The Inter-Pacific Bar Association is an association of business and commercial lawyers who live in, or otherwise have a strong interest in, the Asia-Pacific region. The growth of the IPBA has been spurred by the tremendous growth of the Asian economies. As companies and businesses throughout this region become more deeply involved in the Asia-Pacific regional economy as well as in the global econ
omy, they require expert legal assistance and guidance from lawyers in their home countries as well as from lawyers throughout the region and even beyond. The IPBA helps lawyers to keep abreast of business and commercial legal and related developments that affect their clients. Equally important, the IPBA provides important opportunities for business and commercial lawyers throughout the region to network with lawyers of similar and related interests and fields of practice. The IPBA's principal activities include its Annual Meeting and Conference, which provides a unique opportunity for lawyers through the Asia-Pacific Region to discuss legal, business and policy issues affecting this Region in a manner that fosters collegiality and the development of close personal and professional relationships that enhance legal practice opportunities and professional networking. These annual meetings and conferences are held in different venues, which have included Tokyo, Manila, Delhi, Hong Kong, Bali, Sydney and Beijing as well as Vancouver, San Francisco and Los Angeles. This affords IPBA members special opportunities to become acquainted with legal systems, lawyers and key leaders in countries throughout the Region and beyond. The IPBA also holds a mid-year meeting devoted to its business affairs as well as a conference on current substantive legal issues. It publishes the quarterly IPBA Journal, whose articles written by IPBA members provide timely information and analyses of current national and Regional legal developments of special interest to practitioners. The substantive work of the IPBA is undertaken by its various committees, which provide important opportunities for IPBA members to contribute to the development of the law and legal systems and processes within the Region through developing and conducting substantive programs at the IPBA's annual and mid-year meetings as well as conferences, the publication of surveys of areas of law or analyses of particular civil or commercial laws that could lead to concrete recommendations for improvements, and the conduct of programs to improve the capabilities of lawyers and law firms in the Region to assist their clients in an increasingly globalized economy. IPBA practice area committees currently encompass aviation; banking, finance and securities; competition; cross-border investment; dispute resolution and arbitration; employment and immigration; energy and natural resources, environment; insolvency; insurance; intellectual property; international construction projects; international trade; legal practice; maritime; tax; and technology and communications. Other IPBA committees include publications; membership; corporate counsel; women business lawyers; scholarship; legal training and development; constitutional review; long-range strategic planning; and website development. New committees may be formed as legal practice areas emerge or evolve or organizational development occur. The IPBA enjoys the support of major national bar associations, law societies and other organizations throughout the Region, which have helped it play a continuing and significant role in fostering ties and relationships among its members and others engaged in legal and business matters within this Region.
