Committee publications
Mining Law Committee – From the Editors – October 2026
A note from the Newsletter Editors of the IBA Mining Law Committee, Virginia Schweitzer and Xiaofeng Cheng.
Released on Sep 28, 2026
The Los Bronces–Andina Alliance: a unique mining joint venture in Chile
In 2025, Anglo American and Codelco announced the Bronces–Andina alliance, a first-of-its-kind partnership which fully integrates two major copper mines – owned by different companies – into a single coordinated operation without merging their ownership. This innovative structure allows Anglo American’s Los Bronces mine and Codelco’s Andina mine to be run under one unified mine plan, unlocking significant extra value and production that neither could achieve alone.
Released on Sep 28, 2026
Mapping energy transition minerals permitting initiatives: a research project funded by the IBA Special Projects Fund
The accelerating demand for energy transition minerals has prompted a new wave of permitting-related reforms in a range of mining jurisdictions. Governments are increasingly treating mineral development as a strategic priority for industrial policy, energy security and supply-chain resilience, and are redesigning legal and administrative frameworks accordingly. A set of these reforms are often described in general terms as ‘streamlining’ or ‘fast-tracking’, but there has so far been no systematic legal analysis of how they are designed, how they operate, and how they differ.
Released on Sep 28, 2026
Algeria’s new mining law: between liberalisation and sovereignty
After more than a decade under Law No.14-05 of 24 February 2014 (Law 14-05), Algeria has reshaped its mining regime with the adoption of Law No. 25-12 of 3 August 2025 (the New Mining Law), published in the Official Gazette, No. 52 on 7 August 2025.
Released on Sep 28, 2026
Critical minerals and global governance
Critical minerals are essential to advanced industries such as electronics, defence, and renewable energy, yet growing demand has intensified concerns over supply risks, geopolitical tensions, and environmental impacts. The Covid-19 pandemic exposed structural vulnerabilities in global supply chains, reinforcing the urgency of securing stable and sustainable access to these resources.
Released on Sep 28, 2026
Meet the officer
Eduardo C Botello Adame is the Managing Partner of Santos Elizondo, a full-service firm based in Monterrey, Mexico. He joined the firm in 2005, became a partner in 2016 and has led it since 2023. Nicole Phillis, the North American Regional Forum’s Publications Officer, sat down with him for a conversation about running a law firm, why the IBA is worth the flights and what he does when he is not doing any of that
Released on Sep 21, 2026
Clean onboarding in an era of employee mobility: ten best practices to reduce trade secret and confidential information disputes in the United States
Employee mobility litigation has proliferated as employers compete for talent in increasingly fluid labour markets. At the same time, courts have become more skeptical of broad restraints on mobility, particularly in jurisdictions such as California. As a result, many employers are seeking out guidance on how to avoid mobility disputes before they even start. The following best practices can help organisations implement a defensible and ethical onboarding programme to prevent mobility disputes before they even arise.
Released on Sep 21, 2026
Join us in Copenhagen for NARF Programming
The IBA’s North American Regional Forum (NARF) will present a robust series of programmes at the 2026 International Bar Association Annual Conference in Copenhagen, exploring many of the most important developments affecting North American business, trade, governance, and the legal profession. From the future of the USMCA and regional trade integration to constitutional law, corporate risk management, and sustainability, NARF's programming will provide timely insights from leading practitioners, academics, business leaders, and public officials from across the US, Canada and Mexico.
Released on Sep 21, 2026
A message from the IBA North American Regional Forum Chair
It has been a fantastic year for the North American Regional Forum! Richard Singelton, IBA NARF Chair, invites members to join us for another exciting year of engagement, collaboration and thought leadership within the International Bar Association
Released on Sep 21, 2026
‘Economic reality’ check: worker classification issues in the US
In 2024, a federal judge in California observed that ‘[d]rawing the line between ‘employee’ and ‘independent contractor’ is a difficult task, with significant consequences for workers and businesses, that has long vexed courts and lawmakers across the country’. Labour and employment attorneys keeping pace with this ever-changing area of law may also count themselves among the vexed. To help explain why this area of law has frustrated so many for so long, this article provides an overview of the concept of worker classification, discusses its significance to various stakeholders and identifies several recent inflection points in the debate regarding independent contractor status in the US.
