These days, more and more business deals and disputes cross geographic borders. In order to help clients facing those worldwide challenges, The Lanier Law Firm is continuing to expand its international reach. The firm recently launched an International Arbitration and Dispute Practice, and firm founder Mark Lanier also unveiled plans to open up shop in London in 2010.

Led by Mr. Lanier and Dana Taschner, Managing Attorney of the firm's Los Angeles office, the new International Arbitration and Dispute Practice will partner with Dallas attorney and noted forensic psychologist Lisa Blue to handle arbitration matters for corporations around the world. The new practice group also works to help other law firms trying to prevent possible conflicts with their corporate clients.

"Large law firms often want to avoid a particular arbitration matter so they can steer clear of a potential conflict, but they also want to protect their role in a corporate client's other legal matters," says Mr. Lanier. "Under these circumstances, our team is able to step in and handle arbitration proceedings in order to eliminate the conflict risk for law firms and their clients."

The Lanier Law Firm attorneys have represented clients in business and financial disputes around the globe, and serve as arbitrators on some of the world's leading international panels. Mr. Taschner currently serves on the Panel of Arbitrators at the World Intellectual Property Organization, and also belongs to the Association for International Arbitration and the London Court of International Arbitration.

The new practice group already has garnered its share of media attention, including an article posted on the popular legal Web site Law.com, as well as articles on the Web sites for the Houston Business Journal and Global Arbitration Review (subscription required).