62nd International Young Lawyers' Congress (AIJA)

WELCOME DEAR COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD!

It is a great privilege to welcome you to the paradigm-shifting AIJA’s 62nd Annual Congress in Madrid where from 3 to 7 September 2024, the international legal community will discuss and debate from every angle the ambitious, but necessary topic: “Thinking Globally – The Role of International Lawyers in a World Searching for Answers.”

Truthfully, our Congress cannot come soon enough. We live in an era that demands global solutions to problems, even when many times those challenges appear to be local. Everything is truly interconnected.

The COVID-19 pandemic, the interruption of supply-chains, trade disputes, major armed conflicts, the progressive deterioration of the earth’s environment, technological disruptions, and many other major recent events, all had significant cross-border impact requiring global responses from multilateral organisations, national, regional, and local governments, the biggest of transnational corporations, and the smallest of local companies alike.

The international legal community has a key role to play in devising and providing the legal solutions that the world and our clients need in areas as diverse as trade, technology, energy transition, security and defense, inequality, and others. I am thrilled that under the leadership of the brilliant Congress Academic Coordinators and AIJA’s Commissions, young lawyers from every corner in the world will do their part when we meet in Madrid.

And, what better place than Madrid to do just that and network in AIJA style! Madrid is a vibrant metropolis at the heart of Western Europe, connected to the world at large, where past and present meets seamlessly, where people from all over the world are welcomed, and where every meal, sight or experience is a unique opportunity to share an unforgettable moment.

Locals commonly say “De Madrid al Cielo”, from “Madrid to Heaven,” to put into words the feeling that there is no better place to be than in Madrid. I can confidently say that thanks to the extraordinary and energetic Madrid 2024 Organising Committee, any doubts about the veracity of that phrase will be put to rest when the AIJA spirit visits Madrid.

I very much look forward to seeing you in Madrid.
#GlobalAIJA #MAD4aija

Eduardo J. De la Peña Bernal
President of AIJA 2023/2024

CONGRESS THEME

THINKING GLOBALLY – THE ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL LAWYERS IN A WORLD SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS

We live in a time of generation-defining events with global impacts. Decades long international alliances are strained, economies destabilised, trade disrupted, healthcare systems shattered, and environmental sustainability is questioned. COVID-19, supply chain turmoil, trade disputes, geopolitical tensions, and technological disruptions have affected everyone, from global leaders to local communities.
All lawyers, but particularly young lawyers, have a central role to play in these generation-defining global conversations that concern international security, rising nationalism, economic and health inequality between countries, protectionist worldwide trade, global health crises, climate change, energy transition and digitisation.
The 62nd International Young Lawyers’ Congress organised by AIJA in Madrid will be the perfect forum to think globally and shape what the world should look like for the next generation.
AIJA is Global. AIJA thinks Globally.
So, join us to think globally from every angle and devise the answers the world demands to these prescient challenges:

1. Trade: Trade protectionism, trade wars, and supply-chain disruptions are interconnected issues that can and do significantly impact global trade and have far-reaching consequences for economies, businesses, and consumers worldwide. Lawyers play a crucial role in advising businesses on compliance with protectionist measures and advocating for their interests in trade disputes.
2. Defence & security: Growing geopolitical tensions, the rise of nationalism, as well as shocks such as Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic, have increased the desire to strengthen the defence and (economic) security in our societies. International lawyers are now navigating in an increasingly complex and challenging legal environment. Even “ordinary” cross-border transactions and disputes have increasingly become affected by sanction-regimes, foreign direct investment screening-procedures, data security and protection requirements, as well as various other state policies and protective tools.
3. Inequality: Worldwide inequalities are complex and dynamic issues that vary across continents, countries and regions. Those inequalities can most easily be observed in subjects such as health, distribution of wealth, access to education and opportunities, gender and racial issues, among others. As young lawyers, it is our responsibility to try to address these challenges, by assisting local and international players on generating regulations that promote fair trade, implementing labour protections, generating responsible business practices, providing legal expertise to NGOs who support education or who are looking to invest in infrastructure.
4. Technology: Technology is both a catalyst and a threat to globalisation. While it has undoubtedly contributed to the acceleration and expansion of global interconnectedness, it also poses certain challenges such as job displacement, inequality and the digital divide, privacy and security concerns, fragmentation, and nationalism as well as cultural homogenisation. By leveraging expertise in law and regulation, lawyers can help shape a legal framework that supports a balanced and inclusive approach to globalisation in the digital era.
5. Energy transition: The energy transition, which involves a shift from traditional fossil fuel-based energy sources to renewable and sustainable alternatives, presents both challenges and opportunities. The challenges relate to technology, policy, economics, and social impacts. It also offers opportunities for environmental sustainability, economic growth, energy security, and social equity. Addressing these challenges and embracing the opportunities is vital for a successful energy transition that contributes to a more sustainable and resilient future. Lawyers play a crucial role in facilitating the energy transition by providing legal expertise and guidance to businesses, governments, and stakeholders involved in the energy sector.

62nd International Young Lawyers’ Congress – Academic Coordinators 

Beatriz Cabal Chen, Galindo, Arias & Lopez, Panama
Zoya Gyurova, Strik Tax|Legal, Netherlands
Charlotte Tregunna, Peters & Peters, United Kingdom