Released on Sep 21, 2026
Cross-border transactions: A drafting guide for international sales contracts
International commerce and distribution raise several idiosyncratic legal challenges in addition to business considerations that need to be carefully evaluated in a shifting context of import and export frameworks.
Released on Sep 16, 2026
The rule of law backsliding survey report
The IBA Rule of Law Forum has conducted a worldwide survey of lawyers as part of a project on rule of law backsliding.
Released on Sep 15, 2026
The Greek Golden Visa after the 2024–2026 overhaul: current rules and the investment route to watch
Greece remains one of the few EU jurisdictions offering residence through direct real estate investment, but the 2024–2026 reforms have shifted eligibility from a simple price threshold to a matter of asset characterisation – making careful due diligence essential. This article sets out the current real estate routes and highlights a proposed portfolio-based category, which would link Golden Visa eligibility to long-term rental housing.
Released on Sep 9, 2026
Driving resolution for stalled real estate projects in Vietnam
For over a decade, legal irregularities in land administration have been one of the most persistent structural constraints on Vietnam’s real estate market. In response, many legislative instruments have been issued, reflecting Vietnam’s strong determination to address these long-standing matters, unlock investment flows and enhance transparency in the real estate market
Released on Sep 7, 2026
The redevelopment of shopping centres and the rise of mixed-use developments in Brazil
This article analyses the transformation of shopping centres in Brazil into mixed-use developments and its impact in the market.
Released on Sep 7, 2026
Why should Iraq accede to the Rome Statute? Strengthening domestic accountability while preserving sovereignty
Rather than being an isolated phenomenon, mass atrocities have recurred throughout modern Iraqi history, affecting almost all major ethnic, religious and sectarian communities. This pattern began with the Simele massacre against the Assyrian Christian minority in 1933, followed by the forced displacement and mass denationalisation of Iraqi Jews between 1950 and 1951
Released on Sep 7, 2026
Voices from the field – Leon Liu
This series asks the Anti-Corruption Committee’s officers the most significant anti-corruption risks and challenges that are currently affecting their region. This edition is from Leon Liu, the Committee’s Regional Representative for Asia Pacific, who discusses China's challenges regarding 'foreign-related law', their implications and involvement with national security and the developing strategies that will be used against these in the future.
Released on Sep 2, 2026
Palestine conflict, social media freedom of speech and employment law – a challenge for all involved
We live in a world of many controversial topics, and where opinions raised in social media by employees may influence how their employer is seen by the public. Consequently, employers try to restrain their employees’ public statements. This article highlights a Higher Regional Labour Court of Mainz decision regarding the summarily dismissal of a professional football player in connection with his statements related to the Israel-Palestine-conflict following the Hamas terror attack in October 2023, and the counter strikes by Israeli military forces.
Released on Sep 1, 2026
Will Grab’s acquisition of foodpanda’s Taiwan business pass antitrust review?
After Uber Eats was denied the ability to acquire foodpanda in Taiwan, Grab has announced that it will re-start the plan. However, Uber Eats’ ‘minority shareholding’ in Grab and ‘interlocking directorates or officers’ will probably trigger another merger review and it will not be easy to obtain the Taiwan Fair Trade Commission (FTC)’s approval.
Released on Aug 18, 2026
Green data centres in India: policy meets practice
India’s green data centre sector is evolving through a combination of central laws and state-specific policies rather than a dedicated national framework. As demand rises with the growth of cloud services, AI and data localisation, states are offering incentives linked to renewable energy, infrastructure and large-scale investment. Recent reforms, particularly in Maharashtra, highlight a practical shift towards encouraging sustainable development while recognising implementation challenges. For developers and investors, project success will depend on careful assessment of land, power procurement, environmental approvals, incentive eligibility and ongoing compliance obligations.
