Top tier global law firm network Meritas has named former Venable business development director Sona Pancholy as its next president.

Pancholy has 25 years of experience as a leader in the legal industry, most recently as a senior director for law and tax content strategy at Bloomberg Industry Group. She is due to officially take up the presidency following the alliance’s annual meeting in London in May.

Jill Wiley, chair of Meritas’s board, said: “Her proven track record of working collaboratively with a board of directors, key stakeholders, and staff, as well as her solid understanding of the evolving business of law and how to drive business opportunities through the use of technology, make her an ideal fit for the organisation.”

Prior to her four years at Bloomberg, Pancholy was director of business development at law firms including Stinson Leonard Street and Am Law 100 firm Venable. She also previously worked in client services for Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld and was executive director of the World Jurist Association. 

Pancholy’s role at Meritas will involve providing strategic leadership and establishing and implementing the organisation’s vision and strategy. She replaces Tanna Moore, who is stepping down after 14 years as Meritas’s president. Pancholy will be based in Washington DC.

Pancholy said: “The collaboration opportunities between Meritas firms are endless. Meritas is celebrating 30 years of providing a safe place for clients worldwide to find legal and business solutions. Meritas is solidly positioned to meet the diverse needs of clients looking for efficient, effective results with a service approach customised to their industries and geographies.”

Meritas has member firms in 259 markets around the world with a network of more than 7,500 lawyers.

Last year, it issued a guide to the global cannabis industry and a series of local guides to expanding cannabis operations in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Last month, rival global law firm network Lex Mundi launched a comparative guide to climate change law across multiple jurisdictions including the US, Canada, Mexico, Finland, Poland, Russia, the UK and South Africa.

In January, global alliance Interlex added three new members to its network — BLP in Central America, Galicia in Mexico and Portolano Cavallo in Italy.