Cyberweek Fall 2006 September 25-29

FIVE YEARS OF OPERATION OF THE WORLD'S LEADING LEGAL PORTAL

Download: Lessons Learned and Innovations (Powerpoint)

Background

In 1989 an international network of law firms was formed which has substantially increased in growth and development since that time. Through the use of this network numerous independent law firms with thousand's of attorneys in 39 countries, have learned how to better attend to the global legal needs of their international clientele. With recent advances in technology, many of the members of the original network plus several new members have joined together to become a multi-national virtual general counsel (the "Company"). The "Company", using an Oracle 9i database for world-class security and functionality, has agreements with "participating law firms" 57 law firms in 50 countries to provide global legal knowledge to businesses worldwide. LexUniversal.com launched the service in New York on September 7, 2001, and during those 5 years is in full operation. Leveraging the experience of its participating law firms and technologists, LexUniversal.com created a new concept to bring international law practice into the Internet arena, and has developed a stable, direct link between global businesses and professional law firms worldwide. LexUniversal.com is constantly expanding both its network of independent participating law firms and adding more technology services and global legal knowledge and information in order to become a more valuable resource for global businesses.

Industry Overview

Global businesses presently solve their legal needs by contacting law firms and others for face-to-face consultations. Finding law firms which can resolve global legal issues is still a challenge, even with the Internet because most existing law firm websites operate as referral web sites. They allow clients to do a search for law firms meeting certain criteria and then contact the firm to arrange for a traditional attorney-client relationship. LexUniversal.com differs from these sites by creating an Internet base of operations for its participating law firms. LexUniversal.com makes available technology applications, which allow for online case files and documents, online conference rooms and other technology tools. LexUniversal.com distinguishes itself from the others by the market it serves (international businesses), and by its sophisticated use of technology to deliver legal services online.

LexUniversal.com - Objectives

LexUniversal.com is headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware and its objective is to help legal professionals provide new and innovative global online legal services by serving as an "application service provider" to participating law firms and site club members. Site club members are able to join LexUniversal.com's website, and for a small charge are able to find answers to legal questions from participating law firms covering a broad range of topics. The scope of information provided ranges from corporate acquisitions, intellectual property and trade disputes to litigation questions.

LexUniversal.com was formed by a unique team of professionals with substantial knowledge and expertise in the international, personal and business law arena. There are approximately 6,500 participating independent international legal professionals combining services, assistance and information concerning a myriad of worldwide legal issues.

LexUniversal.com is a technology company which has built a website that serves as an application service provider. It is not a law firm, but rather serves as a liaison between clients and law firms, offering legal products and services that would not normally be available on other related sites. Lawyers provide legal information from their own independent firms, to LexUniversal.com's site club members located throughout the world. Both participating law firms and site club members are given access to LexUniversal.com's website by a secure extranet. The extranet has the tools for participating law firms and site club members to communicate securely regarding cases and matters on a global basis.

LexUniversal.com's website organization is as follows:

• Users: More than 500.000 accesses a month represented by small businesses, professionals, law professors, lawyers, students, and other individuals willing to benefit from the convenience of obtaining local, national or worldwide legal services.
• Participating Law Firms: represented by 57 law firms around the world (50 different countries) duly admitted by their respective bar association, and duly entitled to render legal services and aid to clients. These firms have been selected following a rigorous application process to ascertain their capabilities in the markets they serve.
• Other Service Providers: represented by independent firms and individuals authorized to provide seminars, classified ads, directory information through the web site.

LexUniversal.com's services include the Internet linkage between users, participating law firms and other service providers delivering the following main services:

• Consultation: brief opinions concerning local and international legal issues.
• Job Opportunities: to lawyers and trainees around the world
• Law Seminars: schedule of law seminars hosted and conducted by well known Law Schools, Universities and Bar Associations worldwide.
• Q&As: Most frequent questions and answer about legal issues around the world.
• Law Articles: studies, legal opinion and legal articles written by qualified attorneys, law professors and scholars around world.
• News: Most recent law changes, precedents and jurisprudence from more than 50 countries.
• Directory: data and information about the 57 participant law firms with their addresses, along with areas of expertise and languages spoken.

Management Team

LexUniversal.com management team is head up by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ordélio Azevedo Sette, senior partner of Azevedo Sette Advogados in Brazil, the 9th Latin American Law Firm according to Latin Lawyer, who represents among others Microsoft, Xerox and Citibank. Mr. Sette is former president of the International Chamber of Commerce of Brazil. Mr. Sette has created and developed LexUniversal.com concept, and has funded its construction and development.

The President (COO) is Jeffrey M. Aresty, senior partner of Aresty International Law Offices, P.C. in Boston, Massachusetts (www.cyberspaceattorney.com) who has an extensive background in legal technology and negotiating and structuring international joint venture relationships, establishing direct and indirect sales, marketing and manufacturing operations in Europe, South America and the Far East. Mr. Aresty is the editor of The ABA Guide to International Business Negotiations (2d ed. 2000), the premier legal text on the subject. He has served the legal profession in several capacities regarding the effect of technology on the delivery of legal services, and is currently the Reporter of the American Bar Association "e-Lawyering Task Force" (www.elawyering.org) The Vice President is Glenn Cheney, a communicator working as a producer and co-host of biweekly public access cable television programs in the U.S. and a professional writer and educator. Other senior staff members include: Solange Cheney, Financial Manager, Ana Paula Terra, Project Manager, and Arnaud Vin, Technical Director.

Competition

The market for global legal services is growing rapidly as the Internet is spawning many global businesses since any business with an e-commerce enabled website has entered the global marketplace. Presently, law firms and accounting firms with legal departments service the legal needs of global businesses using a consulting model recently LexUniversal.com has experienced the following online competition:

• Legal application service providers that provide technical assistance to lawyers but no client referrals or networking opportunities;
• Global legal networks using the Internet to post information, but no other online legal services;
• Legal directories or referral services that assist clients in locating a lawyer;
• Law Firms who use legal technology, to deliver legal services but who are not presently servicing an international clientele; and
• Global law firms and accounting firms who have websites, and are in their market place, but who serve primarily Fortune 1000 companies.

For further information please contact:

Ordelio A. Sette Tel: +55 31 3262 6656 e-mail: osette@lexuniversal.com