What is the Commercial Law League of America?
The roots of the Commercial Law League of America are said to "’spring from the womb of two distinct societies, both born in the year 1895, one in the East and the other in the West, but all blended into one at its formation in 1951" with the mission of being "the oldest association of lawyers and the premier provider of leading edge services for commercial and bankruptcy legal specialists." As set forth in its Constitution, the purposes and objectives for the CLLA include, among other things: To promote the improvement and extension of legal service in the field of commercial and bankruptcy creditors’ rights law; To promote the interests of the profession of commercial and bankruptcy creditors’ rights law; To provide a forum for the exchange of ideas among allied professionals, including accountants, bankruptcy administrators, financial advisors and bankers; To serve the special needs of the members through continuing legal education and service development; and To maintain an open awareness of the growth of the economy and the legal profession to better provide services to all members. The genesis of the CLLA can be traced back over a century. In 1895 , the first membership roster of the National Association of Creditors’ Rights Attorneys consisted of 1,335 attorneys in 39 states, the majority of whom, fifty-seven years later became the foundation of the CLLA. The second association, founded the same year by a breakaway faction of the first, the National Association of Creditors’ Rights Attorneys, Western Region (or "NACRA/W"), was based in the Midwest and became the forerunner of the CLLA’s Midwest region. The NACRA/East and NACRA/West each held conventions in 1950. The two associations announced in 1951 their intention to combine for the purpose of birthing "the unified organization we proudly call the Commercial Law League of America . . . including creditors’ rights, commercial law practice groups and specialized bankruptcy practice groups." (As the parenthetical reference notes, "practice group" and "specialty" refer to the classification titles adopted by the CLLA to serve its members.)
Membership and Involvement
Most importantly, each member has access to a network of their legal peers who share their commitment to adhere to the highest standards of professionalism in representing their clients’ interests. These bonds are developed in part through access to forums at CLLA meetings, in which members discuss and debate issues that are vital to their practice, often with judicial officers. Other important sources for these bonds are a listserv available exclusively to members to raise queries and solicit information from their peers, publication of the member directory and the online directory, and the array of committees on which each member is invited to participate. Many members call their "first family," the other members of the CLLA when they have questions about collections, creditors rights or enforcement. It truly pays dividends for our members to participate in the CLLA either during or even after their active practice. What specific benefits are offered to members? Access to various resources, including: CLLA news is provided through a monthly e-newsletter distributed to all members of the association, and a monthly podcast by CLLA President. Members also receive The Commercial Law Journal, the only national electronic newsletter related to collecting accounts receivable nationwide, as well as the award-winning bimonthly publication (both also available free to members) – The Commercial Law World, that provides up-to-date information on all CLLA activities and what the CLLA is doing for its members.
Programs and Certifications
The CLLA focuses on the education and training of its members, and programs are held throughout the year and are open to both members and non-members. Its annual conference is perhaps its most prestigious offering, and features a wide variety of courses, seminars, and speakers with valuable practical knowledge for our members. The CLLA publishes the Commercial Law World publication, and this along with its website and email list serve provides a means for sharing legal developments in the field. Beyond its efforts to educate, a number of credential programs, which open a path to become recognized experts in the field, are offered by the CLLA. These certifications distinguish professionals who have met high standards of knowledge, skill, performance, and professional integrity. The Fellow of the CLLA® (FCC®) designations allows members to distinguish themselves from many other individuals in the field with specific knowledge and skills in the field of commercial and consumer finance law. The Certified Receiver® (CR®) designation recognizes qualified professionals with specific knowledge and skills in state Law receivership. The Certified Specialist in Creditor’s Rights (CSCR®) is a professional designation awarded to members who gain essential and critical knowledge and expertise in area of creditor’s rights and commercial collections. While the FCC®, CR®, and CSCR® designations are awarded to those who meet specific requirements and pass examinations, the new Certificate in Creditor’s Rights (CCR®) enables creditors’ rights attorneys, paralegals and their support staff to demonstrate their knowledge and expertise in this area of law. This certification course was designed for creditor’s rights attorneys as well as for paralegals and support staff working under their supervision.
Lobbying and Legislative Impact
Beyond its educational initiatives, the CLLA is deeply involved in advocating for legislative changes that affect its members and their clients. By keeping abreast of proposed laws at the federal and state levels, the CLLA can inform its members so that they will be knowledgeable about the likely impact of legislation on their practices or the practices of their clients.
The CLLA has written its own version of the Uniform Commercial Code and has a representative sit on the committee that recommends changes to that Code. The CLLA also takes a seat at the table when laws affect the accounts receivable community, such as in its advocacy for the Federal Assignment of Claims Act and the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act.
In addition, the CLLA’s input was invaluable to the American Arbitration Association in the development of its Commercial Pre-Arbitration Discovery Protocols.
Through its advocacy, the CLLA helps to ensure that lawmakers are aware of pertinent issues affecting its members and their clients. In addition, it provides its members the opportunity to connect with decision-makers on legislation that affects their work.
The Role of CLLA and Bankruptcy and Insolvency
The Bankruptcy Section of the CLLA is made up of attorney members across the U.S. and Canada that represent institutional, trade, and small business creditors in their recovery efforts in bankruptcy and insolvency law. The section provides a forum for practicing bankruptcy lawyers to meet, swap notes on practice tips, and to coordinate practice standards. Several key practice standards have been adopted by the section.
The CLLA Bankruptcy Section also provides forums for discussion and dissemination of news and developments of relevance to the practice of bankruptcy law through newsletters , email distribution lists and conferences. Among the primary objectives of the Bankruptcy Section is the enhancement of communication among practitioners. Through the use of email lists, the section provides quick responses to common practice questions in bankruptcy cases. The Bankruptcy Section also has an active Philadelphia actual and practical knowledge forum, where lawyers on the East Coast and Mid-Atlantic region meet bi-annually to discuss developments and trends in the practice of bankruptcy law.
Joining the Commercial Law League of America
The path to membership in the Commercial Law League of America is open to many qualified candidates. Membership involves two distinct tiers: Active and Associate. Active membership requires a minimum of two years of experience as an attorney engaged in commercial or bankruptcy law, along with sponsorship by two active members who are in good standing. Eligible candidates may apply for associate status only if their respective firm is located within a region of the CLLA that is not in close proximity to the applicant’s primary firm. The applicant’s sponsoring active member must be from the applicant’s home region. The process for becoming an active CLLA member requires the submission of the applicant’s resume, within 60 days of their induction as an associate member. All applicants are required to attend two meetings – one annual and one semi-annual meeting – after their induction and to submit the requisite fee for admission. The prospect of developing a global network of law firms as an active CLLA member offers the potential to become a preferred referral source for clients, peers, and other colleagues as a trusted source of legal counsel. In essence, the CLLA provides qualified applicants and their firms exclusive access to a highly regarded network of commercial attorneys across the U.S., Canada, and numerous international jurisdictions.
Recent Updates and Future Prospects
The Commercial Law League of America is currently navigating a period of both retention and growth, with a particular emphasis on internationalization. Membership is up, thanks in part to the active and vocal synergistic support of its new Leadership Institute, and additional and specialized committees have been formed to focus on areas of potential expanded service delivery. The industry generally has moved in the direction of consolidation , but the CLLA has been developing an approach to growth through acquisition, revealing itself as a significant player in the legal services arena. With frequent deep-dive joint meetings between the executive, marketing, professional development, and bar sections, while also carefully balancing the various constituent and economic interests across the membership, the CLLA appears to be well-positioned for years to come.