The IBA Legal Projects Director oversees the Legal Policy & Research Unit (LPRU) and the Bar Issues Commission project lawyers. The team undertakes research, and develops and implements innovative strategies, projects and initiatives that are relevant to business and the rule of law, the global legal profession and the broader global community.
Legal Policy & Research Unit
LPRU team, new and old, on their away day at Norton Rose Fulbright, December 2024.
Emily Morison is joined by panellists following the IBA co-hosted side event Beyond national frameworks: Lawyers & law associations enhancing ambition through legal approaches at COP29 in Azerbaijan.
Sara Carnegie speaking on the panel: Partnering to Fight Economic Crime: Looking Ahead to 2025-2030 at the IFAC Ordinary Council Meeting in Paris, November 2024.
Sara Carnegie chairs a panel discussion at the session Spotlight on the role of the legal profession: principles, problems and future projection at the IBA’s Annual Conference in Mexico.
George Artley attended the BIC Retreat in Japan.
The Legal Policy & Research Unit and IBA won awards for Gender Equality Initiative of the Year and Highly Commended for Not for Profit Organisation of the Year at the 2024 Women and Diversity in Law Awards
The Legal Policy & Research Unit and IBA won awards for Gender Equality Initiative of the Year and Highly Commended for Not for Profit Organisation of the Year at the 2024 Women and Diversity in Law Awards
Flagship projects
Ethics and Anti-Corruption
Examining the professional role of lawyers as ethical gatekeepers within wider society and to help clarify their ethical responsibilities and obligations.
View project50:50 by 2030 Gender Project
The IBA ‘50:50 by 2030’ nine-year project aims to uncover the root-causes of the lack of gender parity at the most senior levels of the legal profession.
View projectClimate Crisis
The increase in global temperatures and rising sea levels represents an urgent and potentially irreversible threat to humanity and life on the planet.
View projectMental Wellbeing
The IBA has embarked on a global campaign to address the mental health crisis in the legal profession, bringing together research and resources from around the world.
View project
News and recent releases
Our areas of work
Select an area of work to see all relevant projects.
Digital Disruptive Innovation
Bar related project work
Future Trends and Focus
Business and Ethics
Reports
The LPRU have created and contributed to a number of legal reports, articles and guidance documents.
Legal Internship Programme
Intern positions are available for undergraduate law students, postgraduate law students, and newly qualified lawyers.
How to applyProject Proposal Process
Could your project benefit from the support of the IBA Legal Policy & Research Unit?
Find out moreIn 2022-2023 the LPRU:
Participated in over 40 events – in person and online
Drafted 7 reports
Contributed to at least 12 published articles
Recorded 4 podcasts
Won several legal industry awards, including Diversity & Inclusion Initiative of the Year and Gender Equality Initiative of the Year
External engagement
LPRU and UN Engagement in 2023
In 2023 the LPRU continued with its global engagement and advocacy on critical policy priorities including climate change, anti-corruption and legal ethics. Our commitment to amplify the IBA's voice on the international stage is evidenced in our multilateral interactions with the United Nations and affiliated organisations, including recent attendance at COP28 and CoSP.
Read newsletterUpcoming events
29
JAN
LPRU supports Session 4 of the IBA ESG Accelerator Training Programme: Sustainable Finance
The IBA ESG Accelerator Training Programme is a free, specialised online ESG training focused on legal practitioners across Africa, convened by the IBA African Regional Forum, and supported by Webber Wentzel, the IBA Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law Section, the IBA Business Human Rights Committee and the LPRU. Session 4, 'Sustainable finance', explores key developments in sustainable finance across Africa, including major players in the sustainable finance movement, drivers of ESG integration by financial institutions and lenders, different types of sustainable finance models, and international and domestic carbon markets. The session will feature case studies highlighting transactional and regulatory developments in a number of countries in the jurisdiction. Register here. Watch Session 1: Introduction to ESG here, Session 2: ESG disclosures, reporting and due diligence here and Session 3: ESG litigation and dispute resolution trends here.
10
FEB
Sara Carnegie speaks at Westminster Legal Policy Forum
Sara Carnegie joins Westminster Legal Policy Forum for its keynote seminar: Next steps for equality, diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. Discussion will focus on the latest thinking on the way forward for improving representation of those with protected characteristics, assessing the current shape of diversity in the legal profession, and what can be learned for the future from notable initiatives, best practice and those with lived experience. Stakeholders and policymakers will discuss retention and progression to increase the visible diversity in senior legal roles, looking at effective, evidence-based EDI practices to foster genuine inclusion. Book here.
7
MAR
Phase 2 of 50:50 by 2030 Project launched at Empowering Women webinar
The IBA marks the launch of phase 2 of its 50:50 by 2030 Gender Project with its 'Empowering Women' webinar. Phase 2 comprises a global survey seeking views from women in the legal profession about a variety of topics, including their experience as lawyers, engaging with workplace initiatives and their impact, barriers to practice, reasons for staying/leaving the profession, as well as career satisfaction and the impact of menopause and family or other caring responsibilities on their career.
8
MAR
LPRU launches Inspirational Women podcast series
To mark International Women's Day the IBA launches its podcast series 'Inspirational Women'. In this new series Sara Carnegie and Isla Tobin interview IBA members and colleagues about their interesting career paths and personal stories, inspiring listeners and providing fascinating insights into the life and work of female colleagues from around the world. Episodes will be released in the week running up to International Women's Day on 8 March and over the following weeks. Guests will be announced shortly.
