IBA Annual Conference Sydney 2017

8 Oct - 13 Oct 2017

Room C3.1, Convention Centre, Level 3

Session information

Departures and lateral hires of partners

Wednesday 11 October (1430 - 1730)

Room C3.1, Convention Centre, Level 3

Committee(s)

Professional Ethics Committee (Lead)
Alternative and New Law Business Structures Committee
Women Lawyers' Committee

Description

The legal world has been addressing the issues related to the mobility of lawyers for many years. The area has been expanding with many more lawyers changing firms due to wanting a broader platform; to the right-sizing of firms, the merger or other alignments of firms in many jurisdictions and the insolvency or other financial distress of law firms, to name just a few reasons. The expectations of lawyers and the bodies regulating lawyers have been changing over time, and the laws relating to the duties of lawyers and their new firms have also been changing. Further, there seem to be differing expectations and rules depending on the extent of the development of the Bar and the regulatory framework of the Bar. Law firms now have multijurisdictions to consider when trying to manage expectations and changing laws in many of these jurisdictions. The panel will explore the ethical considerations to clients, suppliers, creditors and employees of the departing firm, and the role and potential liability of the firms to whom the lawyer transitions. This panel will include practitioners and firm leaders who will explore these varied topics during the three-hour panel.

Session / Workshop Chair(s)

Martin Kovnats Aird & Berlis LLP, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Chair, Professional Ethics Committee
Alberto Navarro Navarro Castex Abogados, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Member, Professional Ethics Committee Advisory Board
Steven Richman American Bar Association, Washington, District of Columbia, USA; BIC Officer

Speakers

Jennifer Bishop Aird & Berlis, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Secretary, Women Lawyers' Committee
Ellisa Habbart The Delaware Counsel Group, Wilmington, Delaware, USA
Dr Jörg Menzer Noerr, Bucharest, Romania; Co-Chair, Regional Fora Coordination Committee
Roberto Nogueira de Pary Marcelo Tostes Advogados, São Paulo, Brazil
Clemens Schindler Schindler Rechtsanwälte GmbH, Vienna, Austria