Why did this initiative come up and what market needs does it seek to cover?
The sector was lacking a professional trade fair in which, in person and in a suitable environment, law firms and companies could come together to exchange useful and valuable information for both parties, to promote networking in a personal and direct way and, in short, to be the meeting point between Law and Business. The initiative comes from Metalia Group, a leading company in the organisation of sectorial fairs. For two years now, it has been able to surround itself with experts from the legal sector and count on the support of institutions and groups representing the legal sector and the business world. Unfortunately, the COVID pandemic meant that the fair could not take place. But we have to look on the bright side of things, this allowed Metalia Group to explore the possibility of co-organising the fair, and now E&J Group and us, Diferencia Legal, have joined forces for enhancing the fair’s visibility and help with the introduction of new players of the sector, as well as promoting the business and technological side or the participation of in-house lawyers.
What type of firms (profiles) can make the most of being an exhibitor at the Fair?
Given that one of the main objectives is to promote the business aspect of the fair, any firm that offers legal advice to companies has a place. If a firm has a value proposition, either because of its sectorial specialisation in a specific industry or because of its range of services, Spain Legal Expo will be the ideal framework for approaching its target audience, especially medium-sized firms, or even specialised boutiques, which do not have as many resources as large firms to reach new clients.
What type of activities will make up the days of the Legal Expo?
We will have different round tables to address current issues of interest to law firms and companies, from a legal and economic point of view, a speaking corner, an area more oriented towards entrepreneurship and technology, such as the LegalTech corner, where a start-up competition will be organised in the field of LegalTech, a networking point where professional collaborations between attendees can be fostered, presentations by top-level economic, legal and business profiles, and of course, the possibility of visiting the stands of law firms, legal sector professionals, companies, start-ups, etc. throughout the more than 5000 square metres of IFEMA’s Pavilion 1.
Which private companies (or business associations) have already shown their support for the initiative?
Many associations and business groups are showing their support and interest in the fair. These include the Madrid Chamber of Commerce, Madrid Foro Empresarial, the Spanish Association of Compliance (ASCOM), the Association of Lawyers and Local Entities, Aticco Lab, as an innovation partner, and the support of institutions such as the Community of Madrid and the Madrid City Council. On the other hand, a large number of agreements are still being finalised with business and sectoral associations to promote the attendance of their business partners.
And what about attendance? How many business managers have already confirmed their intention to attend the Fair?
The attendance of businesspeople will far exceed expectations, as the fair comes at an ideal time to boost the economic activity of companies, which is why it is taking place together with Boostpyme, a professional fair for SME services, reinforcing Spain Legal Expo at a business level, and with the support of the Ministry of Industry and Tourism, the General Council of Insurance Mediators’ Associations, the Spanish Franchisers’ Association, the Association of Self-Employed Workers, the Confederation of Specialised Trade of Madrid and ENISA (Empresa Nacional de Innovación, SA -National Innovation Company-).
About David Muro
David Muro is a partner at Diferencia Legal. After creating the marketing, communication, and business development department at Ceca Magán Abogados, which he headed for eleven years, playing an active role in one of the most notorious growth processes in the Legal sector, he developed his own project, DM Consultores, for four years, providing marketing, communication, and business development services for law firms throughout Spain and Latin America. Subsequently, he became a partner at Gericó, Muro & Asociados, and now, together with Alfonso Everlet, and supported by a great team, he leads Diferencia Legal.