Read our Q&A with Enrique Delgado Schwarzmann, Chairman of Eurojuris Spain’s Board of Directors.
What difficulties did Eurojuris Spain face?
In recent years Eurojuris Spain has faced major difficulties arising from its critical financial and economic situation. As a result of the exit of many Law firms, the network’s revenues had fallen drastically, as well as other revenues that had sustained the financial balance of the association. Coupled with a decrease in income of our law offices, caused by the country’s economic crisis, it placed the network in a situation, in which it was unable to meet the payments to Eurojuris International.
Between 2009 and 2016, the global economic crisis affected Spain very seriously. As a result, the law firms’ economic outcome declined considerably. Expenditures were reduced by 25% to 35%. This loss of liquidity not only forced many law firms to leave the Eurojuris Spain network but also hindered the participation of firms in international events.
3 major difficulties can be identified:
- The general economic and financial insecurity in Spain
- Law firms were forced to make reductions in costs and personnel
- The high increase of legal professionals in Spain, which led to severe competition among law firms
How did you take command of the situation?
We conducted very serious negotiations with the international network to gain its support in several aspects of our daily working routine. In the first place, we managed to reassess our economic conditions and achieved a significant reduction of Eurojuris Spain’s the annual fee to the international network. We hope to get back to the prior level over time. Also, a business plan including growth objectives was presented, which, if fulfilled, will allow us to balance our budget by 2020.
What measures did you take to counteract?
Negotiating and reaching reasonable understandings with third parties. We sought for understanding by the international network whilst providing total transparency of our economic situation. We also held meetings with the treasurer of Eurojuris International and the board to reach an agreement for the future.
Was there a specific organisational team or group?
The entire network worked together. In particular our coordinator Laura Bernat and myself as president.
What difficulties were the most challenging to overcome?
We are still working on the recovery. Spain has not yet overcome the financial crisis. The same applies to the legal sector and especially for the network. Significant financial difficulties continue to exist. At present, Eurojuris Spain has a financial imbalance caused by the income from its members' fees and the annual expenses. Greater financial problems could arise if we fail to attract new members.
Did you find a longer-term solution?
Our business plan forecasts a slow but sustained growth of the network. We need to increase both our income as well as our members if we want to reach our financial balance within a period of 3 years. We are working on it right now.
What can other Eurojuris members learn from your experience?
I believe that our greatest achievement was to make Eurojuris International aware of our difficulties and at the same time of our desire to continue to grow. In short: simply try to enter into a dialogue and to seek consensus with the other members of the network.
Links:
Eurojuris Spain: www.asociacion-eurojuris.es
