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Annual Meeting Strengthens Membership

Ally Law’s Annual General Meeting on May 26 – 28, 2021 featured 20 sessions organized along three themes –  “Explore,” Envision” and “Enjoy”  – and included a stellar slate of panelists and speakers, including renowned futurists, tech entrepreneurs, member-firm delegates and musical performers.

Held entirely online to ensure the safety of participants, the AGM used intuitive, high-tech virtual-meeting tools and separate scheduling tracks — one for the Americas and Western/Central Europe, and one for Eastern Europe and the Asia-Pacific region — to foster engagement and interaction regardless of location.

The AGM began with special sessions for new member firms, giving delegates an opportunity to meet each other and learn more about Ally Law directly from the organization’s leadership team. Throughout the AGM, introductory videos prepared by six of the most recent member firms were presented to attendees, helping more-established members learn about their newest colleagues.

During the AGM’s formal business meeting, attendees heard presentations from the Ally Law executive, including past-president Björn Welinder, a partner in Lund, Sweden member firm Lindmark Welinder, as well as the chairs of the finance, marketing and expansion committees. During the business meeting, delegates also formally voted on and ratified the new 2021–2022 executive board, which includes Paul Franke, a partner in Denver, Colorado member firm Moye White, who will serve as Ally Law’s president for a two-year term beginning May 26, 2021, and continuing until May 2023.

Other event highlights included a keynote presentation by author, speaker and independent business advisor to major professional services firms and national governments, Richard Susskind, and a workshop hosted by executive coach, leadership advisor, and meditation and yoga teacher Rudhir Krishtel. In addition to sessions focused on specific legal issues, a special “unstoppable entrepreneurs” panel comprising non-lawyer business executives offered ideas and insights on overcoming challenges, identifying opportunities and strengthening leadership skills. The event closed out with a talent show featuring performances by lawyers from across the organization and a guided scavenger hunt/trivia quiz that took participants around the world to top museums and cultural sites.

Said Franke, “This year’s AGM took member engagement and participation to a new level. Despite the challenges of holding a global meeting during an ongoing pandemic, our delegates, leadership and marketing team rose to the challenge, creating an unforgettable event.”