IBA Annual Conference 2017

The 2017 IBA Annual Conference will be held in Sydney, Australia’s leading global city. Recognised internationally as a future-focused and innovative business centre, Sydney provides headquarters for almost 40 per cent of the top 500 Australian corporations. As one of the world’s most multicultural and connected cities, Sydney will be an ideal location for the largest and most prestigious event for international lawyers, providing an abundance of business and networking opportunities.

Who attends?

The IBA Annual Conference is open to both members and nonmembers of the IBA, with lawyers from over 130 jurisdictions and all parts of the legal profession attending, including lawyers in private practice, in-house counsel, human rights advocates, judges, bar leaders, regulators and government representatives. This unique mix of viewpoints provides a rich environment for discussion, debate and learning as well as the opportunity to develop lasting business relationships and lifelong friendships.

Why attend?

What will you get from attending?

Up-to-date knowledge of the key developments in your area of law
Access to the world’s best networking and business development event for lawyers
Invaluable international connections with leading practitioners worldwide
A greater knowledge of the role of law in society
World-class professional development opportunities – CLE/CPD
To be part of the debate on the future of the law

What will your business get out of you attending?

Increased profile in the international legal world
New contacts to develop your international practice
Knowledge of the challenges and opportunities facing the legal profession and your clients globally
Business intelligence on issues allowing you to pre-empt their impact and to exploit the opportunities they present
The contacts, connections and prospects that flow from making the IBA part of your organisation’s outreach programme

What to expect:

The 2017 IBA Annual Conference in Sydney will feature around 200 conference sessions. These vary widely in style and, with the core substantive committee sessions at the heart of the conference programme covering most sectors and practice areas, the conference will provide the opportunity to focus on your own areas of interest. The IBA Annual Conference attracts many distinguished speakers who in recent years have included: Kofi Annan, former UN SecretaryGeneral (pictured far left); Jose Maria Aznar, former President of Spain; José Manuel Barroso, former European Commission President; Fatou Bensouda, International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor; Anders Fogh Rasmussen, former Secretary-General of NATO and Prime Minister of Denmark; Jeh Johnson, former United States Secretary of Homeland Security (2011-2017); Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (pictured centre); Loretta E Lynch, former Attorney General of the United States (2011-2017) (pictured far right); Robert S Mueller III, former Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and General Colin L Powell, former US Secretary of State. Additionally, there are sessions on a wide range of topics, such as the challenges of law firm management and international relationships, ethics, the future of the legal profession, and the rule of law and human rights. You can hear from some of the leading thinkers in law today through a series of Showcase sessions highlighting the role the legal profession plays in society. The conference provides everything from the opportunity to learn from the world’s leading practitioners, to being part of the debate on the future of the law.

Important dates and deadlines