Released on Aug 12, 2026
Recent developments in the FDI screening in Romania and beyond
This article analyses the recent and upcoming changes in Romania’s foreign direct investment screening regime following Government Emergency Ordinance No. 17/2026 which amended and supplemented Government Emergency Ordinance No. 46/2022. It examines the clarified scope of reviewable transactions, revised thresholds, and procedural innovations, alongside the forthcoming overhaul of the CEISD operating regulation and notification form. These national updates are evaluated against the backdrop of the Regulation (EU) 2026/1386, which will supersede Regulation (EU) 2019/452 once it comes into force.
Released on Aug 10, 2026
Keeping up with merger control: comparing Turkey’s recent amendments with the EU Draft Merger Guidelines
This article examines the recent amendments to the Turkish merger control regime, namely the revisions to Communiqué No. 2010/4 and the accompanying merger control Guidelines and compares them with the European Commission’s Draft EU Merger Guidelines. While the Turkish reforms primarily aim to enhance legal certainty and predictability, the Draft EU Merger Guidelines propose a broader modernisation of substantive merger assessment to reflect developments in innovation, investment and competitive dynamics. Through this comparative analysis, the article highlights the practical implications of the Turkish reforms and considers their significance in the context of evolving merger control enforcement.
Released on Aug 10, 2026
ROBOR and competition law: Romania’s landmark benchmark-setting investigation
The Romanian Competition Council has sanctioned ten banks for alleged coordination in the ROBOR (Romanian Interbank Offer Rate) benchmark-setting process, imposing fines totalling approximatively €700m. The case is significant not only as a major domestic enforcement development, but also as a national application of EU competition law to benchmark-related conduct, in line with the European Commission’s precedents.
Released on Aug 10, 2026
Who gets a say? The case for negotiated mechanisms under Bill No. 4,675/2025 and the future of digital markets regulation in Brazil
This article presents preliminary thoughts and considerations on Brazil’s Bill No. 4,675/2025, which will make the Administrative Council for Economic Defence (CADE) the regulator for digital markets. It briefly analyses the adequacy of the proposed model: (1) for the digital markets sector; and (2) in relation to Brazil’s existing framework. The article also demonstrates that adopting a dialogue-based model for the obligations of the agents designated as systemically relevant ‘gatekeepers’, given CADE’s experience and success with consensual negotiations, may enhance proportionality, legal certainty and regulatory effectiveness without displacing public enforcement authority.
Released on Aug 10, 2026
Mexico’s new competition authority after the 2025 reforms: a brief status update
Nearly a year into operation, the new Mexican competition authority, the Comisión Nacional Antimonopolio (the CNA) demonstrates technical and institutional continuity with its predecessor, while operating under a more assertive enforcement framework.
Released on Aug 10, 2026
Turkish Competition Board imposes sector-wide separation remedies in the casting agencies sector
The Turkish Competition Board has fined casting agencies for the joint determination of agency commission rates, service conditions and exchange of competitively sensitive information. It has also imposed sector-wide remedies banning the conduct of casting agency and casting direction or production activities within the same economic unit. This article critically examines these remedies with respect to their legal basis, necessity, and compatibility with the Turkish competition law framework.
Released on Aug 10, 2026
Maritime and Transport Law Committee – From the Editors – August 2026
A note from the Editors of the IBA Maritime and Transport Law Committee, Sarah Gahlen and María Belén Espiñeira
Released on Aug 10, 2026
Maritime and Transport Law Committee – From the Co-Chairs – August 2026
A note from the Co-Chairs of the IBA Maritime and Transport Law Committee, Patrick Holloway and Marco Remiorz
Released on Aug 10, 2026
Meet the officer: Annemieke Spijker
An interview with Annemieke Spijker, AI Officer of the IBA Maritime and Transport Law Committee
Released on Aug 10, 2026
Philippine maritime law: time bars and conditions precedent
In the dispute resolution practice of law, practitioners should look out for prescriptive periods or limitations in the filing of their actions. In maritime law, these are referred to as time bars.
Released on Aug 10, 2026