Ethics and Anti-Corruption

In 2022, the International Bar Association embarked on a project to examine the professional role of lawyers as ethical gatekeepers within wider society, in order to help clarify the ethical responsibilities and obligations of lawyers when providing legal services. Following on from work on Legal Professional Privilege/Lawyer Client Confidentiality, this initiative was designed as a proactive effort, intended to involve meaningful dialogue with those criticising the profession, while also explaining the dangers behind any undermining of the profession's core principles.

The Gatekeepers Project, as it became known, led by the IBA’s Legal Policy & Research Unit (LPRU) and an IBA taskforce, began its work with a series of consultative meetings across the IBA's membership, receiving input from bar associations, law societies, law firms and individual practitioners. This led to updated guidance being issued on Business and Human Rights for lawyers (2023) and for Bars (2024), and a co-hosted event at Chatham House with a report published in September 2024.

In addition to work on the ethical role of lawyers, the LPRU has also been tasked with reviving the IBA's anti-corruption initiatives for the global legal profession, building on work previously undertaken between 2011-2015. As part of this effort, data on lawyers' perceptions of the impact of corruption on their private practise, the profession in their jurisdiction more broadly, and the effectiveness of domestic and international anti-corruption training and legislation has been collected via a global survey launched in 2024. The results of this and short report were published in the report below: The impact of corruption on the legal profession: an updated global picture.

A range of possible work on both initiatives (ethics and anti-corruption) is under consideration, and further details will be announced shortly.

Any questions can be directed to the IBA Legal Projects Director, Sara Carnegie and Legal Manager, Dr George Artley.

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Enablers or Allies? Regulation and the Role of Professional Service Providers in the Fight for Financial Integrity

On 1 July 2025, the Legal Policy & Research Unit hosted a virtual UN side-event with the International Federation of Accountants, supported by the IBA Anti-Corruption Committee, the IBA Bar Issues Commission and the IBA Law Firm Management Committee.

What are professional service providers to make of the commitment contained in the FfD4 Draft Outcome Document to ‘regulate professional service providers at the national level’ including promoting ‘global discussions on standardising regulatory regimes’ and supporting these efforts ‘with an independent review of regulatory frameworks and practices’? The panel featured experts and representatives from the global legal and accountancy professions answering some of these questions, and engaging in a dialogue concerning issues ranging from the importance of independent regulation, to AML requirements and client confidentiality.

OECD Integrity Week - Ethics in action: Lawyers as guardians against corruption

On 25 March 2025, Senior officers from the IBA Anti-Corruption Committee and Legal Policy and Research Unit (LPRU) held a session at the 2025 OCED Global Anti-Corruption & Integrity Forum.

The session provided an opportunity to launch and discuss the findings of the IBA Anti-Corruption Global Survey, highlighting current trends, challenges, and opportunities for the legal profession in combating corruption. With input from OECD representatives and lawyers in corporate practice, the discussion included ongoing efforts, practical insights, and proposed next steps to strengthen anti-corruption frameworks. The session was moderated by the IBA’s Anti-Corruption Committee co-chair Adriana Dantas and the Panel included Nicola Bonucci, Matthias Gstoehl and Dr George Artley, IBA LPRU.

Watch session

IBA Anti-Corruption Survey Results Report 2025

The impact of corruption on the legal profession: an updated global picture

The International Bar Association (IBA) Anti Corruption Committee and Legal Policy & Research Unit (LPRU) have released a new report on the effects of corruption on the legal profession, revealing that, despite a significant increase in lawyers’ understanding of international anti-corruption laws and instruments in recent years, challenges persist for the profession, and the need for global collaboration remains stronger than ever. The report is based on data collected via a global survey of lawyers, which aimed to explore what is working and what has changed in terms of global regulations and best practices for bars, law societies and law firms, as well as to illicit lawyers’ opinions on the evolution of laws and regulations designed to combat the transfer of ‘illegal assets’ within their jurisdictions.

Download report

News releases

New IBA Anti-Corruption Committee report finds corruption remains a prevalent issue for the legal profession

The IBA Anti-Corruption Committee and Legal Policy & Research Unit (LPRU) have released a new report on the effects of corruption on the legal profession, revealing that, despite a significant increase in lawyers’ understanding of international anti-corruption laws and instruments in recent years, challenges persist…

Released on Mar 24, 2025

Soft law could help lawyers pursue more ethical practice, Chatham House report suggests

Soft law, particularly when devised by lawyers themselves, could help in the pursuit of more ethical legal practice, states a report produced following a roundtable convened by Chatham House, co-hosted by the International Bar Association and supported by the Legal Policy & Research Unit (LPRU).

Released on Nov 15, 2024

Updated IBA Guidance Note on Business and Human Rights: The role of lawyers in the changing landscape

In November 2023 the IBA Council approved the Updated Guidance at the IBA Annual Conference in Paris.

Released on Oct 20, 2024

IBA launches global anti-corruption survey

The IBA Anti-Corruption Committee and the IBA Legal Policy and Research Unit (LPRU), with input from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), have announced the launch of a new anti-corruption survey to gather data on the existence and effectiveness of anti-corruption and anti-money laundering legislation at a global level.

Released on Oct 17, 2023

IBA launches new project examining the role of lawyers as ethical gatekeepers

The International Bar Association (IBA) has announced that it has embarked on a project to examine the professional role of lawyers as ethical gatekeepers within wider society and to help clarify the ethical responsibilities and obligations of lawyers when providing legal services. The new project is designed to be a proactive effort, seeking ways to engage in meaningful dialogue with those criticising the profession, while also elucidating the dangers behind any undermining of its core values.

Released on Jun 02, 2022

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