From the President, March 2012

Dear Colleagues,

My predecessors have set very high standards of the IPBA leadership and it will be my endeavor to follow in their footsteps to the best of my ability. Mr. Shiro Kuniya's term reflected the determination of top IPBA leadership when he had to face the devastating earthquake and tsunami with grit, calm and composure. Ms. Suet Fern Lee was able to host the largest IPBA Conference held in Singapore.

When the IPBA "family" met again in New Delhi this year the global economy has yet to recover from the economic slowdown and despite that, nearly 900 delegates turned up for the Annual Meeting in New Delhi which was held from 29 February to 3 March 2012.

Considering that the registration fee was kept lower than what was fixed for Kyoto and Singapore, the financial results have been very significant and one can say with daring certainty that this was one of the most successful IPBA conferences ever to be held. This is particularly so keeping in view of the fact that no effort or expense was spared to make the event one of the most enjoyable, entertaining and relaxing get-togethers without in any way compromising the intellectual inputs during the Committee Sessions, the Showcase Session, the Plenary Session, and the Inaugural Session.

The Host Committee for the New Delhi Conference takes pride in the fact that for the first time the top global Bar leaders namely, Mr. Akira Kawamura, President of the International Bar Association; Mr. Dris Chatter, President of the UIA; Ms. Tanja Jussila, President of the AIJA; Mr. William Robinson, President of the American Bar Association; Mr. Michael Reynold, Vice President of the IBA; and Mr. Shiro Kuniya, Immediate Past President of the IPBA, shared the head table to speak on the crucial and vital topic of "Life, Liberty and the Law" in the Plenary Session.

My vision is to unite the legal fraternity all over the world and to evolve consensus to protect life and liberty of people of the world. I would strive for greater economic cooperation among the countries and to ensure proper and prompt legal support to achieve the same.

It would also be my aim to have more involvement of European countries, North and Latin American countries, Africa and the Middle East in the IPBA.

The IPBA's membership has to grow to ensure its place as one of the most representative global organization of lawyers.

Let the "family" grow.
 

Best regards,

Lalit Bhasin
IPBA President