Co-Chair
Sean Mason

Co-Chair
Paul Paton

Alternative and New Law Business Structures Committee

Originally constituted following the introduction of multidisciplinary practices (MDPs), the ANLBS exists today as an event driven forum to explore and stay apprised of the legal, regulatory and technological developments impacting how legal services are provided across the globe. Whether driven by regulatory reforms, market trends or technological changes, the ANLBS is focused on exploring the ever changing ways lawyers provide legal services.

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Forthcoming conferences and webinars View All Conferences

Courts, codes and clouds: AI’s impact on legal work, from chambers to corporate counsel

26 Mar 2026 1500 - 1600 GMT

Webinar

IBA Annual Conference Copenhagen 2026

04 Oct - 09 Oct 2026

Copenhagen , Denmark

Publications
All articles

A message from the Chair of the Alternative and New Law Business Structures Committee, Dr Paul D Paton JSD KC

Chair of the Alternative and New Law Business Structures Committee, Paul D Paton, shares a message reflecting on the committee’s successful events in the past few months and looks forward to the year ahead.

Released on Jan 20, 2026

The legal architecture of carbon markets: from global governance to corporate accountability

As carbon markets evolve into being a cornerstone of climate policy, lawyers are being expected to transform technical mechanisms into enforceable legal realities.

Released on Dec 26, 2025

Foreign law firms in India: evolution, regulation and the road ahead

This article traces India’s three-decade-long journey towards permitting foreign law firms to practice limited foreign and international law in the country. It examines the evolving regulatory framework, key judicial interventions and the emerging implications for India’s legal market.

Released on Dec 18, 2025

Should law firms only be managed by lawyers? Rethinking leadership in professional services

This article reflects on the evolving leadership needs of law firms and challenges the assumption that only lawyers should lead them. Drawing from other professional sectors, it advocates for empowering non-lawyer professionals to help manage legal businesses, without undermining legal expertise or breaching regulatory frameworks.

Released on Dec 16, 2025

Projects and reports

Guidelines and Regulations to Provide Insights on Public Policies to Ensure AI’s Beneficial Use as a Professional Tool

The Artificial Intelligence Working Group of the IBA Alternative and New Law Business Structures (ANLBS) Committee presents a comprehensive, up to date guide to the use of artificial intelligence as a professional tool, covering the main multilateral organisations and several jurisdictions worldwide.

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Subcommittees and other groups

The Alternative and New Law Business Structures Committee also coordinates the activities of the following subcommittees/working groups.

Alternative and New Law Business Structures Committee Advisory Board
Artificial Intelligence Working Group

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