Chair
Richard Singleton
North American Regional Forum
The North American Regional Forum (NARF) of the IBA unites legal professionals from the US, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, providing a platform for collaboration on key business law issues like corporate, finance, trade, and litigation. NARF addresses regional concerns, including NAFTA, foreign investment, and cross-border security, while also tackling global challenges such as climate change and international trade. It promotes North American perspectives within IBA programs, ensuring representation on panels and committees. NARF also organises regional conferences, networking opportunities, and fosters communication among North American lawyers, strengthening business relationships within the legal community.
Forthcoming conferences and webinars View All Conferences
Lawyering in the age of AI: Real-world lessons on adoption, governance and risk
17 Jun 2026 1530 - 1630 BST
Webinar
IBA Annual Conference Copenhagen 2026
04 Oct - 09 Oct 2026
Copenhagen , Denmark
Publications
In this inspiring interview, Juan Pablo shares some insights of his successful career in public international law (PIL).
Publications
Work permit exemptions for high skilled workers and researchers entering Canada on a short-term basis
Foreign nationals sometimes need to enter Canada on short notice, in order to perform gainful employment in Canada. In such cases, there may be insufficient time to apply for a formal work permit. Fortunately, it is possible for some foreign nationals to work in Canada for short periods of time, without the need for a formal work permit. This article explores the different employment laws and institutions surrounding these permits and how they effect foreign workers in Canada.
Released on Jun 08, 2026
Mexico’s judicial overhaul: implications for North American companies
Mexico has embarked on one of the most consequential constitutional transformations in its modern legal history. A sweeping judicial reform, enacted in September 2024 and now being implemented through 2025–2027, fundamentally restructures how judges are selected, how courts operate, and how constitutional protections function. For North American companies – particularly those operating under the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) – this reform is not merely institutional. It has direct implications for dispute resolution, regulatory enforcement and the predictability of the rule of law in Mexico.
Released on Jun 08, 2026
Recent legislative amendments expand entitlement to Canadian citizenship by descent
Recent amendments to the Canadian Citizenship Act have significantly expanded the pool of foreign-born persons who may now have a claim to Canadian citizenship by descent. Anyone with an ancestor who was either born or naturalised in Canada may now have a claim to Canadian citizenship from birth if they can document the transmission of Canadian citizenship through multiple generations. This article will explore the history of amendments to Canadian citizenship, as well as the legal ramifications for the new amendment.
Released on Jun 08, 2026
When asylum confidentiality meets international police cooperation
International police cooperation is based on trust that participating states will act in good faith and that shared information will not be misused. US asylum law rests on a different assumption: contact with an asylum seeker’s home government can create danger. When these frameworks intersect, as they do in cases involving alerts issued by the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL), tensions arise that can expose asylum seekers and complicate adjudication, and which remain largely unaddressed in law or policy.
Released on Jun 08, 2026
Subcommittees and other groups
The North American Regional Forum also coordinates the activities of the following subcommittees/working groups.
- North American Regional Forum Advisory Board
Join us on LinkedIn
If you are a member of the North American Regional Forum, for additional networking opportunities, programs, interviews with fellow members and tips all exclusive to members, join our LinkedIn page at: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9379871/.