The IBA Annual Conference opens in Vienna

The annual meeting of the International Bar Association (IBA) opened yesterday in the Austrian capital Vienna. The global venue gathers around 6,000 members of the legal profession as well as individuals from corporations, governments and regulators.

The legal week was unveiled at the opening ceremony by David W. Rivkin, President of the IBA, who welcomed delegates. “The highest standards of the law and our ability to cause meaningful change are also the driving force behind my Presidential initiatives. The IBA is making a lasting contribution to civil society on a large scale by using the remarkable expertise available to us,” Mr. Rivkin said. 

José Manuel Barroso, immediate Past President of the European Commission, gave the keynote address.

In his speech he addressed a number of challenging issues, and the permanent crises in Europe is one of the main messages. Moreover, he named the annexation of Crimea by Russia as the biggest violation of international law in modern-day history. In his view, Russia continues to lose political and economic capital.

The legal week in Vienna lasts October 4-9 and offers an amazing platform for sharing experience, networking and business development.