Earlier this year, at LawExchange International meetings in London, Buffalo and Rio de Janeiro, Fred Tannenbaum (Gould & Ratner, Chicago) introduced three new initiatives to member firms.   In London and Rio, he introduced two new programs: “Quality Assurance” and “Four Pillars of Developing Stars”.   The first addresses how firms can better serve their clients and LEI network colleagues through a commitment to local legal coverage, competence, client service, cost consciousness, cooperation and conduct creating a well-constructed referral network.   The second initiative addresses developing stars within your organization through hiring right, development and training, recognition and evaluation, and partner participation and conduct. The third initiative was introduced at the meeting of LEI North and South American member firms, nine of whom have venture capital/private equity and merger and acquisition practices.   The initiative will create a combined data base, on a confidential basis, expanding the network of capital sources, deal sources, debt sources and deal metrics, both nationally and internationally enabling the participating firms to exchange information and sources for the benefit of their clients.[caption id="attachment_1528" align="alignnone" width="114"] Fred Tannenbaum[/caption]