What is World Law Alliance?

World Law Alliance is an Institutional platform where independent law firms co-practice across borders under one shared framework of excellence.

How many jurisdictions does WLA cover?

WLA has partner firms across 80+ jurisdictions worldwide, with one exclusive partner firm Per Practice.

How can my law firm join WLA?

Law firms can apply for WLA Partner Firm status through our Expression of Interest form. We designate one exclusive partner firm Per Practice.

WLA Qualified Designation

The mark that means something. Earned. Verified.

WLA Qualified is the institutional designation awarded to independent law firms that have been independently assessed against the Alliance Practice Standard. It is not purchased. It is not self-declared. It is earned — and it means something.

Apply for Designation → Read the Alliance Practice Charter →

Assessment criteria

Firm Per Practice

Active designations

Self-nominations

WLA

Qualified

Independently assessed · Verifiable by clients & GC teams

Alliance Practice Standard· Independently Assessed· One Firm Per Practice· Earned — Not Purchased· Verifiable by Clients· WLA Qualified· Cross-Border Legal Excellence· Alliance Practice Standard· Independently Assessed· One Firm Per Practice· Earned — Not Purchased· Verifiable by Clients· WLA Qualified· Cross-Border Legal Excellence·

What WLA Qualified means

A mark clients
can rely on.

WLA Qualified is not a listing. It is an independent institutional assessment — the mark that tells clients, General Counsel, and counterparties that a firm has been verified against a defined international standard for cross-border legal practice.

See the 7 Criteria → Read the Charter →

For clients & GC teams

A WLA Qualified firm has been independently assessed — not self-nominated. You can rely on it across every jurisdiction it covers without running your own due diligence.

For law firms

WLA Qualified is an exclusive designation — one firm Per Practice per practice domain. Carrying it signals to clients and institutional counterparties that your firm meets a defined international standard.

Annually reviewed

The designation is not permanent by default. WLA reviews compliance with the Alliance Practice Standard annually. Firms must maintain the standard to retain the designation.

Verifiable

Every WLA Qualified firm is listed in the Alliance Practice Standard register. Clients and GC teams can verify any firm's designation status directly through WLA at any time.

The Alliance Practice Standard

Seven criteria.
All must be met.

WLA Qualified is assessed against seven criteria drawn from the Alliance Practice Charter. Every criterion must be satisfied. There is no partial designation.

Jurisdictional excellence

The firm must be a leading practitioner in its jurisdiction and practice domain — not simply an active firm. WLA assesses standing, reputation, peer recognition, and the calibre of matters handled. Being a good firm in your market is the starting point, not the threshold.

English capability at partner level

Cross-border legal work requires fluent English communication at the partner level. WLA assesses English capability as a working requirement for all international matter handling — not merely as a secondary skill.

International standards of ethics and client service

The firm must demonstrate a commitment to the highest international standards of professional ethics, client service, and conduct. WLA does not designate firms with unresolved disciplinary issues or known conduct concerns in any jurisdiction.

Active Alliance Practice participation

WLA Qualified is not a passive listing. Partner firms must actively participate in the Alliance Practice framework — engaging in the referral system, attending institutional activities, and contributing to the shared knowledge base of the network.

Referral integrity and protocol compliance

All referrals — both inbound and outbound — must follow the WLA referral protocol. Firms must not circumvent WLA coordination, must handle referred matters with the same standard as direct instructions, and must report referral outcomes to WLA Central Command.

Minimum two partners — institutional depth

WLA does not designate sole practitioners. A minimum of two partners provides the institutional depth, capacity resilience, and succession continuity that cross-border legal practice demands. This is a structural requirement, not a size preference.

Shared values — honesty, integrity, innovation, mutual trust

WLA is a community of like-minded institutions as much as a professional network. The four founding values — honesty, integrity, innovation, and mutual trust — are assessed not as slogans but as observable characteristics of how a firm operates and how its people behave.

WLA

Qualified

How WLA Qualified firms use the mark

"World Law Alliance" — full institutional name

"WLA" — abbreviated institutional mark

"A WLA Firm" — co-branding alongside firm name

"Member, World Law Alliance" — Partnership reference

WLA logo in website footer and email signatures

WLA designation in firm profile and materials

The WLA Qualified seal

One mark.
One standard.
Every jurisdiction.

The WLA Qualified seal is the visible expression of the Alliance Practice Standard. It can be used by designated partner firms in their materials, website, and communications — and it can be verified by anyone, at any time, directly through WLA.

When a GC sees a WLA Qualified firm, they know it has been independently assessed against a defined set of international criteria — not self-nominated, not purchased, not assigned on the basis of a partnership fee. The mark earns its trust through the rigour of what it takes to carry it.

Check a Firm's Designation → Apply for Designation →

How to earn WLA Qualified

Four steps to
designation.

The process is designed to be clear and efficient for firms that meet the standard. WLA assesses — not rubber-stamps.

Check your jurisdiction

WLA designates one firm Per Practice per practice domain. Use the checker to confirm your slot is available before applying — once filled, the designation is exclusive and the slot closes.

Submit expression of interest

A brief profile of your firm — jurisdiction, practice areas, partner count, notable matters, and a short note on why WLA is the right fit. No lengthy forms. WLA reads every submission personally.

WLA assessment call

If the initial submission shows a strong fit, WLA arranges a call with the institutional team to discuss the seven criteria, the Alliance Practice Charter, and what the partnership looks like in practice.

Designation confirmed

Upon designation, your firm is onboarded to the Partner Dashboard, co-branding materials are issued, your profile goes live in the Alliance Practice Standard register, and referrals begin flowing from across the network.

Apply for Designation →

Jurisdiction Availability

Is your slot open?

WLA Qualified designates one firm Per Practice per practice domain. Check now — designation is exclusive and slots close when filled.

Your jurisdiction / country

Primary practice area

Jurisdiction available

No commitment required. WLA reviews all applications personally.

Current WLA Qualified firms

The firms that carry
the designation.

View full register →

The mark that means something. Earned. Verified.

A mark clientscan rely on.

Seven criteria.All must be met.

One mark.One standard.Every jurisdiction.

Four steps todesignation.

The firms that carrythe designation.

How to verifya WLA Qualified firm.

Is your firmready for theworld?

A mark clients
can rely on.

Seven criteria.
All must be met.

One mark.
One standard.
Every jurisdiction.

Four steps to
designation.

The firms that carry
the designation.

How to verify
a WLA Qualified firm.

Is your firm
ready for the
world?