Fernando Pombo
President, IBA

INTRODUCTION

I am delighted to invite you to the International Bar Association’s 2008 Annual Conference in Buenos Aires.

From its earliest days, Buenos Aires has been a place of international business, making it an appropriate setting for our own international exchange of legal knowledge and contacts. Its rich history of trade and immigration from all over the globe makes it a superb place for international lawyers to meet and discuss the most current developments in all areas of the legal profession.

The IBA Annual Conference is the ideal opportunity for practitioners from every continent to meet and hear first-hand about legal developments in various jurisdictions. It will be a great occasion to meet again in South America. As the global voice of the legal profession, the IBA is uniquely qualified to gather delegates to exchange immensely valuable knowledge and expertise through the significant work of the specialist Committees, Constituents, Groups, and Fora.

Three outstanding showcase sessions will be presented this year, of great interest to lawyers of all disciplines. On Monday 13 October, the Professional and Public Interest Division will examine the issue of judicial independence. On the morning of Wednesday 15 October, the Legal Practice Division will report on and discuss its recommendations regarding extraterritorial jurisdiction, compiled over two years of evaluation. That afternoon, the Human Rights Institute will look closely at the complex issue of reconciliation and the ways that justice systems have worked to combat impunity to date.

Additionally, our Rule of Law Symposium on Friday 17 October provides a day-long opportunity for the audience to hear from a variety of distinguished speakers and interactively discuss important issues. This year the day will focus on issues affecting the rule of law in Latin America, with keynote speaker Julio Maria Sanguinetti, former president of Uruguay, among others.

If you are not already a member of the IBA, I urge you to join. While it provides the benefit of a discounted member rate for this Conference and others, the real value is in the continual benefits to your education and professional development throughout the year. I encourage practitioners from every field to get involved with our work which builds and strengthens the legal profession around the world. Those who do so find it very rewarding both professionally and personally.

Special invitation is extended to young lawyers from around the world to join us in Buenos Aires. I very much hope you will come and I look forward to meeting you there.

David Rivkin
Chair,
Legal Practice Division, IBA

One of the greatest challenges in international practice is the continuing globalisation of the profession, and the need for successful legal integration across jurisdictions. Buenos Aires therefore presents an excellent literal and metaphorical setting for discussion of these topics – a community where people from all over the world have settled to build together a hub of dynamic financial, industrial, commercial and cultural activity.

Throughout the week, you can select from over 100 sessions run by the Legal Practice Division Sections, Committees, and specialist groups that cover a wide selection of substantive topics currently affecting all areas of law. These sessions will bring together leading experts in their fields from jurisdictions around the world who work on the cutting edge of these issues, and who will shape the way we practice in these fields in the future.

Since October 2006, the Legal Practice Division Task Force on Extraterritorial Jurisdiction has been examining the issues surrounding extraterritorial jurisdiction and formulating recommendations for governments, courts, international organisations and businesses, in order to reduce costs and conflicts arising from this issue. The Legal Practice Division showcase session on Wednesday morning will discuss in depth the results of the Task Force’s efforts and the substantial report that it has produced. I encourage you to attend to hear the prestigious speakers from around the world who have considered this issue for the past two years.

While there is tremendous information to be gained from all these sessions, I also hope that you will spend some time enjoying our very special programme of social events. Many of these events feature the unique cultural elements of Argentina, such as the spectacular opening party and horse show at La Rural and the closing party focused on magnificent tango music and dance.

The IBA Annual Conference is a special opportunity each year for international practitioners in every field to bring together their expertise for the benefit of all. There is no better occasion for lawyers to gain useful and interesting substantive knowledge on such a broad scope of topics, while at the same time enjoying the pleasure of seeing old friends and making new ones in an exciting location. I urge you to attend, especially if you have not done so before.

I look forward to seeing you in Buenos Aires.

Martin Solc
Chair, Public and Professional Interest Division, IBA

While international lawyers may have different interests based on their specialist areas of practice, their day-to-day work is heavily influenced by broader matters concerning the legal profession and legal matters of public interest. Issues like the promotion of the rule of law, access to justice, and human rights are of great importance to all of us and of interest to a many of you. So are professional considerations such as the management of your practice, day-to-day implications of regulatory issues, and professional ethics. Many of you give back to the legal community and to the world by doing pro bono work or advocating corporate social responsibility. For each Annual Conference, the Public and Professional Interest Division gathers an unparalleled international assemblage of people and perspectives to examine these issues and many others. In addition, this event affords an excellent chance to network with colleagues in your fields of interest, and to discover new ways to get involved with the very important work of the PPID.

