BIC News Issue 1

As President of the International Bar Association, I warmly welcome the online publication of this first issue of BIC News. I congratulate the Chair and all officers of the IBA Bar Issues Commission (BIC) on this initiative.

I am committed to writing the success story of the IBA during my term over the next two years. Better engagement with all parts of the IBA, especially with Bars and law societies, is fundamental for such purpose. This requires maintaining an open dialogue that will allow us, the IBA leadership, to know more and better of your interests in the IBA, and will allow you, our Member Organisations, to learn more about ongoing activities and your potential involvement in the same.

My endeavour towards the IBA’s communication with Bars and law societies is evidenced by the fact that, even some weeks before I commenced my two-year term as your President on 1 January 2023, I reached out to all Member Organisations and requested the two IBA Vice-Presidents, Claudio Visco and Jamie Carey; the Secretary-General, Jörg Menzer; and the BIC Chair, Ken Murphy, to organise and meet over online calls with as many Bar leaders as possible. They have been doing this with great success, and actions for increased engagement have begun.

Now, this latest great move, BIC News, will contribute further to the two-way communication between the IBA and its Member Organisations, an essential path to keep us aligned.