A message from the IBA on the passing of Emilio Cardenas, President of the IBA from 2003–2004
Thursday 20 March 2025
Dear IBA Friends and Colleagues,
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Emilio Jorge Cárdenas, former President of the International Bar Association (2003-2004), who died on 12 March 2025.
Our heartfelt condolences, thoughts and prayers go out to Emilio’s family, friends and all who had the privilege of knowing and working with him.
A dedicated member of the IBA since 1981, Emilio was deeply committed to social and judicial issues and worked tirelessly to create a better world. An accomplished and hardworking lawyer, he was born in Buenos Aires in 1944 and went on to have an extraordinary career as an international diplomat, analyst and politician. He served as Argentina’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 1992–1996 and held the presidency of the UN Security Council in January 1995. In addition to his diplomatic work, Emilio was a respected academic, teaching at the University of Buenos Aires, the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
A steadfast advocate for the rule of law, Emilio worked throughout his tenure at the IBA to uphold justice and best practices in the legal profession and beyond. He took on significant challenges both in Argentina and internationally, always striving to strengthen the legal framework. As one of the IBA’s most dedicated members, he actively contributed to numerous committees, including the Water Law Committee, Latin American Regional Forum, Oil and Gas Law Committee, Banking & Financial Law Committee,
Mining Law Committee, and Securities and Capital Markets Committee. In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Centre in New York, United States, he chaired the IBA’s Task Force on Terrorism. He also served as Councillor Emeritus of the Legal Practice Division until his passing and was honoured as an IBA Honorary Life Member.
Emilio’s diplomatic skills extended beyond the legal sphere. He served as an ambassador to Dominica and Guyana in the 1990s and demonstrated his financial acumen as Vice President and Executive Director of HSBC Bank Argentina. His deep understanding of national and international affairs led him to write for La Nación, where he actively contributed to discussions on Argentina’s most pressing issues, particularly in the fight against corruption within the legal system.
His passion for combating corruption was evident not only in his legal and diplomatic work but also in his academic contributions. In collaboration with Héctor M Chayer, he co-authored the chapter ‘Corruption, Accountability, and the Discipline of Judges in Latin America’ for Transparency International’s Global Corruption Report 2007: Corruption and Judicial Systems. Additionally, he served on the Board of Editors for the Journal of International Economic Law at the Oxford University Press from 2000, further advancing legal scholarship.
Emilio touched the lives of many with his calm demeanour, sharp intellect and unwavering enthusiasm. He will be profoundly missed and remembered as a friend, mentor and leader of the IBA.
Faithfully yours,
Jaime Carey
IBA President
Dr Mark Ellis
IBA Executive Director