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CCBE-ELF webinar on "Intellectual property enforcement for generalist lawyers in the EU"

Monday 13 October 2025

10:00 - 12:30

Read the programme here.

Recording of the webinar is available here.

Do not miss the webinar marking the 10th anniversary of the 709 Crackdown on Human Rights Lawyers in China on “Engagement with China on the Rule of Law”

Jointly organised by the CCBE, International Bar Association Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), China Change, Human Rights in China, Humanitarian China, China Aid, Asian Lawyers Network, Judicial Reform Foundation, New School for Democracy, and the 29 Principles

Wednesday 9 July 2025

13:30 - 15:30 CET

Follow the discussions on YouTube

Opening remarks:

Baroness Helena Kennedy, Director of the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI)

New documentary on “The 709 Story”

Built on recent interviews and research, this 35-minute documentary features a dozen or so 709 lawyers and 709 wives, presenting a comprehensive outline of the 709 Crackdown: arrests, interrogation, torture, trials, and the aftermath against the political backdrop in China.

Moderator of the discussions

Yaxue Cao, Founder and Editor at China Change

Speakers:

Margaret Satterthwaite, UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers

Roman Zavrsek, CCBE First Vice-President

Yohei Suda, Chairperson, International Human Rights Committee, Japan Federation of Bar Associations (JFBA)

Terrence Halliday, Research Professor Emeritus, American Bar Foundation

Li Fangping, Human Rights Lawyer in China

Li Jinxing, Human Rights Lawyer in China

Tomoko Ako, Professor of the University of Tokyo and Executive Director, Asia Lawyers Network

Weng Kuo-yen, Lead Attorney in Taiwan; Chair of the Human Rights Committee, Taipei Bar Association

Patrick Poon, Human Rights Advocate in China

Programme 

Intervention de Frédéric Krenc, Juge à la Cour européenne des droits de l’homme

Speaking points of Diego García-Sayán, UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers

Intervention of Aleksandr Bashkin, Senator and, Russian Federation representative at the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights of the PACE

Выступление Александра Башкина, сенатора и представителя Российской Федерации в Комитете по юридическим вопросам и правам человека ПАСЕ 

News article about the interventions of Christophe Poirel, Director of Human Rights of the Council of Europe, and Christoph Henrichs, Vice-Chair of the European Committee on Legal Co-operation (CDCJ)  

Panel Session II : The Future of European Company Law

• New Commission mandate – what is in the air in company law and corporate governance? Maija Laurila
• Future Proposals for directors’ duties - Béatrice Richez-Baum
• Sustainable corporate governance - Dr. Birgit Spießhofer M.C.J. (NYU)
• Group corporate governance - Karsten Engsig Sørensen
• The prospects of corporate governance in Europe - Christophe Clerc
• Letter Box Companies: Abuse of companies and freedom of movement in European Company Law - Dr. Antigoni Alexandropoulou

A new revolution is on the way, with the emergence of artificial intelligence in the field of justice. AI is promising to reduce repetitive and time-consuming tasks, speed up judicial processes, make the judge's task easier and make court decisions more reliable and fairer.

But the use of algorithms by the judicial system, the massive exploitation of judicial data or the use of automated machine learning systems raise many questions and constitute a real challenge for the judicial institution and lawyers. 

Such essential principles as the contradictory, or the equality of arms, can be strongly impacted by the use of artificial intelligence. 

How can the development and use of AI-based tools and applications to guarantee the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens be framed? What procedural guarantees will we have to discuss the diagnoses provided by intelligent systems? How will we be able to evaluate the quality of the data collected and used by the algorithms? How should the training of lawyers evolve, to enable them to detect and correct algorithm biases? What tools will law firms need to develop to effectively assist and defend their clients? Finally, what will be the respective place of humans and machines in the justice of tomorrow?

For more information, please see the 2018 CCBE Conference website.

The third annual conference of the Innovative Legal Services Forum (ILSF) will be held on 17 May 2018 in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. 

The ILSF is a unique event and focuses on three major areas: technology, business, and CEE visions. The conference will gather some of the finest experts in their respective fields such as Ms. Catherine Bamford, Mr. Andrew Arruda, and Mr. Friedrich Blasé. In addition to these men and women, partners of major law firms, heads of corporate legal teams, and pioneers of legal innovation will also be heading to the conference to share their case studies, their in-depth knowledge of legal services, and their vast experience to over 200 participants.

This year, the CCBE will have the privilege to be hosting its own panel on “the Future of the legal profession”. The panel will take place on 17 May in section three, Europe & CEE Visions, between 3.50 PM and 5.30 PM. The Chair of the panel will be Mr. Christian Lemke who will be joined by fellow CCBE members Mr. Iain Mitchell, Mr. Thierry Wickers, Mr. Bertrand Debosque, and Mr. Péter Homoki. 

