World Services Group organized a networking luncheon for members attending the 2009 International Bar Association Annual Meeting in Madrid, Spain. The vast attendance was held at the prestigious Golf Club El Mirador del Olivar and included over 170 delegates, representing 61 firms from 57 worldwide jurisdictions. The event continues developing as one of WSG's annual anticipated events. To view photos and participants, please go to: http://www.worldservicesgroup.com/meeting.aspx?id=695

Altius Tiberghien, WSG member in Belgium, hosted a dinner for WSG members attending the Advanced EC Competition Law and the GCR Competition conferences in Brussels this past November. The event was held in an elegant eighteenth century building once inhabited by Vincent van Gogh and now converted into a prestigious restaurant. To view participants to this networking event, please go to: http://www.worldservicesgroup.com/meeting.aspx?id=691

A networking luncheon was held in Moscow in conjunction with the IBA Mergers and Acquisitions in Russia and CIS and the IBA Law Firm Management conferences. This was the first year for the conference as well as the dinner. We congratulate ALRUD, the WSG member in Russia, for the very successful events they organized and hosted. World Services Group is looking forward to continuing to support these networking events in the coming years. To view attendees, please go to: http://www.worldservicesgroup.com/meeting.aspx?id=717

The 2009 Annual Meeting was held in Costa Rica on 12 & 13 November, hosted by Pacheco Coto and AFC, Asesores Fiscales Corporativos, WSG legal and Accounting members of Costa Rica. At this year's Annual Meeting, WSG members had the distinct honor of being addressed by President Oscar Arias S., President of the Republic of Costa Rica and Nobel Peace Laureate, who gave a speech on the Economic and Cultural situation of Costa Rica and spent some moments greeting WSG delegates.

The meeting launch was an exclusive Welcome Reception hosted in a recreated Rainforest at the Costa Rica Country Club by the Costa Rican firms. Delegates and their guests also enjoyed an exclusive dinner at Campo Lago and a Coffee Plantation Tour as the Annual Meeting came to a close.

The 8th WSG Annual Meeting gathered over 90 participants from 51 worldwide jurisdictions. Guest speakers who enriched the panel discussions and networking opportunities included: Mario Arana, Ph.D, Private Economic and Business Consultant and Executive Director of FUNIDES, Nicaraguan Foundation for Economic and Social Development; Roberto Artavia, Ph.D., Chairman of Viva Trust and Executive President of Foundation Latinoamerica Posible; Max Alier, Ph.D., Head of the International Monetary Fund; and Fernando Capablanca, President & Chief Executive of Union Credit Bank of Miami.


Oscar Arias S., President of the Republic of Costa Rica and Nobel Peace Laureate During the WSG Annual Meeting

During the Annual Meeting, the WSG 2008-2009 Chairman Michael Greene, Partner of A&L Goodbody, Ireland, handed over his position to Alberto Lasheras-Shine, Partner of Estudio Beccar Varela, Argentina and five new directors were added to the WSG Board: Vicente Calle, Partner of Garrigues, Spain; Edward J. Dawson, Chairman, President and CEO of Capital Alliance, U.S.A-Texas; Jeffrey M. Risius, Managing Director of Stout Risius Ross, USA-Michigan; Pablo San Martin, Partner of SMS, San Martin Suarez y Asociados, Argentina and Lee Suet-Fern, Senior Director of Stamford Law Corporation, Singapore.

To listen to presentations and view photos and details, please visit:
www.worldservicesgroup.com/meetingreview.aspx?id=528

The 9th WSG Annual Meeting will be held in Rome in September 2010 and will be hosted by Gianni, Origoni, Grippo & Partners, legal WSG member representing Italy.