BusinessDay 19 Oct 2017

24 BUSINESS DAY C002D5556 Thursday 19 October 2017
GLOBALREPORT
IBA SPECIAL
The 2017 Annual Conference of
the International Bar Association
(IBA), the largest gathering of international
lawyers from all over
the world has just ended in Sydney
where several lawyers from Nigeria and various
parts of the world gathered from October
8 – 13, 2017 to discuss virtually every aspect
of law and justice. This week-long event had
more than 200 working sessions covering all
areas of practice relevant to international legal
practitioners.
The Conference kicked off with the traditional
opening ceremony on Sunday October
8, 2017 at the International Convention Centre
Sydney Theatre with a showcase of Australian
performances by the Sydney Lawyers Orchestra,
Yantri & Gavi, Wuruniri Aboriginal
dance group and the Australian Girls’ Choir.
Addresses were given by President, Martin
Šolc, President, International Bar Association,
Susan Keifel AC, Chief Justice of Australia​
and Senator the Hon George Brandis QC​,
Attorney-General, Leader of the Government
in the Senate.
In his welcome address, Martin Šolc, President
of the IBA, had spoken of the opportunities
for knowledge exchange at the IBA and the
need to create and renew a global network of
colleagues and business contacts.
Šolc stated that long-held cherished societal
and legal values are being challenged
in today’s difficult times. He pointed to the
French example, where anti-terrorist laws
that would give police sweeping powers to
arrest and detain without due process are
compromising the rule of law. He therefore
called upon delegates to speak openly and all
legal practitioners to remember their hallowed
responsibilities.
“There will be exceptional showcase sessions
presented by the LPD, SPPI, BIC and
IBAHRI and the committee sessions will offer
the chance to hear from the best experts in the
field, benefiting all delegates, whichever your
area of practice,”
In her address, the Chief Justice of Australia,
Susan Kiefel touched on the issue of
independence of lawyers, and declared that
those practicing must be able “to exercise independent
judgment and the ability to act free
from external pressures.” While the Attorney
General of Australia, Senator George Brandis,
spoke on the need to uphold the current global
order, pointing out that the institution of nation
states is under peril, as the global order
faces its existential threats.
He said, “Lawyers have a role to play, to
ensure that those trends do not derail the rule
of law. They must recognize their obligations
to defending the pillars on which society itself
is built, beyond their mere obligations to their
clients. “Upholding the rule of law may involve
…controversy, it may extend to the powerful,
or to those thinking above the law, the marginalized
or the despised. Lawyers who do so,
serve the finest traditions of our profession.”
At IBA Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI)
showcase session, tagged “WOMEN FIRSTS”
chaired by IBA Human Rights Institute cochair
Hans Corell, participants had examined
laws which empowered or hindered the success
of women across the globe. Speaking at
this session, Baroness Helena Kennedy, made
a case for women o stop self- deprecating,
“Get into positions and make a difference,”
she urged. While a former Justice of the High
Court of Australia, Hon. Mary Gaudron made
critical observations on the pay gap between
men and women all over the world. “It is time
to about euphemisms and call it what it is:
discrimination, pure and simply,” she stated
emphatically.
Speaking at a session titled, Partnership –
Time For A Change, the Chairman, Nigerian
Bar Association (NBA) Section on Business
Law, Olumide Akpata who was also at the
conference spoke about sub-Saharan law
President, Martin Šolc, President, International Bar Association
Senator the Hon George Brandis QC , A ttorney-General, Leader of the Government
in the Senate
firms and how getting into a partnerships was still the best way
to go for a fulfilling and rewarding career in the practice of Law.
He noted however, that there was an emerging appeal of younger
practitioners to go for the option of “in-house Counsel” as an accelerated
path towards Partnership.
“The desire for work-life balance and flexible career goals is
also making many to choose the option of one-person Law Firm.
Without a doubt, Partnerships will remain in the legal profession
but perhaps not as we know it,” the business lawyer said.
