Dear WSG Members,

I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you some of the important developments within WSG. We held a successful series of WSG Regional Meetings throughout the world including the Meeting of the America's in Dallas, the WSG European Regional Meeting held in Scotland and hosted by Shepherd and Wedderburn LLP, the WSG Asia Pacific Regional Meeting, held in New Zealand and hosted by Minter Ellison Rudd Watts. Each of these programs had excellent member and client participation.

I am also pleased to report that Bloomberg BNA and World Services Group held the first of a three-series Cross-Border Deals Forum, at Bloomberg LP's 120 Park Avenue New York offices. The forum explored strategies to handle business and regulatory challenges. Like all forums in the series, it brought together an audience of international business professionals and offered networking opportunities. The event, which had approximately 80 attendees, was organized to coincide with our WSG Board Meeting, which enabled representatives of WSG from around the world to attend. Our association with Bloomberg contributed to the fact that news of the Cross-Border Deals Forum with Bloomberg BNA reached over 200 websites. Moreover, we continue to work to maximize the other benefits of the Bloomberg relationship including a future webinar, advertisement on the Bloomberg BNA Big Law website and newsletter, developing a WSG sponsor page on the Big Law website, and offering to our WSG members discounts on distance learning opportunities offered by Bloomberg BNA. Given this exposure, WSG continues to develop the branding and business development opportunities related to this program and the relationship with Bloomberg.

The submissions to the "WSG Referral Tool" continues to grow and show impressive collaboration within the network. Please continue to register your client matters and other forms of collaboration with members directly on the WSG site using the "Referral Tool" as this data is critical to WSG in multiple respects and enables us to better serve the members. To quote Michael Bloomberg himself, "in God we trust. For all others, bring data!"

Recruiting continues to be a top focus for WSG particularly in North America. Please feel free to contact me with any suggestions for possible candidates for new WSG member firms.

Finally, our annual WSG meeting is scheduled for September 14-15 in Rome, Italy. Once again, thank you to Francesco Gianni, a member of our Board of Directors, and his firm Gianni, Origoni, Grippo & Partners for their gracious support. I am confident this event will be an excellent meeting.

To close, although there are numerous international challenges facing the world, organizations such as WSG promote international commerce, understanding, and friendship. Thanks to each of you for your small role. Hope to see you soon at an upcoming WSG event.

Sincerely,

Larry B. Pascal, Chair
Haynes and Boone, LLP (Dallas)