International Lawyers Network Elects New Chairman

New York (June 20, 2017) – The International Lawyers Network, a global network of more than 5,000 lawyers, announced today that Simon Ekins of Fladgate LLP in London, England, has been elected Chairman.

Ekins assumes the chairmanship from Peter Altieri, shareholder with Epstein Becker & Green, following an election by the Board of Directors during the Network's Annual Meeting in Stockholm, Sweden early this month. Altieri has served as ILN Chairman since June 2009, stepping down after eight years of service.

"We are so appreciative of Peter's efforts and all the work and time he has devoted to the Network as Chairman over these last eight years," said Alan Griffiths, Executive Director of the International Lawyers Network. "His heart-felt speech at our Annual Conference's gala dinner was met with a long-standing ovation from all in attendance, which was a true testament to the respect he has garnered during his time in the position."

Newly-elected Ekins is head of Fladgate's litigation department and a member of the firm's partnership board. A partner since 1992, Ekins has a wide range of experience in professional negligence, international arbitration, complex commercial cases and breach of contract disputes, capital reorganizations and reductions, contentious trust matters and IP disputes. His expertise has been recognised for many years by the leading international guides to the legal profession, including Super Lawyers and the Legal 500.

Ekins commented: "It is an honour to have been asked to take the chair at an exciting time for the ILN. As the organisation approaches its 30th anniversary, the Network continues to grow and we are delighted to have board representation from both established and new members. In today's globalised legal market place, the ILN provides independent firms with the opportunity to refer clients to legal experts across the world who have extensive local knowledge and are well-known to each other. Peter has been a true ambassador for the ILN and is to be congratulated on the excellent work he has undertaken to develop relationships within the organisation; I look forward to building on his legacy."

"Simon brings not only a wealth of legal experience to the table, but also boasts strong leadership skills that will help continue to drive our Network forward," said Lindsay Griffiths, Director of Global Relationship Management of the International Lawyers Network. "The ILN Administration is looking forward to working with Simon as he begins his term as Chairman."

In addition to the Chairman election, Directors' elections were held at the annual conference. Hernan Cordero, Cordero & Cordero Abogados, San Jose, Costa Rica; Henning von Lillienskjold, DAHL Lawyers, Viborg, Denmark; and Ziad Salloum, Salloum & Partners LLC, Abu Dhabi were re-elected to their seats. The following members were newly-elected to the position of Director: Attilio Ferrari, Ferrari Pedeferri Boni Studio Legale Associato, Milan, Italy; Bruce Feuchter, Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth, Newport Beach, California, US; Anad Krishnan, Anad & Noraini, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Mitchell Karsch, Davis & Gilbert, New York, US; Oliver Jankowsky, Hall & Wilcox, Melbourne, Australia; and Michael Samuel, Miller Samuel Hill Brown, Glasgow, Scotland.

Directors Antonello Corrado, EXPLegal – Italian and International Law Firm, Rome, Italy; Alishan Naqvee, LexCounsel Law Offices, New Delhi, India; and Jeffrey Shapiro, Arnstein & Lehr, Miami, Florida, US stepped down from their positions as Directors at this year's Annual Conference as their terms expired. The ILN Administration and its members offered their sincere gratitude to the former Directors for their years of service.

About the ILN
The International Lawyers Network facilitates personal relationships among lawyers in mid-sized law firms all over the world, allowing them to confidently operate in a global marketplace while retaining their independence and local expertise. As one of the largest networks of experienced attorneys in the world, the ILN provides a platform for clients to access quality legal professionals worldwide with the cost-effectiveness and personalized service only independent, regional law firms can provide. With 91 high-quality, full-service and specialized law firms and over 5,000 lawyers in 67 countries on six continents, the excellence, demonstrated experience, worldwide presence, and relationships of the International Lawyers Network combine to make this Network one of the leading associations of independent law firms in the world. The ILN: Where lawyers become friends.