Discussions and debates will be held on the following topics: 

1. Cybersecurity/risks and challenges for the legal profession 

2. Clients’/millennials’ expectations

3. Use of platforms and deontological issues for lawyers

4. Integration of law firms into the eJustice of tomorrow

The CCBE, therefore, cordially invites its members to register for the Innovative Legal Services Forum 2018 to attend a fascinating conference and a panel hosted by some of the CCBE’s finest lawyers. 

Additional information

Programme

The Council of Europe, the CCBE and the Chamber of Advocates of Armenia recently organised this conference with the aim to provide a platform for sharing information and experience on the current challenges of bars and law societies, to explore detrimental issues within bar associations and to propose concrete steps for strengthening the cooperation and ties amongst the bar associations and law societies of the Council of Europe member states. 

The main objective of the Conference was to facilitate dialogue and the exchange of best practices between the bars and law societies of different Council of Europe member states. The exchange took place between professionals from different countries and sought to generate – and contribute to – a wider debate on potential improvements in bar associations and the advocate’s profession. Even if the direction and policies of bar reforms may differ from country to country; discussion on the primary concepts and challenges unites different Council of Europe member states.

The scope of the Conference: The day-long discussion included presentations by leading members of the CCBE, in addition to experts and representatives of bars and law societies of different Council of Europe member states.

The discussions and debates were held on the following topics: 

1.       Advocacy ethics.

1.1    The relationship between the attorney and court, respectful behaviour towards the court.

1.2    Data protection.

1.3    The scope of rules of ethics: personal, social and professional aspects. 

2.      The Creation of a cooperation network between attorneys of different Council of Europe member states -- this session aimed to discuss the potential creation of a platform for more effective cooperation.

Additional information.

Programme

Presentations:

• Mr Stanislav BALIK, Chair of the PECO Committee of the CCBE - "Mutual relations of the lawyer and the judge"
• Mr Ara GHAZARYAN,  Board member, Chamber of Advocates of the Republic of Armenia  - "Peculiarities of regulation mechanisms of the European Convention of Human Rights"
• Mr Jiri NOVAK,  Member of the Czech Bar Association delegation to the CCBE - "Protection of client’s data against unlawful interception"
• Mr Sedrak ASATRYAN, Board member, Chamber of Advocates of the Republic of Armenia - "Legal regulations of attorney secrecy in the Republic of Armenia" 
• Mr Jędrzej KLATKA, Chair, Committee on Model Code of Conduct of CCBE- "The scope and content of rules of ethics: independence, confidentiality and conflict of interest: the practice of Council of Europe member states"
• Mr Emil AMIRKHANYAN, First Deputy Chairman, Chamber of Advocates of the Republic of Armenia - "Regulation scope of ethics rules in the Republic of Armenia and problems in this field"
• Mr Ara ZOHRABYAN, Chairman, Chamber of Advocates of the Republic of Armenia - "Expectations of the Chamber of Advocates of the Republic of Armenia"

The CCBE organised a Side Event entitled “Threatened lawyers: the end of the Rule of Law in Europe?” on 24 January 2018 in Strasbourg, in conjunction with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) session. The Side Event was sponsored by Ms. Sabien Lahaye-Battheu, member of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights of the PACE, rapporteur for the case for drafting a European Convention on the Profession of Lawyer.

The CCBE Side Event highlighted the increasing amount of attacks on lawyers in Council of Europe States through concrete testimonies from lawyers, who have themselves been victims of human rights violations. The CCBE also explained why a European Convention on the profession of lawyer is needed to counter those attacks and allow lawyers to play their essential role as actors in the system of justice and to contribute to protecting the Rule of Law.

On the same day, the PACE adopted by a large majority the recommendation from the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights calling on the Committee of Ministers to draft and adopt a European Convention on the Profession of Lawyer.

The CCBE welcomes this call and hopes the Committee of Ministers will support this initiative and launch the drafting process of the future convention as soon as possible.

The CCBE conference on Innovation and the Future of the Legal Profession took place on 21 October 2016 in Paris.

Many topics were covered during the event and the speakers did an outstanding job of sharing their expertise.

We will make all their Powerpoints available on the conference website as well as photos and a video of the conference. 

e-book

On 19 October, the National Bar Council (CNB) in Paris hosted the CCBE Seminar on ‘Lawyers and the European Court of Human Rights’.

The discussions focused on two main themes: the role of lawyers before the European Court of Human Rights and the future of the Court.

The seminar was moderated by Laurent Pettiti, who is a lawyer at the Paris Bar and President of the Permanent Delegation of the CCBE to the European Court of Human Rights.

On this occasion, the new edition of the CCBE practical guide for lawyers acting before the Court was launched – ‘The European Court of Human Rights - Questions & answers for lawyers’.

