Co-Chair
Dirk Bliesener
Co-Chair
Philippe Dupont
Banking & Financial Law Committee
The Banking and Financial Law Committee provides a worldwide forum for banking lawyers and other legal professionals within the banking community to address all sorts of practical and legal issues arising in commercial and regulatory activities in this context. The Committee has held one of the IBA’s most popular and well established events, the International Financial Law Conference, every year since 1984. Below you will find information, updates, news and other resources relevant to your committee.
Forthcoming conferences and webinars View All Conferences
40th IBA International Financial Law Conference
07 May - 09 May 2025
Oslo , Norway
Championing sustainability in changing times: how can law firms adapt and thrive?
03 Jun 2025 1300 - 1400 BST
Webinar
5th Asia-based International Financial Law Conference
10 Sep - 12 Sep 2025
Seoul , South Korea
IBA Annual Conference Toronto 2025
02 Nov - 07 Nov 2025
Toronto , Canada
IBA Annual Conference Copenhagen 2026
04 Oct - 09 Oct 2026
Copenhagen , Denmark
Publications
When the senior becomes the junior - debt-to-equity swaps in listed companies and how they are done (or not done)
The panel explored the complexities of debt-to-equity swaps as a financial restructuring tool and its success and limitations in enhancing a debtor's balance sheet by converting lenders’ claims into equity securities in several jurisdictions.
Released on Dec 12, 2024
Cross-border lending to Italian borrowers by non-authorised non-EU banks and reverse solicitation
This article delves into the foundational elements of reverse solicitation, exploring its regulatory basis and implications in the Italian context, as well as its alignment with evolving EU standards.
Released on Dec 11, 2024
Individual accountability for directors and managers in banks and other financial institutions
This panel session on individual accountability for directors and managers in banks and other financial institutions explored the benefits and drawbacks in terms of individual accountability laws and regulations, which aim to prevent misconduct by financial institutions by holding directors and managers responsible for failures in their area of responsibility. The speakers discussed the different approaches and challenges in their respective jurisdictions, as well as the best practices to minimise liability.
Released on Nov 22, 2024
A Ghanaian case study on commercial paper: a blessing or a curse?
Commercial paper is a short-term debt instrument issued by companies. It’s typically used to raise funds quickly for various purposes, such as financing working capital needs, funding short-term projects or covering temporary cash flow shortages to finance short-term liabilities, such as augmenting working capital, fulfilling temporary cash flow gaps and addressing immediate financial obligations. Investors seeking a safe and short-term investment option often find commercial paper attractive due to its relatively low risk and competitive returns compared to other short-term investments.
Released on Nov 20, 2024
Projects and reports
Good Practice Principles for Cross-Border Closing Opinions
(The Legal Opinion Committee of the Business Law Section of the American Bar Association and the IBA Banking & Financial Law Committee)
The Legal Opinion Committee of the Business Law Section of the American Bar Association (ABA) and the Banking & Financial Law Committee of the International Bar Association (IBA) have formed a joint task force on cross-border opinion practice (the ‘Task Force’). The Task Force seeks to: (1) build upon work done under the auspices of the ABA, the IBA, the Union International des Avocats and the City of London Law Society; and (2) to collaborate with a number of other bar groups in various countries to improve the practices of lawyers throughout the world relating to the giving of, and advising recipients of, closing opinions in cross-border transactions. The ABA and the IBA have undertaken these efforts to help the legal profession remain a constructive contributor to global finance and commerce, and hopefully, to aid the flow of capital across borders, particularly to emerging economies. This document seeks to establish foundational principles on closing opinions in cross-border finance transactions.
Fintech: how is the world shaping the financial innovation industry? (2024)
In recent years, financial technology (fintech) has rapidly expanded worldwide, forcing traditional financial institutions to evolve in response to this innovative manner of conducting business in the financial industry. Today, we continue to witness the significant impact of fintech on global markets, as it reshapes the financial landscape. Looking ahead, the evolution of fintech promises to further challenge and transform existing frameworks, requiring continuous adaptation and regulatory foresight.
In 2023, the IBA Banking & Financial Law Committee launched an extensive research project aimed at dissecting and understanding the diverse legal frameworks that govern fintech around the globe. This original study covered 39 countries, providing a comprehensive overview of how different jurisdictions are navigating the complexities of fintech regulation.
Through this new edition, the project has been extended to 61 countries across different regions: Africa, Asia-Pacific, Central America, Europe, Latin America and North America. The project contains analysis of how different countries
regulate fintech companies and looks at the existence of specific legal frameworks applicable to crypto assets. It also assesses how different jurisdictions around the globe regulate payment service providers and digital wallets and features an overview of special programmes supporting fintech ecosystems. Lastly, the report covers how jurisdictions regulate and deal with matters relating to open banking.
The report has been coordinated by Carlos M Melhem, Treasurer of the IBA Banking & Financial Law Committee and a partner at Allende & Brea in Buenos Aires; Matias Langevin, Young Lawyers’ Committee Liaison Officer of the IBA Banking & Financial Law Committee and a partner at HD Legal in Santiago; Lukasz Szgeda, Academic Liaison Officer of the IBA Banking & Financial Law Committee and a partner at Wardynski & Partners in Warsaw; and Rafael Aguilera, Real Estate Section Liaison Officer of the IBA Banking & Financial Law Committee and a partner at Gómez-Acebo & Pombo in Madrid.
Securitisations - challenges and hurdles for a rebirth of securitisations
Subcommittees and other groups
The Banking & Financial Law Committee also coordinates the activities of the following subcommittees/working groups.
- AI Banking and Financial Subcommittee
- Alternative Finance Subcommittee
- Banking & Financial Law Committee Advisory Board
- Banking Regulation Subcommittee
- Clearing and Settlement of Financial Securities Subcommittee
- Derivatives Subcommittee
- Distressed Debt in Banking and Finance Law Subcommittee
- Finance in Emerging Countries Subcommittee
- Financial and Banking Law Conferences Subcommittee
- Financial Innovations Subcommittee
- Innovations in Financing Transactions Subcommittee
- International Financial Law Reform Subcommittee
- Islamic Finance Subcommittee
- Legal Opinions Subcommittee
- Project Finance Subcommittee
- Structured Finance Subcommittee
Join us on LinkedIn
If you are a member of the Banking & Financial Law Committee, for additional networking opportunities, programs, interviews with fellow members and tips all exclusive to members, join our LinkedIn page.