Another session on Lawyer’s Duty Of Confidentiality – Handle
With Care, awakened the consciousness of lawyer to the dangers
of cyber-crimes, cyber attacks and the impact of electronic crime
in a law firm. It addressed the leakage of private information into
public hands and increasing government scrutiny, and the role of
lawyers in maintaining confidentiality in the wake of cyber-crimes
has come under the spotlight. The need for lawyers and Law firms
to be adequately prepared for cyber- attacks before such eventuality
happens was further highlighted at this session.
After the Opening Ceremony, delegates were taken on a boat
from the International Conference Centre across the world famous
Sydney Harbour to Luna Park, the venue for the Welcome Party.
The Luna Park which is is at the foot of the Harbour Bridge offered
conference delegates a stunning view of the Bridge, the Opera
House and the Harbour itself. Was an awesome introduction to the
most famous sights of Sydney. History has it
that thePark was built in 1935 for the inhabitants
of Sydney to celebrate the completion of
the Harbour Bridge.
Throughout the evening conferees were
taken on a journey through the richness of
the outback to the beauty of Bondi Beach
with true Australian performances and culinary
experiences throughout.
The 2017 IBA Annual Conference in Sydney
featured about 200 conference sessions.
Most of these sessions organised by substantive
committees cut across virtually every
sector and practice area known to law.
The IBA Annual Conference attracts many
distinguished speakers who in recent years
have included: Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary-
General; 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;
Loretta E Lynch, former Attorney General of
the United States (2011-2017); Robert S Mueller
III, former Director of the Federal Bureau
of Investigation; and General Colin L Powell,
former US Secretary of State.
BDLegalBusiness
President, Martin Šolc, President, International Bar Association
L-R: Secretary General of the Nigerian Bar Association, Olagunju Isiaka ; Secretary General
of the International Bar Association, James Klotz; Senior Partner, Paul Usoro & Co,
Paul Usoro, SAN, and the Chief of Staff to NBA President , Muritala Abdul-Rasheed, at the
IBA conference in Sydney, Australia.
L-R: Secretary General of the International Bar Association (IBA), James Klotz; President,
Nigerian Bar Association, Abubakar Balarabe Mahmud SAN and Senior Partner, Paul
Usoro & Co, Paul Usoro, SAN, at the IBA conference in Sydney, Australia.
Law Rocks!
As part of conference social events,
Law Rocks! a series of ‘battle of the
bands’ style rock concerts in which
law professionals battle it out on
stage for charity at legendary music
concert took place at the Metro Theatre
Sydney. The event, which dates
back London, 2009 has held in various
venues around the world, with
the first IBA edition taking place at
the Paradise Rock Club in Boston in
2013.
IBA Conference Feedback
“The opportunity to rub minds and
share ideas with members of the
bar from across the world is always
a welcome privilege and I particularly
relished this year’s edition of IBA
conference.
This year’s IBA reinforced my position
that the Nigerian bar is one of
the most vibrant bar associations in
the world with tremendous capacity
and potentials.
More Notes From The 2017 IBA Conference
In Sydney
“
Brexit will be more of a catalyst than driver in
financial markets in the region.
”
PAUL YUEN
Head of Market Conduct at the Monetary
Authority of Singapore
“
More banking jobs will be lost to artificial intelligence
rather than to the sole event of Brexit.”
Both Paul and Michael were speaking on a
panel which examined how Britain’s exit from
the EU will benefit financial markets in the
Asia-Pacific region.
“
MICHAEL DUIGNAN
Senior Director of corporate finance at the Hong
Kong Securities and Futures Commission
“
With increased access to robotics and analytics,
there are concerns about the impact of
technology on access to justice so that it is
not only big Law Firms that can access some
of the best tools and commission programs
while solo and small law Firms are left at a
disadvantage.
“
STEVEN RICHMAN
of Clark Hill