Co-Chair
Panagiotis
Drakopoulos
Co-Chair
Viktória Szilágyi
European Regional Forum
The European Regional Forum (ERF), established in 1989, has over 8,000 members. The forum is divided into four regions - Northern, Western, Central, and Southeastern - each led by a Chair and Vice-Chair. We have five working parties - communications, D&I, ESG, mental wellbeing, and next-gen law - and we organise four conferences annually (automotive & mobility services, fashion & luxury law, ESG and start-up) in addition to many leading and participating in many smaller initiatives.
Our goals include: addressing the needs of professional organisations and individual members, increasing participation in the IBA, fostering cross-border collaboration among European lawyers and bars and supporting the Rule of Law and civil society. The ERF promotes professional development and networking opportunities through our many initiatives.
European Regional Forum structure
What we do
See what activities the ERF has undertaken in 2024
Forthcoming conferences and webinars View All Conferences
IBA European Fashion and Luxury Law Conference
08 Jul - 09 Jul 2026
Paris , France
IBA Annual Conference Copenhagen 2026
04 Oct - 09 Oct 2026
Copenhagen , Denmark
9th Annual IBA European Start-up Conference
12 Nov - 13 Nov 2026
Paris , France
European Regional Forum Council
The Council Members are the national representatives of the European Regional Forum (ERF) of the International Bar Association (IBA). Their primary task is to implement and support the objectives of the IBA in their home country in accordance with the guidelines of the ERF. This involves promoting a strong and robust civil society in support of the rule of law and the legal profession as well as to assist with the other public policy initiatives.
The role of the Council Member
The role of the Council Member is to initiate networking opportunities for existing and potential members in their home country. There is a specific emphasis on professional development and networking opportunities.
They also have a role in building and maintaining contact with their local National Bar Association as well as universities and other legal institutions in their country. This helps to increase the awareness of the IBA and its mission.
A Council Member may for example identify a particular legal/professional topic or issue relating to careers in the law or professional development.
The support from the ERF and the IBA may be useful in providing relevant expertise. This may include, for example, organising a meeting to look at a specific legal development in an industry sector or issues relating to law firm management.
In promoting these initiatives, Council Members will gain access to the depth of experiences and expertise of other lawyers within the IBA. This helps to provide practical assistance locally as well as increasing the profile of the IBA home countries.
Examples of these initiatives include networking luncheons with professional or industry speakers on a specific topic or seminars or bilateral days with lawyers from another country. It may also include university days to discuss specific themes including careers in the law and the rule of law.
Publications
Getting to know the ERF – Jasmina Suljović
Get to know our members of the European Regional Forum, with the 2026 series starting with Jasmina Suljović. She describes her experience of being European as finding strength in togetherness and highlights how she hopes to learn from others within the ERF for the year ahead
Released on May 04, 2026
We will always have Paris – takeaways from the IBA M&A Conference February 2026
This article gives an overview of the IBA M&A Conference which took place in Paris earlier this year. This conference enjoyed a familiar mix of different professions which attendees had come from, allowing participants to explore a variety of perspectives in the M&A landscape through discussing different markets, the impact of AI and the future of investment.
Released on Apr 27, 2026
ERF Officers’ and Council Members’ Retreat 2026 – reflections from Turin
This article gives an oversight into the IBA European Regional Forum officers’ and advisory board members’ retreat, as well as the council members’ retreat in Turin. Set in a historical backdrop which has been transformed into a city of sustainability, the meeting produced a productive environment for attendees, as well as a space to network and socialise.
Released on Apr 27, 2026
6th European Automotive and Mobility Services Conference – exploring the future of mobility in Munich
The 6th European Automotive and Mobility Services Conference, held on 25–26 March 2026 at Upside East in Munich, brought together legal professionals and industry leaders to explore the rapidly evolving automotive and mobility landscape. This article highlights the dynamic programme which addressed topics such as AI and the growing importance of data and cybersecurity in this space.
Released on Apr 27, 2026
Committee Films
Scholarship Winners
Gianfranco Duretto – ERF Scholarship Winner 2024 – AI Paper
Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a crucial component in the legal field. This paper delves into the current and future challenges that law firms of all sizes encounter as they incorporate AI into their operations. Despite AI’s significant advantages, such as enhanced efficiency and cost reduction, it also brings ethical and organisational issues. The paper addresses the ethical considerations of AI from two distinct perspectives: the intrinsic ethical issues associated with AI itself and the specific ethical considerations that arise when AI is applied within the legal profession, regulated by a specific set of deontological principles. Furthermore, it explores AI’s impact on the legal profession, including the potential for job displacement and the necessity for lawyers to acquire new skills.
The paper can be read here.
Subcommittees and other groups
The European Regional Forum also coordinates the activities of the following subcommittees/working groups.
- European Regional Forum Advisory Board
Join us on LinkedIn
If you are a member of the European 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/9295215/.