by Denis St-Gelais

We met with François-Xavier Simard jr in his Sainte-Foy office. Mr. Simard announces that in 2001, he will become the first-ever North-American president of this international organization. He has also given us a scoop : "P.L.G. will in five years be the first virtual international law firm !"

AN INTERNET SITE WITH A BRIGHT FUTURE

The Pannone Group possesses its own INTERNET site that is, at present, rather modest. The site provides information on the organization and all of its associates and of the services they offer. The site is made available in French, English and Spanish. It is not yet a very interactive tool, but it insures a presence on the web that is in tune with the changes in communication means since it abolishes distance to create a world of proximity.

For F.-X. Simard jr, the web constitutes an exceptional change from the old ways. "With this modern tool, we are in real time with humankind", says he. "Many participants from all parts of the planet may simultaneously discuss, send themselves documents and settle some business without further delay. We are nowadays capable of concluding deals that would have taken us a great amount of time in the past". After having taken these arguments into consideration, the idea of making P.L.G. the first virtual international law firm came out naturally.

Over five years, the site will become a means enabling the clients to communicate rapidly and at all times with their lawyers as well as to have an almost immediate access to their files. Mr. Simard sees this as a major change in the customary practice of law and argues that this "entails a great possibility of being disturbed". In his view, to be disturbed means to adapt oneself to the new realities which center around market internationalization. Lawyers must then put their practice into question and ask themselves how it is possible to better serve the client. "One of the most efficient ways is to always be present", he explains. "Five or ten years ago, it would have been impossible to think and to act this way. For instance, we can now establish an antenna with China to develop new markets. Thanks to our French allies, this will probably be a reality before December 31, 1997".

JOINING P.L.G., A STRATEGIC DECISION

After having closed an important economic deal in Europe, Joli-Coeur et associés expressed an interest in joining the Group. Fifteen months of talks and negotiations were necessary to reach an agreement in 1995. The Québec law firm then became the first North-American partner of P.L.G.

The Pannone Law Group was created in 1988 to offer to clients of the participating firms services that are in tune with the new economic realities of the market. Specialized in business law, P.L.G. is present in almost every European State and has been the first integrated international juridical body created for economic purposes (G.E.I.E.). This association numbers no less than 1 000 people, namely 450 lawyers practicing in 16 major European cities.For Sainte-Foy lawyers, to be members of such an organization represents an extraordinary way to serve clients who want to enlarge a market that the FTA has rendered ferocious. "The SMSE are looking for alternatives and Europe is for them the best choice", adds Mr. Simard. "The legal environment is almost the same as here and we help our clients to settle legal questions concerning their dealings". In fact, the firm Joli-Coeur et associés, which has been established 13 years ago, is still quite young and particularly represents the interests of SMSE.

According to Simard, Quebecers are warmly welcomed in Europe. They are seen as developers, dynamic entrepreneurs who are positively inclined to do things. "For Europeans, Québec businessmen represent a breath of fresh air because they believe them inhabited with the spirit of the New World. They do not feel threatened by their North-American methods nor do they look at them as predators", he says.The Sainte-Foy office has given six lawyers the mandate to work on the transaction dossiers between Québec and the world. Their role is to settle all related legal questions, namely intellectual ownership, technological transfer, working permits and the creation of businesses abroad. For these lawyers, the association with P.L.G. constitutes a true winning card for the quick settlement of agreements which moreover facilitate the relationship between the future economic partners. "At this moment, we are working on a dossier involving France, Egypt, England, Switzerland and Canada. This affair is worth millions of dollars and would have been impossible to close without the international aura of the Pannone Group", F.-X. Simard points out.

For F.-X. Simard, being associated to Pannone also gives the opportunity to participate to the consolidating of a regional spirit that aims at developing a "critical mass" in region 03 enabling it to be present abroad. In this regard, Joli-Coeur et associés has been invited by ACT International, which is presided by Benoit Côte, to join in as partner in order to market Québec high-tech products abroad. "All players must unite to have an impact outside our borders and to consolidate the bridge that already exists between us and Europe", Simard adds.

For the law firm of Joli-Coeur, Lacasse, Lemieux, Simard, St-Pierre et associés, the bonds that exist with P.L.G. also represent a powerful tool for expanding itself. Indeed, its international turnover has increased by 40 % since last year and is currently 30 % ahead of this year's expectations. "This could not have been possible if we would not have become their partner", Simard points out.

After modest beginnings within the European organization, Mr. Simard and his associates have now become key allies for P.L.G. In fact, Mr. Simard will, in 2001, become the first non-European president of the whole organization whose head office is in Brussels. This achievement represents for him a great proof of confidence and esteem. Mr. Simard was first invited to sit on the organization's Board of Directors. Last year, he chaired the P.L.G. Business Plan Committee. During the Thanksgiving week-end, in Lisbon, he presented the Report of his Committee that includes a surprising recommendation, the foundation of the whole document : to make P.L.G. the first virtual international law firm !

For François-Xavier Simard jr, all of this became possible because of his firm's association with the Pannone Law Group. "For Québec and its region, this represents a rare chance. With new means at our disposal, we will be capable of dealing with the changes imposed by the new reality of a world where proximity is the new motto. Others must now follow in our footsteps if we want Québec to become a region of major importance in the economic domain", Simard concludes.

For more information :

Pannone Law Group : http://www.plg-geie.com