News & Events
December 2007
Ukrainian Partner, Konnov & Sozanovsky is named the Intellectual Property Law Firm of 2007. This prestigious award was given to FLI’s Partners before 200 of the leading heads of businesses and colleagues in the country.
Ukraine – Konnov & Sozanovsky ranked fifth in the annual rating of «The Yuridicheskaya Practika» publishing house, in the context of its independent research study, «TOP 50 Leading Law Firms of Ukraine 2007». Konnov & Sozanovsky has been among the top ten leading law firms for 11 years and is now among the few firms which make public the sum of income for the purposes of the said research. This year Konnov & Sozanovsky was also ranked forth according to the rating of recognition independently carried out within this research program based upon polling of law firms. This annual research study, carried out since 1997, is the only independent related to the Ukrainian legal services market. Correspondence with the original method employed in calculations was confirmed by the international company IPSOS (www.ipsos.com) for the second year in a row. The results of the rating were published in The Yuridicheskaya Practika, issue No 50, dated December, 11 2007 and made available on its official web site
Tang Peng Chin LLC - Our Singapore member firm, Tang Peng Chin LLC, has concluded the year 2007 with a praiseworthy act of supporting local charities through monetary donations. Our member firm has demonstrated by example that by sharing with those who are less fortunate, someone else’s future has been brightened. Following charities benefited from contributions:
- Assisi Hospice
- Christian Outreach for the Handicapped
- Jamiyah Children’s Home
- Little Sisters Of The Poor Home For The Aged
- Medecins Sans Frontieres
- Movement For The Intellectually Disable of Singapore (MINDS)
- Sree Narayana Mission Home For The Aged Sick
- World Vision InternationalFLI is engaged by multinational client to meet with US manufacturer and inspect a number of aircraft used in a variety of applications. FLI is asked to continue to monitor this multi-million dollar transaction in order to ensure timely production and delivery, as well as FAA compliance and export regulations.
At the close-out of the year, FLI is invited by newcomer to Belgian, Honorable US Ambassador for an introductory social event at the Ambassador’s private residence where he was greeted by both the Ambassador and his wife.
Germany – German FLI member firm Schwarz Kelwing Wicke Westpfahl was chosen as a law firm of the year in the area “media: press and publishers.”
In an effort to continue to position itself as a powerhouse in the local market, FLI NET Malaysian Partners, Azmi & Associates proudly announcement the additional hired-ins of Mr. Kamalul departing General Manager, Legal of Tenaga Nasional Behad (the national utility company) and former Managing Director of TNB Properties Sdn Bhd; and Ms. Arni Ariffin, former Senior Legal Manager in Khazanah (the investment arm of the Government of Malaysia) and previously the Director of national motorcycle company Motosikal dan Enjin Nasional Sdn Bhd (“MODENAS”).
November 2007
FLI is convened to a subsequent meeting with thriving real estate and engineering consulting company in the EU for the purpose of completing negotiations on behalf of FLI’s client, the Agent, for a very significant construction contract.
FLI NET ™ German Partners, Schwarz Kelwing Wicke & Westpfahl (SKW Law), hosted their annual gala event in Berlin on November 13th. The event was held at the famous Berlin Tempelhof Airport and was attended by over three hundred clients, colleagues, friends and dignitaries from the general area. This annual gathering is a hallmark event awaited by members of the SKW team and their clients and colleagues in Germany. Judging fro the highly diversified sampling of the guests in attendance, SKW has matured into an irrefutable powerhouse in the Berlin area. FLI Principal in Brussels attended the event.
October 2007
FLI NET™ Singapore Partners, Tan Peng Chin LLC, hosted an FLI NET™ Partners social event on October 18 at their offices situated in the prestigious Raffles Place followed by a sumptuous dinner at the Tower Club, Singapore Premier Private Business Club. FLI NET™ Partners from France, Cyprus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Malaysia and Singapore attended the event as well as FLI HQ from Brussels. A number of executive management issues were discussed as well as ways to continue to enhance cross-border opportunities.
FLI hosted a summit conference for Senior Executives representing a number of key industries including Construction, IT, Defense, Legal and Real Estate in memorable Waterloo, Belgium during October 12-14 to consider the possibility of creating a new company. Leveraging their impressive collective business savvy, industry contacts and overall professional experience, this group stands poised to take advantage of the tremendous opportunity in the market.
September 2007
FLI is asked by US group to incorporate a start-up energy company in the renewable, alternative bioenergy industry and negotiate exclusive supply and infrastructure development agreements between the start-up energy company and a biodiesel electric generation plant producing ATSM-compliant biodiesel at their local refinery facilities. Recognizing the trend by government and private enterprise wanting to explore more environmentally friendly and less fossil fuel dependent solutions for both transportation and energy generation, FLI’s client wishes to become a powerhouse in this industry by securing proper contracts.
FLI is asked by an EU business conglomerate to engage FLI NET™ Romanian Partner as well as in Kazakhstan to conduct documentary searches in connection with filings a number of trademarks and to proceed to file such trademarks locally to secure the client’s intellectual property.
