Divorce and Family partner Lisette Dupré spoke at the AIJA’s International Young Lawyers’ Annual Congress held from 3 to 7 September 2024 in Madrid. As well as speaking on a panel about billing and pricing across sectors and jurisdictions, Lisette attended several other sessions across the conference.

The theme of AIJA’s 62nd annual conference in Madrid was globalisation: globalisation of AIJA and the ever-increasing globalisation of legal practice. While private international law has been a core part of Lisette’s practice as an international family lawyer, it is right to say it is fast becoming a core part of every lawyer’s practice.

Opening keynote speaker

The keynote speaker for the opening plenary session was Adam Weiss, programme director for the non-governmental organisation ClientEarth. ClientEarth works to highlight and, ideally, change the working practices of big corporations where they have a Draconion impact on our planet and its resources. ClientEarth’s successes include exposing the greenwashing of some of the world’s biggest fossil fuel companies, bringing about the closure of Europe’s biggest coal plant and helping protect Africa’s last great rainforest from illegal logging.

If you were wondering what would make the greatest difference now to reduce our carbon footprint, in Adam’s view, it’s fewer cars. Adam believes the one thing we can do to reduce our carbon footprint now is to reduce the number of cars.

Opening ceremony

The opening ceremony at the beautiful Teatro Real comprised a stunning performance by some of the world’s best flamenco dancers and a thought-provoking address by Dr Alonso Puig, a physician for over 20 years and now an expert on mind-body medicine. Dr Puig’s message was for all professionals to remember the importance of humility as they become more senior.

Family law session and the complexities of surrogacy

The family law session considered the ever-increasing complexities of surrogacy. Technology has moved on considerably in the last 30 years and a child may now have as many as five parents. But that’s just the start. The huge divergence in attitudes across the globe to all aspects of modern families, be it unmarried couples, same-sex couples, marriage, divorce or parentage, means huge uncertainty surrounds international families embarking on starting a family.

There are no easy answers, but efforts are afoot. The Hague Conference is working on a parentage convention in the hope of addressing the difficulties concerning the establishment, contestation and recognition of children’s legal parentage.

Healthcare and life science

The life science lawyers held an interesting session that considered the disparity between states in accessing modern drugs. It discussed how lawyers are looking at precedents set in other jurisdictions to run arguments about how insurance companies or pharmaceutical companies use their discretion to pay for or waive drug fees.

Pricing and billing models

Lisette spoke at a session that looked at billing and pricing practices across sectors and jurisdictions. The trends and practices can vary hugely, with some models (such as some success fee arrangements) being outlawed in some countries. Understanding the practices of foreign lawyers is an essential part of working effectively and efficiently with them on cases and building strong, enduring relationships.

In conclusion, Lisette commented: “We are well and truly in the era of globalisation. Private international law is gaining in importance, and the need to appreciate how law and practice work in other jurisdictions has never been so important to a lawyer’s practice no matter their sector.”