During the event, a new presentation film of the European Court of Human Rights was displayed.

• Programme
• Intervention of Dean Spielmann
• Intervention of Piers Gardner
• Intervention of Florrence Merloz

The international organisations which attended the event also made their contribution to its success. The World Bank presented to the audience a draft version of their comparative analysis of Bars and Law Societies in selected European jurisdictions. The Council of Europe – HELP – reported about the continuous work on Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals.

For more information about the seminar, please click here.

Programme of the conference

Contribution of Enrica Senini (Italy)

Contribution of Louis-Bernard Buchman (France)

Programme

Documents

• Consolidated version of the Treaty on European Union
• Council Directive 2002/8/EC of 27 January 2003, to improve access to justice in cross-border disputes by establishing minimum common rules relating to legal aid for such disputes
• Resolution of the Council of 30 november 2009, on a roadmap for strengthening procedural rights of suspected or accused persons in criminal proceedings (2009/C 295/01)
• CCBE Recommendations on Legal Aid

Speeches

José María DAVÓ FERNÁNDEZ

Viviane REDING

Toon MUSSCHOOT

Matthias KILIAN

Cross-border legal relationships and their consequences (e.g. divorce, custody decisions and their enforcement abroad, maintenance) confront family lawyers with complex legal problems. New legal acts at the European and international level affect their daily work. Legal practitioners are therefore required to deal ever more with legal questions arising from cross-border family and parental responsibility cases.

• Conference Programme
• Conference Brochure
• Presentations:
  • Divorce: Civil Law / Common Law - Convergences & Divergences - Mr. Tim Amos, QC / Ms. Isabelle Rein-Lescastereyres / Ms. Béatrice Weiss-Gout
  • Childen's rights in proceedings according to German Law - Ms Eva Becker
  • Les contrats de famille et l'acte sous signature juridique - Mr. Michel Benichou
  • Intervention from Ms. Véronique Chauveau
  • Future of family contracts  - comparative law and European law - Guido Alpa
  • Marriage and Non-Marital Registered Partnerships - A European Perspective of Private International Law - Mr Richard Frimston
  • Child Abduction Cases in Estonia - Ms. Liis Hallik
  • Developments in Hague - Child Abduction cases - the English Experience - Ms. Anne Marie Hutchinson OBE
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution in Europe - Ms Rachael Kelsey / Ms. Emma Ries
  • Intervention from Dr. Malgorzata Kozuch
  • Brussels II bis: Jurisdiction in divorce matters - Dr. Talia Kruger (PhD)
  • Les nouveaux instruments de la Haye et le futur règlement européen relatifs aux obligations alimentaires - Mr. Philippe Lortie / Ms. Marie Salord
  • The role of the child in Child Custody Proceedings : The rights of the child according to International Conventions and US American Law - Dr. Kerstin Niethammer-Jürgens
  • Pratiquer le droit de la famille en Europe - Le règlement 'Bruxelles I' - Professor Cyril Nourissat
  • Pratiquer le droit de la famille en Europe - Rome III - Mr. Fernando Rui Paulino Pereira
  • Practising Family Law in Europe - Mediation Directive on Mediation in Civil and Commercial Matters - Mr. Fernando Rui Paulino Pereira
  • Dealing with Cohabitation in Sweden - Ms. Mia Reich Sjögren
  • Brussels II bis - Mr. Fredric Renström / Ms. Hélène Poivey Leclercq
  • Les régimes matrimoniaux: la mise en place d'un cadre juridique commun dans l'Union européenne - Mr. François Thomas
  • Premarital agreements on the matrimonial property regime and regulating a future matrimonial dissolution - Mr. Luis Zarraluqui Navarro

The Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), which represents through its member bars more than 700,000 lawyers, is pleased to invite you to a conference on 15 December 2005 in Madrid.

This conference is organised by the CCBE in partnership with the Consejo General de la Abogacía Española (CGAE- Spanish Bar Association), and addresses “ E-communication and the legal profession in Europe”.

The conference will gather IT experts from the Bars of the European Union and the European Economic Area, members of the CCBE and CGAE IT Law Committees, representatives from national governments and European institutions in charge of information society policies.

The conference aims, on the one hand, to share the experience of those European Bars which are well advanced in e-communication and the Internet, and on the other hand, to address the challenges faced by the legal profession in Europe with regard to the information society.

The CCBE wishes, through the organisation of such an event, to help develop the use of electronic communication, in particular with the courts, in the framework of the professional rules applicable to the legal profession, and to seek assistance in the development of its own work programme for 2006 a s part of its role in assisting European bars.

Documents

Programme

CV speakers

Questionnaire - Current developments in electronic communications - Data provided by CCBE Delegations

Interventions