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S P R I N G 2 0 1 7 | C e l e b r a t i n g 2 5 y e a r s w i t h t h e w o r l d ' s f i n e s t l a w f i r m s
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Global Conference, a name more fitting
to the times, as the last conference drew
around 200 lawyers from around the world.
At that original conference, they
adopted the tagline, "Good people who
happen to be good lawyers."
Primerus was born and on its way.
Six Pillars
Buchanan was concerned that the public
know what makes a good lawyer and how
to find one. The brochure he published
in the early 1990s, "How to Judge an
Attorney," became the basis for the Six
Pillars ­ values that every member of
Primerus to this day must adhere to in
their daily practice of law:
·
Integrity
·
Excellent work product
·
Reasonable fees
·
Continuing legal education
·
Civility
·
Community service
According to
longtime Primerus
member Duncan
Manley of Christian &
Small in Birmingham,
Alabama, the Six
Pillars are critical to
making Primerus work.
"I think the establishment and
publication of the Six Pillars has
contributed greatly to the legal industry
because clients are comfortable calling
on Primerus lawyers, even those they do
not know, to handle their legal matters
knowing they will honor and abide by the
Six Pillars," Manley said. "I don't know
of another legal organization that makes
such a strong commitment to clients."
In fact,
Manley's
firm joined
Primerus in
2003 because
of these noble
ideals. "I was
concerned
about the
change in reputation our profession had
experienced and I thought Primerus
could help change that," he said.
Small Firms, Big Service
Buchanan also wanted Primerus to be a
society of strictly small to medium-sized
firms, making it unique among various law
firm networks and organizations. In fact,
it remains unique today for that same
reason ­ Primerus law firms have on
average 14 lawyers.
By bringing together small to
medium-sized law firms, Primerus allows
clients to avoid the high overhead and
bureaucracy of "big" law, while also
enjoying the benefits of a global alliance,
including assurance
that all members have
met the same stringent
quality standards.
Donald Winder,
partner at Magleby
Cataxinos &
Greenwood, P.C. in
November 3-5, 1994: Primerus holds its first
Primerus National Conference in Scottsdale,
Arizona, coinciding with the coldest Nov. 4 in
Arizona history. The event would go on to be
held every year, with its name later changing
to the Primerus Global Conference.