PROGRAM

9:00 - 9:15

Welcome Remarks

9:15 - 10:15

Opening Plenary

Jaime Watt, Executive Chairman, Navigator Ltd. 

Well-known Canadian political strategist and best-selling author, Jaime Watt, will draw on decades of experience at the intersection of law, politics, and public opinion to examine the growing normalization of hostility toward legal institutions. Jaime will review emerging trends in liberal democracies and explore how CEOs of Law Associations can effectively confront these pressures with resolve. 

10:15 - 10:30

Refreshment Break

10:30 - 12:30  

Module 1: Role of the Profession in Supporting the Rule of Law

Standing Firm: Law Associations as Guardians of the Rule of Law

At a time when democratic institutions and judicial independence face unprecedented pressure in the United States and around the world, law associations are being called upon to do more than represent their members — they are being asked to defend the foundations of the legal order itself. This session will provide a candid assessment of where those pressures are most acute, what initiatives law association leaders are undertaking to push back, and how mandatory and voluntary bars are navigating the tension between institutional advocacy and member diversity. Panelists will share concrete examples of civic legal education programs, advocacy strategies, and coalition-building efforts that are making a difference, while candidly exploring the limits of what our organizations can and should do.

Moderator : Robert Spagnoletti, Chief Executive Office at The District of Columbia Bar

Panelists: 

• Sadina Montani, Past-President, D.C. Bar
• Leah Kosokowsky, Chief Executive Officer at The Law Society of Manitoba
• Edward Mapara, Executive Secretary at Law Society of Zimbabwe  
• Ian MacDougall, President of the LexisNexis Rule of Law Foundation and Member, Leadership Council of the World Justice Project

 12:30 - 13:15 

Lunch

13:15 - 14:30 

Rule of Law - Part 2

14:30 - 14:45

Refreshment Break

14:45 - 16:00 

Module 2: Law Associations and Government Regulation

Regulated, Regulator, or Both? Navigating the Complex Relationship Between Law Association and Government 

The relationship between law associations and the government is one of the most consequential — and contested — in the legal profession. This session examines that relationship across a range of regulatory models, from integrated bars with broad public mandates to voluntary associations operating alongside government-appointed regulators. We will explore how our organizations are responding to the burdens imposed by financial regulation and anti-money laundering regimes. Panelists will share how they are navigating these tensions — defending the independence of the profession while engaging constructively with governments on the issues that matter most to the public and the lawyers we serve.  

Moderator :  Ben Kemp, Chief Executive at The Law Society of Scotland

Panelists:  

• Naoko Yoshino, Secretary General at Japan Federation of Bar Associations
  
• Brenda Grimes, Executive Director at Law Society of Newfoundland
• Karsten Lauritzen CEO of the Danish Law Firm Association

.Group Dinner