FAQ

GRATA International Association operates under a Swiss Verein model, bringing together independent and equal local law firms. Each firm functions autonomously while collaborating on strategies, sharing knowledge, and utilising a unified brand and IT infrastructure.

Joining the Association is simple:

Review and accept the conditions of the charter of Association,
Sign a Licensing Agreement with the Integration Centre,
Submit an application to join the Association.

See the full step-by-step process →

Membership includes the use of a unified brand and access to a shared IT platform. It also entails the payment of royalties (starting from the second year) and membership fees.

Read the key conditions →

obtaining the status of the office of an international Association;
the right to use a single brand;
obtaining the platform and system;
the ability to provide legal services in other countries without the cost of opening and maintaining an office;
the acquisition of new friends and partners;
expanding the base of potential clients;
global marketing;
experience exchange;
support from the Integration Centre.

1) What potential losses might occur when transitioning to gratanet.com?

Suspension of local site indexing: the old brand will no longer exist as a separate entity but will gain enhanced presence within the international network.

2) What are the benefits of transitioning to gratanet.com?

Economic and Technical Benefits:

Cost savings – reduced expenses on website development, maintenance, SEO, and hosting.
Technical support – access to a dedicated support team from the Integration Center.
Enhanced indexing – gratanet.com's high ranking improves visibility and organic traffic.

Marketing Benefits:

Increased trust and recognition – leveraging the GRATA International brand strengthens your reputation.
Access to an international audience – expanded reach and visibility for clients across different jurisdictions.
Advertising and social media – targeted promotion and PR activities.
Inclusion in rankings – participation in global legal rankings and professional publications.
Content marketing – opportunity to publish expert materials on an international platform.

3) Is it possible to maintain a local website alongside gratanet.com?

It is allowed only during the period of association for a time sufficient to migrate data to the new website. It is recommended to focus on gratanet.com to avoid content duplication and additional costs. Local websites can be converted into landing pages with contact details but not used as full-scale websites.

4) How will clients be able to find us without a local website?

Through gratanet.com: high ranking and internal directory.
Additional promotion: SEO, PR, social media, and advertising campaigns.

5) How will our content be published on gratanet.com?

For the first 3 months, materials are submitted to the marketing team for formatting.
After 3 months, offices receive the right to independently publish content, with formatting reviewed by the Integration Center.

6) What will we lose if we freeze our local website and operate only through gratanet.com?

Suspension of direct indexing of the local website with its previous name in search engines. However, in its new format, information about the office, its services, team, and expertise will be indexed on an internationally recognized platform with a strong reputation and broad reach.
Development as part of the GRATA International brand. The local brand will no longer exist as a separate entity but will gain new positioning and strengthen its presence within a larger legal network. This will enhance client trust, particularly among international clients.
The necessity to discontinue maintaining a parallel website with unique content. This will help avoid content duplication, which negatively affects SEO for both platforms. Instead, participants will be able to focus on actively developing content on GrataNet.com, enhancing their expertise and strengthening their position both within the legal community and in their respective jurisdictions.

7) What are the benefits of switching to your website?

Increased recognition and trust. Your brand will operate under the reputable name of GRATA International, enhancing client trust and strengthening your professional reputation.
Technical support. You won't need to invest resources in website development, maintenance, SEO, hosting, or cybersecurity - these are managed by a professional IT team.
Enhanced search engine indexing. GRATA International's jurisdictions are constantly expanding, and the website has a high ranking and extensive geographic reach. This improves search engine rankings, increases organic traffic, and boosts visibility.
Marketing and advertising support. New offices receive additional promotion at the time of integration through advertising campaigns, PR activities, and social media. An initial targeted marketing push is conducted for the new office, after which it becomes a full-fledged member of the network and gains access to the same marketing opportunities as other GRATA International offices.
Content marketing and SEO. The new office will be able to publish expert articles, news, and case studies across all network platforms, helping attract new clients and strengthen its professional reputation on an international level.

8) Can we keep our local website and run it alongside yours?

We recommend focusing resources on the stronger international website, Gratanet.com, because:

Maintaining two websites requires additional resources and can lead to content duplication, which negatively impacts SEO.
Having two websites with similar information may create misperceptions among clients. Given the increasing number of fraudulent websites with duplicated content, it is crucial to ensure that information is presented consistently on a single international platform.
Developing on Gratanet.com will provide broader reach and strengthen your presence within the international legal community.

Use of previous websites according to the Terms of Cooperation:

An Associated Office must "freeze" the use of its previous website. Alternatively, it may be converted into a one-page landing site containing the office's contact details, with a clear indication that it is an Associated Member of GRATA International.
An Integrated Office is not permitted to use its previous website. The website must be fully removed, and the Integrated Office must operate exclusively within the Common Website.

9) How will clients find us if we don't have a local website?

Your firm will be featured on gratanet.com, which has a high search ranking and strong presence in the international legal community. Clients will easily find your office through search engines and the internal directory on the website.
Your contact details, services, and expertise will be listed on Gratanet.com, ensuring a higher level of trust among international clients.
Your office will receive additional promotion through SEO optimization, PR activities, social media, and advertising campaigns, increasing your visibility and incoming inquiries.
We assist in adapting your office's content and promoting it to an international audience, helping attract clients and expand your professional network.

10) Can we publish our local content on your website?

Yes, your office will be able to publish articles, news, and updates on Gratanet.com. In the initial stage, materials will be submitted to the marketing team of the integration center for professional formatting and publication. Later, your office will be granted rights to independently upload local content, while the integration center will be responsible for reviewing and approving publications. This approach ensures high-quality content presentation, a consistent style, and compliance with international standards.

11) What marketing advantages does switching to gratanet.com offer?

Access to an international audience. Your services become visible to clients from various jurisdictions, including international companies seeking legal support in your country.
Promotion through advertising and Social Media. We provide targeted promotion of your materials through advertising campaigns and professional social networks.
Publications in rankings and professional media. High-quality publications will be featured under GRATA International's profile in global legal rankings (Chambers, The Legal 500). Your articles and news will also be published on platforms such as Lexology, Mondaq, and others, enhancing your reputation and expertise.
Easier client access through a unified international Brand. When searching for legal services in your jurisdiction, clients find you faster thanks to the high ranking of Gratanet.com. Clients of GRATA International can contact you directly, knowing they are working with a trusted partner in your jurisdiction.
SEO optimization and technical support. You don't need to invest resources in SEO, hosting support, or optimization - everything is handled by a dedicated international IT team.

Associate Office – A member operating under its own firm name, combined with the Single Brand "GI" in accordance with the Brandbook.

Integrated Office – A member using the Single Brand "GI" in its firm title, along with the name of the specified territory. The statement is submitted by the participants themselves and reviewed by the GRATA International Integration Center.

Law firms.

Yes, each member retains full ownership of their office and operates independently.

A team of lawyers with experience in international law firms or major local law firms;
Experience in serving international companies; or
Experience in handling assignments from international law firms.
International rankings.

The options for joining are as follows:

An associate member;
An integrated member.