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From the President's Desk

For a weekly publication, 52 issues add up to a year, simple math that constitutes an eternity in today’s publishing world where change is the operative word.

It was approximately a year ago that we revamped our Weekly magazine, adding a series of feature profiles designed to give a lively and informative look at Primerus™ members and clients around the globe, highlighting attorneys who are making an impact, whether in the present or future tense.

The past, of course, also is in our sights, as we regularly trumpet the accomplishments and good works of those who have made a difference in the legal profession, shining a spotlight on them for all to see.

With this issue of our Weekly, fittingly published on Law Day 2023, we are rolling out several new columns designed to give readers a quick look at the world of Primerus™, highlighting some of the upcoming major events, another that recently took place, while also presenting a rotating update on the Primerus™ Foundation, Quality Assurance Board, and our Community Service activities.

Most recently, the Primerus™ Defense Institute presented its 2023 Convocation April 20-23 at the Wild Dunes Resort in the Isle of Palms, South Carolina, a scenic community nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway just minutes from the historic city of Charleston.

The idyllic setting offered attendees an opportunity to be a special kind of beachcomber on the opening day of the event, sweeping the beach of debris that could be harmful to wildlife and the environment in general. The clean-up effort was part of the traditional community service component to each Primerus™ conference, convocation, or meeting, and served as a bonding experience that set a positive tone for the gathering.

The PDI Convocation also featured presentations from thought leaders, experienced insurance coverage and defense attorneys, risk managers, and in-house counsel who explored such topics as cyber-attacks, data breaches, and the future look of law firms.

Leisure time activities included golf, pickleball, kayaking, and the chance to enjoy the “Savor the Flavors of Charleston Tour.”

This week, May 4-6 in New York City, the Primerus™ Business Law Institute will hold its annual International Summit, exploring the impact of the “Rule of Law” on the international marketplace and global business.
The Virgin Hotel–New York will be the host site of the International Summit, as attorneys from around the world will use it as a springboard to enjoy the splendor of various New York sight-seeing destinations, including the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, the High Line, Chelsea Market, Hudson Yards, the Empire State Building, Times Square, the 9/11 Memorial, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art to name just a few.

A “behind the scenes” tour of the United Nations building, located on the East River in midtown Manhattan, also will be offered to those attending. The towering building has been the peacekeeping organization’s headquarters for seven decades and embodies the importance of the rule of law in free societies. On Thursday, the keynote address will be delivered by Emma Wade Smith OBE, His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for North America and HM General Consul New York.

Also, on the international front, the 2023 EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) Regional Meeting will take place June 20-21 in Zurich, the Swiss city that is a global center for banking and finance in northern Switzerland. Topics on the agenda include panel discussions on litigation and arbitration funding, cyber-crime, insurance, and insolvency.

This fall, Europe again will be in the Primerus™ spotlight when the 2023 Global Conference is held October 26-29 in Paris, and more specifically the nearby city of Versailles, home to the landmark Palace of Versailles, the massive royal residence built in the 17th century by King Louis XIV of France.

At this global gathering, we encourage each Primerus™ law firm to send at least one representative, which will underscore our commitment as a worldwide legal alliance to the preservation of the rule of law and the democratic principles we cherish.

In this issue of Weekly, we will receive an update on the recently formed Primerus™ Foundation. South Carolina attorney Joel Collins, president of the Foundation, will perform the honors, outlining the progress the philanthropic organization has made in recent months in formulating a strategy to help tackle some of the world’s most pressing political, economic, and environmental problems.

His report on the Foundation will appear periodically in the Weekly publication, as will updates from key Primerus™ leaders in the Quality Assurance Board, Community Service, Client, and other sectors.

Finally, the spring/summer issue of the Paradigm magazine is nearing completion and will feature a number of compelling stories on Primerus™ lawyers and law firms around the world, including from war-ravaged Ukraine.

It is our fervent hope that by the end of 2023, such war stories will no longer need writing and instead will be replaced by updates from a former Soviet bloc country in the midst of a triumphant rebuilding.

Best regards,
Jack Buchanan, President