Co-Chair
Benjamin Grebe

Co-Chair
Juan Manuel
Mercant

Latin American Regional Forum

The Latin American Regional Forum covers all countries in Latin America as well as Mexico, Puerto Rico and Spanish-speaking areas of the Caribbean.

About the Forum

The Latin American Regional Forum (LARF) provides a focus for all activities in the region. The group organises sessions at IBA Conferences and in particular has been instrumental in ensuring that a Latin American perspective is addressed during relevant special sessions. The LARF is closely affiliated with the North American Forum as the regions are geographically proximate and share many issues.

Forthcoming conferences and webinars View All Conferences

Publications

The in-house perspective on legal ops and new tech tools reshaping legal services

A conference report on the ‘The in-house perspective on legal ops and new tech tools reshaping legal services’ session from the Biennial IBA Latin American Regional Forum Conference: Technology, social media and artificial intelligence: challenges for the legal industry in the digital age.

Released on Jul 27, 2023

Is fake news the new elector? Is social media the new press? Impact on the legal industry and investments in Latin America

A conference report on the ‘Is fake news the new elector? Is social media the new press? Impact on the legal industry and investments in Latin America’ session from the Biennial IBA Latin American Regional Forum Conference: Technology, social media and artificial intelligence: challenges for the legal industry in the digital age.

Released on Jul 27, 2023

Venture capital investments in Legal Tech and the technology industry

A conference report on the ‘Venture capital investments in Legal Tech and the technology industry’ session from the Biennial IBA Latin American Regional Forum Conference: Technology, social media and artificial intelligence: challenges for the legal industry in the digital age.

Released on Jul 27, 2023

Innovation, technology and the rule of law

A conference report on the ‘Innovation, technology and the rule of law’ session from the Biennial IBA Latin American Regional Forum Conference: Technology, social media and artificial intelligence: challenges for the legal industry in the digital age.

Released on Jul 27, 2023

Projects and Reports

ESG survey results report: ESG in Latin America

This report analyses the data from a study on Latin American law firms and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues. ESG issues have taken the corporate world by storm ever since the UN adopted the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015. The newest generation of investors is pressing for sustainable growth, and it is obvious that ESG is not merely a fashionable trend but instead a permanent issue to be addressed by lawmakers – particularly as the effects of the climate crisis become undeniable and social injustices are brought to light in an unstable economy.

Inclusion, Non-Discrimination & Pro Bono - The Latin American In-House Legal Counsel’s Perspective

This study seeks to provide a general overview of whether or not the legal departments of Latin American companies and companies from other jurisdictions working in the region consider these issues as relevant, and whether or not these companies are promoting and requiring their outside counsel to have non-discrimination and Pro Bono policies in place. It also seeks to determine whether outside counsel in Latin America will have to implement policies relating to these matters in the short, medium or long term, not only because of their own convictions, but as a prerequisite to be hired or retained by their clients.

Young Council del Latin American Regional Forum

The Latin American Regional Forum presents a study on Law Firm perception on diversity, inclusion, pro bono and non-discrimination in Latin America (March 2020). The research, prepared by the Young Lawyers Council of the Latin American Regional Forum, sheds light on the perception of these important subjects among law firms in 15 different Latin American jurisdictions.

Doing business in Latin America - Forum guide

The Forum has published a guide to doing business in 17 Latin American countries (October 2018).

The guide focuses on the common pitfalls and cultural differences of doing business throughout the region. Each country has developed four different chapters, covering foreign investment, capital markets, rendering of public services and real estate regulations, while Brazil, Costa Rica, Chile, El Salvador, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama and Uruguay each have an additional chapter about offshore companies services.

Subcommittees and other groups

The Latin American Regional Forum also coordinates the activities of the following subcommittees/working groups.

  • Latin American Regional Forum Advisory Board