Co-Chair
Alexis
Apostolidis
Co-Chair
Emma Jean Markin
African Regional Forum
The African Regional Forum aims to enhance the value and significance of the International Bar Association (IBA) by addressing issues unique to African lawyers. The Forum focuses on cooperation with bar associations, supporting legal development, and promoting IBA participation across Africa. We organise regional conferences, workshops, and seminars to foster specialisation and partnerships within the legal profession. The Forum also works to educate about legal rights, strengthen sub-regional bars, and facilitate exchanges between developed and developing bars. We play a crucial role in training, legal reforms, and fostering collaboration with government and other regional fora.
IBA Legalbrief Africa
Keep up to date with the latest legal news from the African continent with IBA Legalbrief Africa, the FREE weekly e-newsletter from the International Bar Association.
Subscribe hereForthcoming conferences and webinars View All Conferences
Of Ponzi and pyramid schemes: crossing international borders and building the picture
14 May 2025 1300 - 1400 BST
Webinar
2nd IBA African Competition Law Conference
29 May - 30 May 2025
Lagos , Nigeria
Biennial IBA African Regional Forum Conference - The leading-edge lawyer: Integrating technology, deciphering trends, and embracing ESG-driven transformative learning
17 Sep - 19 Sep 2025
Johannesburg , South Africa
IBA Annual Conference Toronto 2025
02 Nov - 07 Nov 2025
Toronto , Canada
IBA Annual Conference Copenhagen 2026
04 Oct - 09 Oct 2026
Copenhagen , Denmark
IBA ESG Accelerator Training Programme
The IBA ESG Accelerator Training Programme is a specialised online ESG training focused on legal practitioners across Africa, convened by the IBA African Regional Forum, and supported by Webber Wentzel, the IBA Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law Section, the IBA Business Human Rights Committee and the IBA Legal Policy & Research Unit.
Featuring a diverse array of legal experts and case studies from across the African continent, this programme provides lawyers with a sound understanding of how a wide range of ESG issues impact their daily legal practice.
Learn more here.
Mental wellbeing in the legal profession
The IBA took a unique step to address mental wellbeing within the legal profession. This was following concerns over too-frequent reports of substance abuse, severe depression and suicide within the profession.
In 2019, a Task Force was set up to investigate these issues. This exercise resulted into the production of a report, ‘Mental Wellbeing in the Legal Profession: A Global Study’, which can be read here.
The report identifies the following mental wellbeing principles for the legal profession:
- Mental wellbeing matters
- Mental wellbeing is not weakness
- Raising awareness is fundamental
- A commitment to change and regular continuing assessment, is needed
- Policies matter
- Maintain an open dialogue and communication
- Address systematic problems
- Recognise intersectionalities
- Share good practices
- Learn from others
Data Protection/Privacy Guide for Lawyers in Africa
This Guide addresses privacy/data protection planning, functionality and management of a legal practice in Africa. The guide will provide lawyers in Africa with sustainable, practical and easy to implement data protection controls/protocols. It has been developed drawing from the basic principles contained in the various laws and frameworks on the continent of Africa as well as global trends such as the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) of Europe and other associated international best practices.
Download the guide
Publications
Recent developments impacting legal services in Ethiopia from a historical perspective
This article is an update on the regulation of the legal practice in Ethiopia. It briefly covers the historical development and focusses on the current system while presenting and reflecting on the new law opening the door for the establishment of Limited Liability Partnerships in Ethiopia.
Released on Dec 21, 2022
Belokon v Betamax: Divergent approaches to the review powers of supervisory courts on public policy grounds
Earlier this year, the Cour de Cassation handed down Belokon v Kyrgyzstan (Cass. Civ. 1st, 23 mars 2022, n° 17-17.981). The Court’s decision appears to indicate that French courts are prepared to take a more interventionalist role in setting aside arbitral awards, where public policy concerns are raised. An interesting comparison can be made with the position in Mauritius following Betamax Ltd v State Trading Corporation [2021] UKPC 14.
Released on Dec 21, 2022
Football 256 v Uganda Football Associations (FUFA)
Football 256 purported to carry out an awards ceremony via their social media channels – ‘Football 256 Best of the Season Awards’ – for the recently concluded 2020-2021 StarTimes Uganda Premier League. In response, the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) threatened legal action against Football 256, the football clubs, club officials and players.
Released on Jun 07, 2022
The implications of Brexit on taking African claims to the UK: the end of suing British conglomerates in London?
The idea of African group claims against UK-based corporates that have been brought to the English courts is not entirely new, but has seen a spate of claims in the last five years or so, suggesting that it is a trend that may be accelerating.
Released on Feb 25, 2022
Subcommittees and other groups
The African Regional Forum also coordinates the activities of the following subcommittees/working groups.
- African Regional Forum Advisory Board
Join us on LinkedIn
If you are a member of the African Regional Forum, for additional networking opportunities, programs, interviews with fellow members and tips all exclusive to members, join our LinkedIn page at: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9296191/.