This Division is your chance to contribute in a meaningful way to the global voice of the legal profession as the practice of law continues to change in order to match the world’s demands. We have various Constituents and Fora addressing a wide variety of issues of importance from the perspective of particular interest groups, whether they are women lawyers, senior lawyers, barristers, judges, or academics. Other Constituents are grouped around a particular type of public legal issue, such as anti-corruption or CSR. Still others address professional interests such as academic development or working with world organisations on legal issues. In addition, the Bar Issues Commission provides a forum for bar associations and law societies from around the world to discuss issues of common interest among themselves as well as with their individual members, and to seek mutually beneficial solutions to the challenges presented by increased globalisation. This range of topics is reflected in the array of wonderful sessions our Division is presenting during the conference week, including our showcase session on Monday where we will discuss the continuing importance of the independence of the judiciary in the 21st century.

I say without hesitation that there are great benefits for you and your practice at this year’s Annual Conference. I very much hope to see you in Buenos Aires to welcome you to our Division, so that you can be a part of what we sometimes call the heart of the IBA.

ABOUT BUENOS AIRES

Location

Buenos Aires, often considered the cultural capital of South America is also one of the most important and dynamic business centres of the region. As Argentina’s largest and capital city, it provides a perfect location for both business and pleasure, whilst its cosmopolitan population and culture perfectly reflects the ethos of the International Bar Association.

Approximately three million people live in this city. Including the metropolitan area, the total population of Buenos Aires is above ten million, making it one of the ten most urban centres in the world.

History

Buenos Aires was first founded in 1536 by Don Pedro Mendoza, a Spanish coloniser. It was originally named Ciudad del Espiritu Santo y Puerto Sanata Maria del Buen Ayre, literally ‘City of Our Lady Saint Mary of the Fair Winds

In 1541 this site was abandoned and was then founded for a second and final time by Juan de Garay. From its earliest days, the success of Buenos Aires depended on trade. Historically, Buenos Aires has been Argentina’s main centre for liberal and free-trade ideas, while many of the provinces, especially to the north-west, advocated a more conservative-Catholic approach to political and social issues.

In the 19th century, the port was the arrival point for the great migratory wave promoted by the Argentine State to populate the nation. During the 20th century, successive immigrations – from the provinces, other Latin American countries and Eastern European countries – completed the picture of Buenos Aires as a cosmopolitan city in which people with different cultures and religions live together.

Language

The language spoken by the Porteños (a name given to the inhabitants of Buenos Aires, meaning person who lives in a port city) is Rioplatense Spanish which is heavily influenced by the dialects of Spanish spoken in Andalusia and Murcia. As waves of immigrants have come into the country, they have had to learn Spanish quickly to assimilate into Buenos Aires life.

Food and drink

Buenos Aires has an endless variety of food from all cultures all around the globe, from Italian to Nordic, from Chinese to Armenian and locals generally eat dinner as late as 10 in the evening.

The most popular local meal is ‘el asado’ or ‘parrillada’, a mixed grill of steak and other cuts which traditionally includes meat, sausages, chinchulines (small intestines), rinones (kidneys) and morcilla (blood sausages). There are a number of fast food dishes called ‘minutas’, the most popular being ‘milanesa’ (breaded meat with fried potatoes) and ‘empanadas’ (dough filled small portions of ground meat, olives, boiled egg and spices).

What to do

Buenos Aires is filled with many things to do and see, including distinct neighbourhoods, tango dancing, great shopping, museums and much more. Here are some of the main attractions that Buenos Aires has to offer:

Tour the local neighbourhoods or barrios, such as LaBoca, Recoleta, Puerto Madero, San Telmo Palermo and El Centro

Walk through Recoleta Cemetry – many of Argentina’s most famous are buried here in this city of mausoleums, including Eva Duarte de Peron and her family

Shopping – the famed shopping district around Calle Florida and Avenida Alvear offers the best of international fashions, boutiques and fabulous old mansions

Visit the Obelisk, Buenos Aires’ famed monument, built to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the first finding of the city. It is on the widest street in the world, the Avenida 9 de Julio

Plaza de Mayo and the Casa Rosada – the most important plaza in the city, facing the Casa Rosada, the Cathedral and other major civic buildings. It is here that numerous gatherings and political protests have taken place

Weather

Buenos Aires has a mild and warm climate throughout the year. The winter months are June to August, the summer months are December to February, the spring months are September to November, and the autumn months are March, April and May. Buenos Aires is ideal in spring and autumn, while the summer months are sometimes very hot, but usually quite pleasant. The weather in October is generally mild. However, the evenings can be cool and a sweater or jacket is recommended. Daytime temperatures range from 72-86°F (22-30°C) and evening temperatures from 55-68°F (13-22°C).