Join lawyers and judges from across Africa and beyond to discuss matters of regional and continental importance at the African Regional Forum’s first conference in Southern Africa.

Topics include:

- The Rule of Law; the Independence of the Judiciary and of the Legal Profession
- International Arbitration in Africa
- Climate Change: Africa’s challenge and response
- Mining Law: Dealing with the impact of the global financial crisis
- Corporate Governance: Friend or Foe to the Successful Business?
- Managing for survival: African law firms in changing times

Who should attend?

Lawyers in private practice, in-house corporate lawyers, judges and academics

Letter from the IBA African Regional Forum Chairperson

I am delighted to invite you to the International Bar Association’s African Regional Forum conference 2010 in Cape Town.

As one of Africa’s most popular tourist destinations Cape Town presents the ideal location for our network of African and other legal practitioners to gather, in order to learn from each other and to spend time with our colleagues from Africa and beyond.

The conference programme covers issues of immediate importance for African law firms, both small and large. It also aims to empower practitioners to run their practices more efficiently – particularly against the backdrop of the recession – and to interact with colleagues that can expose them to new fields of practice

We plan to ask hard questions such as –

·       What are the causes of the weakness in governance of African law firms and how do we addressed
         these, in the light of the increasing attention being focused by global law firms to Africa as a source
         of work and revenue?

·       Why are most international arbitrations involving African parties held outside Africa? How can
         African countries promote and develop international arbitration in Africa?

·       What is the African legal and business response to climate change?

·       What has been the impact of the crisis on the African mining sector from an investment, regulatory
         and risk perspective and what has been the response of particular African mining jurisdictions to
         mitigating the crisis, whether from a fiscal, regulatory or other perspective.

·       In terms of corporate governance, what comprises transparency of decision making, clarity of
         management roles, internal controls, quality of decision making, strategic vision and reporting
         obligations?

We also plan to explore best practice and find answers.

Of particular significance to us as African lawyers will be the plenary session on the Rule of Law, the Independence of the Judiciary and of the Legal Profession.

The officers of the African Regional Forum and the conference organizing committee look forward to welcoming you to beautiful Cape Town.



Jacob Saah
Chairperson
African Regional Forum
Accra, Ghana
October 2009.