ESG in Evolution: the legal imperatives of tomorrow

25 Mar - 27 Mar 2026 Marriott Champs Élysées, Paris, France

Book before 27 Feb 2026 to receive early registration discount

Read more Read less
A conference presented by the IBA European Regional Forum, the IBA North American Regional Forum, the IBA Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law Section (SEERIL), the IBA Business Human Rights Committee and the IBA Law Firm Management Committee.

Despite global fractures in politics, trade and regulation, ESG is not disappearing. Instead, it is evolving, diversifying and recalibrating. While some regions are deepening their commitments, others must redefine ESG through shifting regulatory, political, and market pressures.

This conference will bring together senior in-house counsel and leading private practice lawyers to examine the legal imperatives shaping ESG’s future. We will explore the complex interplay between anti-corruption enforcement, trade and investment conflicts, and the tension between legal harmonisation and divergence across borders. We will consider how these forces are reshaping business strategies, compliance frameworks, and the role of lawyers today in navigating both the risks and the opportunities of the ESG of tomorrow.

Topics will include:

  • State of the market
  • ESG in Europe Today: Essential updates and business implications
  • Ubuntu, an African approach to ESG
  • Beyond the baseline: Navigating the untold ESG Challenges of AI and HPC Data centres
  • The growing constitutionalisation of rights to a healthy environment
  • The growing constitutional basis for addressing climate change in litigation
  • Sustainability in mining and mineral extraction
  • Resiliency in a shifting landscape, the shareholders of tomorrow
  • From risk mitigation to market differentiation: Strategic ESG due diligence in the supply chain
  • Recent developments in DEI and the Green Revolution in North America - Where are we now?
  • The increasing movement of soft law into hard law

Online registrations received:

  On or before 27 February Until 20 March

IBA member

€1,100 €1,205

Non-member*

€1,310 €1,415

Young lawyers (under 30 years)

€830 €1,415

Academics / judges (full-time)

€830 €1,415

Public lawyers

€830 €1,415

Corporate counsel**

€990 €1,415

After 20 March Registrations must be received in hard copy at the IBA office


Hard copy registration forms and fees received:

  On or before 27 February After 27 February

IBA member

€1,225 €1,340

Non-member*

€1,455 €1,570

Young lawyers (under 30 years)

€920 €1,570

Academics / judges (full-time)

€920 €1,570

Public lawyers

€920 €1,570

Corporate counsel**

€1,100 €1,570

* By paying the non-member fee, we welcome you as a delegate member of the IBA for the year in which this conference is held, which entitles you to the following benefits:

  • Password access to certain parts of the IBA website.
  • Receipt of IBA E-news and access to online versions of IBA Global Insight.
  • Pay the member rate

** A reduced rate is offered to IBA Corporate Group Members. Please register online to obtain a 25 per cent discount on the IBA Member fee

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES CLOSE 27 FEBRUARY 2026
Sponsorship questions?

If you would like to discuss sponsorship for this conference

CLICK HERE

Important information

Friday 20 February 2026 Delegate search
Delegate search tool becomes available. Please sign in to MyIBA to access this function.

Friday 27 February 2026 Early bird deadline
Book by this date to receive early bird discounts.

Friday 20 March 2026 Online amendment and online registration deadline
No further online registrations or amendments to your booking can be made after this date. Registration may still be possible after this date via the IBA office but is subject to availability. Please contact confs@int-bar.org for further information.

Cancellation of conference or social functions
Cancellation received by email to confs@int-bar.org on or before the early-registration deadline date, fees will be refunded less a 15 per cent administration charge.

Cancellations received after the early-registration deadline date and up to 14 days prior to the first day of the Conference, will be refunded less a 25 per cent administration charge. Refunds will be made minus any monies owed to the IBA. Monies cannot be kept on IBA accounts or transferred to future IBA conferences.

We regret that no refunds can be made after this time. Conference or social function bookings received after this time will not be eligible for any refund of fees. Note: should you have difficulties in obtaining your visa and are not able to attend the Conference this cancellation policy will still apply.

Book with confidence

  • If the IBA needs to reschedule the event, your booking will be automatically transferred to the new date and no additional fees will be charged. If this date is not convenient for a delegate, a refund of the cost of the conference place will be available on request to the IBA.
  • If the IBA is unable to reschedule the conference within 12 months of the original scheduled date, a full refund of the cost of the conference place will automatically be made to all delegates.
  • Please note that the IBA will not provide refunds for any costs incurred including any travel costs.

Please note, these terms are subject to any more restrictive or different local requirements and may be altered and amended from time to time to reflect any changes to restrictions or government requirements.

Carbon efficient travel
With IBA conferences taking place in major business centres all over the world, travel is an unavoidable reality for our delegates. The IBA encourages its members and delegates to be responsible and conscious of the impact travel has on the environment and to take measures to reduce the carbon impact of their travel.

Some suggested steps that delegates can take include:

  • Travel by train instead of flying if possible.
  • Book direct flights instead of connecting flights, if available, as limiting the number of stops needed will reduce your carbon footprint.
  • Consider the impact of the travel class that you book – business class travel equates to three times the carbon footprint of economy class.

Relying on the local public transport is the more carbon friendly option, but this is not always a realistic option. Where reliance on taxis/cars is needed use electric vehicles over petrol or diesel and share vehicle usage with other delegates and colleagues.

Speaker opportunities

If you would like to be considered as a potential speaker at this specialist conference then please contact the relevant Chair/Co-Chairs in the IBA European Regional Forum , Chair/Co-Chairs in the IBA North American Regional Forum and the Chair/Co-Chairs in the IBA Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law Section (SEERIL) with your request; please send your bio together with information on your qualification and expertise on the topic.