25-27
MAR
Sara Carnegie attends the FATF Private Sector Collaborative Forum in Mumbai
Sara Carnegie travels to India for the 2025 Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Private Sector Collaborative Forum (PSCF) at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai. Focus areas include financial inclusion, payment transparency and anti-money laundering. Planning is underway for a capacity building workshop in June 2025.
Recent events
15
JAN
Anurag Bana attends reception hosted by SIFoCC: London and the Rule of Law; Commerce and the Economy; Transactions and Dispute Resolution
At the invitation of the Standing International Forum of Commercial Courts (SIFoCC), Anurag Bana joins colleagues from the financial, corporate and insurance sectors, General Counsel, the judiciary, law firms and the Bar, academia and major pro bono charities, at a reception focused on the centrality of law and dispute resolution to commerce and the economy, nationally and internationally. The event will include a report on the latest Full Meeting of SIFoCC attended by the judiciaries of a majority of G20 nations and many emerging market jurisdictions.
13
DEC
Anurag Bana attends UNCTAD event on AI Governance for Public Good
Anurag Bana attends this online event co-hosted by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) on the rapid advancement of AI and the need for appropriate governance. AI is transforming different sectors and changing the way we work, interact and live, but without appropriate governance, its benefits may not be realized equitably, and its development could pose societal risks. This event aims to deepen understanding of AI governance and policy while exploring potential collaboration between the United Nations and academic institutions.
4
DEC
LPRU supports Session 3 of the IBA ESG Accelerator Training Programme: ESG litigation and dispute resolution trends
The IBA ESG Accelerator Training Programme is a specialised online ESG training focused on legal practitioners across Africa, convened by the IBA African Regional Forum, and supported by Webber Wentzel, the IBA Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law Section, the IBA Business Human Rights Committee and the LPRU. Session 3 explores key themes and trends in ESG litigation and dispute resolution globally and across Africa. Featuring case studies from different African jurisdictions, this session will consider the rise of stakeholder expectations and shareholder activism on ESG issues, leading to precedent-setting ESG litigation challenging the reputations and operations of corporations; challenges seeking to expand corporate liability and directors’ duties in respect of ESG issues; greenwashing disputes; climate change litigation trends; ESG class actions; and the rise of alternative dispute resolution fora including arbitration to resolve ESG disputes. Register here. Watch Session 1 here.
3
DEC
LPRU supports Launch of the 50:50 by 2030 Report on Gender Representation in Senior Positions in the Legal Profession
The LPRU will support IBA President Almudena Arpón de Mendívil and the LexisNexis Rule of Law Foundation at an in-person event in London to launch the Interim Report for the IBA’s 50:50 by 2030 Project, and hear insights from senior and emerging female leaders in the legal profession. Sara Carnegie will present interim findings from the 50:50 by 2030 Project to date, including data from the 12 jurisdictions completed and the next phase of the project to commence in 2025. Find more information on the agenda, speakers and how to register for this free event, here.
29
NOV
Anurag Bana attends Civil Justice Council 13th National Forum
Anurag Bana takes part in the 13th National Forum of the Civil Justice Council titled Access to Justice: Working Together, in London. This event sees colleagues come together for a day of collaboration and discussion on improving access to justice for all. Find more information on the agenda, speakers and how to register for this free event, here.
29
NOV
Anurag Bana attends Civil Justice Council 13th National Forum
Anurag Bana takes part in the 13th National Forum of the Civil Justice Council titled Access to Justice: Working Together, in London. This event sees colleagues come together for a day of collaboration and discussion on improving access to justice for all. Find more information on the agenda, speakers and how to register for this free event, here.
27
NOV
LPRU supports Session 2 of the IBA ESG Accelerator Training Programme: ESG disclosures, reporting and due diligence
The IBA ESG Accelerator Training Programme is a specialised online ESG training focused on legal practitioners across Africa, convened by the IBA African Regional Forum, and supported by Webber Wentzel, the IBA Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law Section, the IBA Business Human Rights Committee and the LPRU. Session 2 explores key ESG disclosure concepts and types of disclosure frameworks; trends in the development of ESG disclosure and due diligence rules globally and across Africa; and what these developments mean for legal practitioners. Watch Session 1 here. Register here.
21
NOV
Sara Carnegie speaks on a panel at Legal ESG: Europe event in Brussels
Sara Carnegie is speaking on a panel: Ethics & Governance: The Role of the Legal Profession, part of the Legal ESG: Europe event taking place at the Brussels office of event-partner Baker McKenzie. She will join colleagues to discuss the role of lawyers in preserving ethical standards and governance around the globe, and how to ensure and preserve democracy in these challenging times. Register here.
21
NOV
IBA co-hosts side event at COP29
Alongside the American Bar Association and Federal Council of the Brazilian Bar Association, the IBA is co-hosting a side event at COP29: Beyond national frameworks: Lawyers & law associations enhancing ambition through legal approaches. As the critical role of non-state actors in Paris Agreement implementation gains recognition, legal experts from bar associations around the world explore how lawyers are innovating to support climate finance and higher ambition by the private sector, and how law associations can support this work. Register here.
16-23
NOV
Emily Morison travels to Azerbaijan for COP29
Recognised as the ‘Finance COP’, COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan will bring together countries to decide on a new global goal on climate finance, and signal their intentions to submit ambitious new Nationally Determined Contributions. The IBA has had observer status at the UNFCCC since 2021, and uses this important platform to help elevate the role of the legal profession in addressing the climate crisis and supporting the net zero transition on the international stage. Read more about the IBA's activities at UNFCCC here.