@ibanews.bsky.social
The IBA is the world’s leading organisation of legal practitioners, bar associations and law societies. It was born out of the conviction that it could contribute to global stability and peace through the promotion and protection of the rule of law.
🌎Registration now open for the 2026 Annual Conference in Copenhagen!
From 4–9 October 2026, join 5,000+ legal professionals from 130+ jurisdictions for a week of insightful sessions & unmatched networking opportunities. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, collaborate and be inspired.
🔗 Book now:
IBA launches Series 2 of its Inspirational legal women podcast, to spotlight the experiences of #WomeninLaw. Fiona McLeod AO KC, Victorian Bar Senior Counsel and prominent advocate for equality and diversity in #law, is featured in the 1st episode.
Read: www.ibanet.org/IBA-launches...
Jimmy Lai will not appeal his conviction, marking the end of a years-long legal saga for the prominent pro-democracy activist.
Supporters described the numerous legal cases as a way to use the legal system to silence critics.
Read more on how the case became a symbol of the crushing of democracy:
Mr Stephens spoke alongside:
@carolecadwalla.bsky.social
@petergeoghegan.bsky.social
@hannahperry.bsky.social 3/3
SLAPPs and lawfare are not about winning the case, they’re about winning fear and winning time. Authoritarians don’t need to ban journalism anymore, they just need to make it too risky, too lonely, and too expensive. The rule of law should be used to protect journalism, not to bury it.' 2/3
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen caused consternation in some Member States when she announced that the EU will provisionally implement its trade deal with the South American Mercosur bloc. EU Parliament had sent the deal to the CJEU for judicial review.
IBA Exec Director, Mark Ellis has been awarded Ukraine’s Order of Merit. President Zelenskyy of #Ukraine has conferred the honour for Mark's commitment to the Ukrainian people and his staunch advocacy for the #RuleOfLaw and international criminal accountability. Congrats Mark!
In February, the UK government introduced draft legislation for the regulation of cryptoassets. Under the new regime, the UK’s FCA will be given powers to regulate the growing cryptoasset sector – including cryptocurrencies, the same way as it does traditional financial services companies.
Read: www.ibanet.org/IBA-committe...
Law, and the never to be taken for granted Rule of Law allow the unheard to be heard and for abuse of power to be checked. Nature needs a voice in our legal order and this work will help find and amplify it.’
'This is a hugely valuable endeavour. Thoroughly researched, clearly articulated and professionally presented, this series will help lawyers, and decision-makers bound by law, to properly value nature and natural systems in their work.
James Cameron, Senior Advisor at Arden Climate Law and Policy and Honorary Fellow at the Grantham Institute for Climate and Environment at @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social, said about the new IBA ‘Nature-Intelligent Legal Services’ series:
US Supreme Court has ruled that President Trump exceeded his authority in using emergency powers to introduce sweeping tariffs. Impact of the tariffs has been dramatic with countries signing new trade deals excluding the US. US & Israel’s conflict with Iran is sending shockwaves around the world.
Bob Woodward, a two-time Pulitzer-prize winning investigative journalist and author who played a major part in bringing down President Nixon in the Watergate scandal. He talks about his experience as an author of over 20 books, key moments in his life, and the future of the US presidency.
The Supreme Court has struck down US President Donald Trump’s tariffs on US imports imposed in 2025. Amid the President’s sweeping claims of extraordinary powers, the Court’s judgment represents a victory for the rule of law and the constitutional framework in the US, say commentators.
The Trump administration has dropped its controversial lawsuits and executive orders targeting major law firms, ending a high-profile standoff over the independence of the legal profession.
Read the full breakdown on how these actions undermined the rule of law and the First Amendment:
In an interview with Allison Torres Burtka for Michigan Law (@umichlaw.bsky.social), 1983 alumnus Claudio Visco discusses his role as #IBA President, his vision for upholding the #RuleOfLaw, advancing diversity and addressing artificial intelligence.
Read: michigan.law.umich.edu/news/claudio...
President Trump signed a memorandum pulling the US out of 66 international organisations and instruments, including 31 UN entities. His administration views them as being ‘wasteful, ineffective, and harmful’, commentators say the exit of the US is a blow to decades of international norm setting.
US enforcement authorities engaged in a weeks-long pursuit of an aging, rusty oil tanker heading north away from Venezuela through the Atlantic Ocean. Mid-pursuit, the crew hurriedly painted a Russian flag on the hull. The seizure demonstrates a major shift in global sanctions enforcement.
Read: www.ibanet.org/IBA-committe...
I am impressed to see IBA committees championing work to help lawyers become a source of expertise that clients turn to for navigating the nature positive transition.’
and how this disrupts client operations and supply chains. Companies expect their lawyers to help them to be aware and navigate these challenges and find opportunities for building resilience:
‘As Legal and Environmental Manager at Aguas Nuevas (a private-owned water and sewer management company based in Chile) and as a private practitioner, I am seeing how climate change, nature degradation and water pollution are impacting our water, power and agricultural systems,
Julio Reyes, Co-Chair of the IBA Water Law Committee, and Legal and Environmental Manager at @Aguas Nueva — a private-owned water and sewer management company based in #Chile — discusses the new IBA Nature-Intelligent Legal Service series:
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s office used strong words when it announced a new trade deal with China. ‘In a more divided and uncertain world,’ it said, Canada was working ‘with urgency and determination’ to diversify its trading relationships and ‘catalyse massive new levels of investment’.
Read about the Nature-Intelligent Legal Services’ series here: www.ibanet.org/IBA-committe...
Kleber Luiz Zanchim, Chair of the IBA Water Law Committee, commented on the launch of the IBA Nature-Intelligent Legal Services series and the landmark initiative's inclusion of guidance for #lawyers to address water scarcity concerns:
Read: ibanet.org/Marking-the-...
IBA President, Claudio Visco, on the global legal profession's and the IBA's commitment to securing #justice for #Ukraine, as the fourth anniversary of #Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country is marked:
