Co-Chair
Dirk Bliesener

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.

View officer list Join this committee

Forthcoming conferences and webinars View All Conferences

41st International Financial Law Conference

06 May - 08 May 2026

Madrid , Spain

IBA Annual Conference Copenhagen 2026

04 Oct - 09 Oct 2026

Copenhagen , Denmark

Publications
All articles

Brazil’s legal framework for cryptoassets and upcoming regulation

The Brazilian Virtual Assets Law (BVAL), enacted on 21 December 2022, establishes guidelines for virtual asset services and providers, and became effective on 20 June 2023. It mandates compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) control mechanisms and assigns regulatory authority to the Brazilian Central Bank (Banco Central do Brasil or BCB) for oversight purposes. Public consultations on the regulation of virtual asset services providers (VASPs) are ongoing, with specific focus areas including asset classes, authorisation requirements and operational activities in regard to the foreign exchange market.

Released on Apr 30, 2025

The development of private capital and its influence on debt markets

On 29 January 2025, officers from the IBA Banking and Financial Law Committee convened remotely to debate the development of private capital and its influence on debt markets in their individual countries.

Released on Apr 29, 2025

Enhancing transparency and accountability in Ghana’s financial sector: The Bank of Ghana’s Corporate Governance Disclosure Directive

The Bank of Ghana’s Corporate Governance Disclosure Directive (CGD), introduced in May 2022, aims to enhance transparency, accountability and public trust in the country’s financial sector. The Directive mandates detailed disclosures in regard to board governance, risk management, remuneration policies and internal controls for regulated financial institutions (RFIs). By enforcing these reporting requirements, the CGD seeks to improve governance practices, strengthen market discipline and align Ghana’s financial sector with international standards. This article evaluates the CGD’s provisions, its impact on RFIs and its potential to boost confidence and stability in Ghana’s financial system.

Released on Apr 29, 2025

Credit risk transfer in Brazil: bridging the gap in regard to synthetic instruments

This article reviews the alternatives for banks in Brazil to transfer credit risk from their portfolios, including the existing shortcomings and the road ahead to the wider adoption of synthetic transfer structures.

Released on Apr 29, 2025

Projects and reports

Good Practice Principles for Cross-Border Closing Opinions

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.

Download  

Fintech: how is the world shaping the financial innovation industry? (2024)

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.

Download  

Securitisations - challenges and hurdles for a rebirth of securitisations

Enable functional cookies from Cookie Settings to watch the video

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.

  LinkedIn

International Bar Association 2025 © Privacy policy Terms & conditions Cookie Settings Harassment policy

International Bar Association is incorporated as a Not-for-Profit Corporation under the laws of the State of New York in the United States of America and is registered with the Department of State of the State of New York with registration number 071114000655 - and the liability of its members is limited. Its registered address in New York is c/o Capitol Services Inc, 1218 Central Avenue, Suite 100, Albany, New York 12205.

The London office of International Bar Association is registered in England and Wales as a branch with registration number FC028342.