Florida Trend | Florida's Business Authority

International Markets 2009

CEO Survey results - InternationAL Impact

What percent of your organization’s total annual revenue is generated by international business?
2008 2007 Change from
2007 (% pts.)
Less than 10% 49% 47% +1.7
10 to 24% 13 9 +4.1
25% or more 9 6 +3.1
None 29 38 -8.9

CEO Survey results - International Growth

Do you expect international business to be a bigger part of your overall business activity in 2009, a smaller part, or remain about the same? (Asked of those with international business)
2008 2007 Change from
2007 (% pts.)
Bigger part 36% 41% -5.3
Smaller part 3 3 +0.1
About the same 59 53 +6.1
Don’t know/not sure 2 3 -0.9

Cesar Alvarez
Viewpoint International Growth
Cesar L. Alvarez
Greenberg Traurig LLP
CEO
Miami

While two or three locations are on our radar for possible expansion in the U.S., Greenberg Traurig sees our best opportunity for growth in international markets. Because we believe that the law is very local in nature, we spent the last decade building the largest platform for the delivery of legal services in the United States. We believe that it is just as important over the next few years to build that same kind of platform in key markets outside the U.S., with a dozen or so offices internationally in addition to our nearly 30 offices in this country. One of our early success stories outside the U.S. was Amsterdam, which opened with three attorneys, all Dutch. Within five years, it grew to more than 80 lawyers. All of the right ingredients were there — great lawyers, top clients and great local leadership.