Meeting in Portugal.

This meeting day closed with all Workshops finalising deadlines for new objectives and for ongoing internal and external strategies  (see Working Groups  point 4. part II)

3. Law Firm Management

John Clarke led a session on the marketing of law firms. Using Tomasz Kozlowski as a “volunteer”, the session looked at two topics:

a) What law firms had to market; and

b) What law firms wanted to market – and how they would get that business.

The main lesson to be derived from the session was, if the Anglo-Saxon way of doing business became more prevalent (as seems likely, law firms have to analyse what work they want to, then prepare strategies for getting that work.

It was agreed that sessions for Law Firm Management should be included in future General Meetings.

4. Working Groups: Follow Up (Part II)

a) Sports Law Group (Representative: Richard Eimer)

Richard Eimer reported on the Sports Law Congress that took place in November 01 and was a huge success. Approximately 300 international participants attended this 2nd Congress in Bonn, Germany, which had been organised by the Member Firm, Eimer Heuschmid Mehle together with the German and Bonn Lawyers Association.

The overall Marketing and PR before, during and after the Congress ranged from Media (Press Releases in Local and National Papers, Radio coverage and Invitation Circulars)  and gained  large amounts of subsidies of the German Land of Northrhine Westphalia, Deutsche Telekom and other Sponsors.

The Sports Law Group stressed the marketing success for Avrio Advocati, with the AVRIO logo and the network behind it being well known throughout Germany by now.

A 3rd Sports Law Congress is planned in November 2004 and the planning process has begun (a first  review in preparations will take place in August this year).

The sub site of this Working Groups has all information implemented and is extremely informative and up to date.

b) International Fraud (Representatives: Peter Bichsel, Martin Cross)

This group has meetings at times other than the General Meetings. It is currently dealing with many major cases and therefore is in the progress to facilitate its administrative necessities (accounts and billing matters). A “service-oriented” portfolio, which can be presented to potential customers is in progress and the sub site of this group will be finalised within July.

c) Tender Group (Representative: Jean-Marie Tissot)

The original group had dissolved and has individual participants that work together on tenders. It will re-establish itself independently from Avrio Advocati AISBL.

d) Intl. Criminal Defence Group – “ICDG”  (Representatives: Jozef Rammelt, Patrick Musters)

This group is very active and has used its direct link to the “Fair Trials Abroad” organisation. The ICDG is dealing with very many specific cases as well as complex international matters and intends to considerably extend their Contacts. A Database for this group exists and will be reviewed, as will be the information to be implemented on the Homepage – the  ICDG sub site.

e) International Employment Law Group – “IELG” (Representative: Ton Tegelaar)

This group has existed since May 01. The IELG has to rethink their information exchange as well as what is important and feasible for this group within the next months. It was decided that every member of the group should prepare a paper with a main overview on their national employment legislation, which could also be implemented on their sub site. It was agreed that a Database with member’s details and background should be completed in due course.

f) E-Commerce Group – (Representative: Christiane Bierekoven)

This group had to review its structure and potential.  Priority was given to the completion of a database, including background information on Member’s previous work history and experience. A sub site for this group exists and will need to be fully implemented. A deadline was agreed for all participants in Oslo and other Members interested to become involved to provide according practice information to Christiane Bierekoven (bierekoven@avrio.net) or the Contact Office.

g) Litigation Group – (Representative: Sean Callaghan)

This group was newly established. It intends to set up synopsis on every jurisdiction’s litigation procedures, which will be an extremely relevant source of information for all Members of Avrio Advocati. There are no specific plans for a sub site for this group yet. EVERYONE involved practicing litigation should kindly address any relevant information to (scallaghan@tmksols.co.uk) .

5.  Guest Presentation

Leopold Olory-Togbe from Benin (West Africa) attended the meeting. He is a barrister at Benin Court of Appeals and has assisted clients in Africa, Europe, Asia and America. Leopold gave a presentation on the “Harmonisation of African Law”. He pointed out the encouragement that is necessary to draw Business into this part of the world.

Leopold Olory-Togbe applied for membership, and that application will be considered by the Board in due course.

6. Closure of Meeting and Registration Ceremony

John Clarke thanked all Members present.  The host, Helge Tryti, gave a short speech on his impressions and suggestions for future General Meetings. With a view to the new registration of AVRIO ADVOCATI AISBL, a formal signing ceremony and photo opportunity took place.

The Avrio Advocati Flag was handed over to Luis Paulo Relogio.

7. Next General Meetings:

a) 7 – 10 November 02, Cascais, Portugal

b) 15 – 18 May 03, Edinburgh, Scotland