FLI NET™ US Partner successfully secures a default judgment in excess of a million dollars against a defendant for non-performance and breach of contract in the manufacture and delivery of equipment.
August 2007
Prominent EU client in the aircraft maintenance business acting as an authorized subcontractor of one of the major aircraft manufacturers engages FLI to obtain a Technical Agreement clearance from the US State Department following internal review of policy denial under ITAR and requests FLI to forward these discussions in Washington DC. FLI’s intervention resulted in positive results for client.
FLI is asked by multinational client for whom FLI is currently providing cross-border support in a number of FLI NET jurisdictions to provide additional cross-border support in the emerging market of Romania to consider some commercially viable opportunities within the business model of client.
FLI is asked by US group to incorporate a start-up energy company in the renewable, alternative bioenergy industry and negotiate exclusive supply and infrastructure development agreements between the start-up energy company and a biodiesel electric generation plant producing ATSM-compliant biodiesel at their local refinery facilities. Recognizing the trend by government and private enterprise wanting to explore more environmentally friendly and less fossil fuel dependent solutions for both transportation and energy generation, FLI’s client wishes to become a powerhouse in this industry by securing proper contracts.
June 2007
FLI NET™ Singapore Partner is engaged by FLI NET™ UK Partner’s client in the gas, liquids and solids separation technology for the oil and gas industry requesting local assistance as regards fiduciary duties and registration of a company.
FLI is engaged by a Conglomerate in a non-EU country to create an association of companies wanting to export their services in emerging markets through local agents. FLI is to draft, negoatiate and close the agreements with these companies and work with the local agents.
May 2007
FLI NET™ Turkish Partner is engaged by FLI NET™ Italian Partner’s client in the innovative cold-finished steel industry requesting assistance to acquire the majority shares of their local partners.
FLI NET™ French Partner Office, Lamy-Lexel, ('L-L') a member of FLI Executive Management, celebrates its annual client social event in the renowned Grévin Museum in the heart of Paris 9ème arrondissement. The event was attended by a number of social dignitaries, socialites, business entrepreneurs and friends and clients. This annual event is awaited by a large following of L-L’s loyal clientele who enjoy coming from far away to gather in Paris. A number of partners and members of the executive board from L-L’s headquarters in Lyon attended the event as well as clients, colleagues and associates from various other countries. FLI Principal from Brussels attended to event.
April 2007
FLI is engaged by a European Real Estate multinational powerhouse to conduct a five country, cross-border due diligence project and advise on the acquisition of a well known chain of stores with franchised worldwide brands in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Cyprus and Switzerland. Following the kick-off meeting in Moscow, this project was put on a time-of-the-essence timeline which required multiple jurisdiction coordination. A cross-border project with such large number of moving parts requiring review of ample data in different languages under pressure such as this is what FLI’s value proposition is all about. FLI NET™'s Partners in the five jurisdictions completed their preliminary reports right on target.
FLI NET™ Ukrainian Partner Office, Konnov & Sozanovsky, ('K&S') a member of FLI Executive Management, celebrates its fifteenth anniversary. After sporting a weekend retreat in Cyprus for their entire team to enjoy the fruits of their remarkable success, our Partner's management hosted a formal social event in one of the most renowned restaurants in Kiev. The event was attended by K&S's loyal clients and friends as well as dignitaries and representatives of government and trade. FLI Principal from Brussels and FLI Senior Partner from the US attended to event. FLI Partner from Finland also attended.
March 2007
First Law International proudly hosts its FLI NET™ Spring Conference in Milan, Italy on March 22-25, 2007 in association with Studio Legale Mondini-Rusconi, FLI NET™ Italian Partner and Executive Management Member. Partners from fourteen countries attended the summit event including Germany, France, Italy, United Kingdom, Belgium, Finland, Ukraine, Turkey, Malaysia, India, Korea, as well the United States. Special guests from the Energy sector, Defense industry, Finance markets and Import and Exports, from Monaco, Colorado, London, and Florida, respectively, presented during the morning session. In the afternoon, FLI Partners from Italy, Malaysia, India and Ukraine were featured as special presenters on "Business Opportunities and Challenges in Emerging Markets" to a full house of corporate clients from FLI NET™ Italian Partner, as well as selected guests from France and Belgium. The Conference was adjourned Friday evening followed by a social cocktail and concluding with a gala dinner at the famous I Jardino, private club after the award ceremony.
February 2007
FLI is mandated by a very active client in real estate development to secure business opportunities in non-EU countries. FLI NET™ Partner's to provide local support during due diligence and thereafter to negotiation stages during the acquistions.
FLI is asked by a client to secure agency agreement from a well established construction company in Serbia-Montenegro for the development and construction of new, as well as, reconstruction of older airports from the governments of various countries in emerging markets.
January 2007
FLI is given a mandate by a well-known non-EU Company to facilitate and secure bridge financing in the amount of €140 Million. Finance partners in NYC, London and Dubai are consulted. FLI is also asked by same client to facilitate a contract for sale of equipment.
