The European Association of Lawyers (AEA-EAL), in cooperation with the National Bar Council of Attorneys-at-Law (KIRP), is pleased to announce that an International Conference will be held on 25–26 September 2026 in Warsaw, Poland, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of AEA-EAL and the 30th anniversary of KIRP’s membership in the Association.

We are honored that the Council of Europe will join the event as a strategic partner.

The Conference will bring together lawyers and representatives of bar associations from across Europe and beyond to reflect on the history and achievements of AEA-EAL, while engaging in forward-looking discussions on the future of the legal profession and international cooperation.

The programme will focus on two key thematic areas:

• The Convention for the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer – European standards and national challenges;
• Environmental Law through the Lens of Human Rights, including access to justice and strategic litigation.

The working language of the Conference will be English.
Further details regarding the programme, venue, and registration will be shared in due course.

We warmly invite you to mark your calendars and join us in Warsaw for this distinguished anniversary event.

On 22 April 2026, the European Association of Lawyers (AEA-EAL)’s Mediation Committee organised and successfully conducted an online webinar titled “AI & Current Challenges in Mediation”. The event brought together mediators, legal professionals, and experts from across Europe to discuss the rapidly evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in mediation and dispute resolution.

Participants engaged in a panel discussion featuring distinguished speakers, including experienced mediators and academics who shared insights on the implications of AI in mediation. Topics ranged from AI-assisted negotiation strategies to concerns about transparency, fairness, and professional responsibility in AI-supported processes. The programme also included an interactive Q&A session, providing attendees an opportunity to pose questions and contribute to the ongoing dialogue on this cutting-edge topic.

In addition to highlighting technological opportunities, speakers emphasised the importance of maintaining key mediation principles – such as neutrality, confidentiality, and human-centred decision-making – in an increasingly digitised legal environment.

Special thanks were extended to Irakli Kandashvili, Chair of the Mediation Committee, for his leadership and contribution to the organisation of the webinar, as well as to all speakers and participants for their active engagement.

The successful conduct of the webinar reaffirmed AEA-EAL’s commitment to fostering professional dialogue at the intersection of law, technology, and alternative dispute resolution.

The AEA-EAL Mediation Committee is pleased to invite you to save the date for an upcoming online webinar: AI & Current Challenges in Mediation.

Date: 22 April 2026
Time: 17:00 CET
Platform: Zoom

Registration

Kindly confirm your participation by 15 April 2026 by sending an email to: office@aea-eal.eu

Further details and the Zoom link will be shared with registered participants.

We very much look forward to your valued participation.

See the program below.

The AEA-EAL Deontology Committee successfully held its online webinar, “Lawyers, Deontology and AI: Can those Match Together?”, on 19 March 2026 via Zoom.

The session brought together distinguished legal professionals to explore the evolving relationship between legal ethics and artificial intelligence, addressing key questions of responsibility, liability, and ethical safeguards in modern legal practice. The discussion featured insightful contributions from leading experts and concluded with an engaging Q&A session.

The webinar was opened by Mr. David Asatiani, who welcomed participants and highlighted the importance of addressing the ethical implications of AI in the legal profession. The programme featured contributions from leading experts, including Mr. Nielson Sanchez-Stewart on the applicability of deontological principles to AI, Mr. Jean-Louis Collart on lawyers’ liability when using AI systems, Mr. Alex Tallon on ethical principles such as fairness and transparency, and Mr. Iain G. Mitchell KC on the risks and opportunities of AI in court submissions.

Special thanks are extended to Mr. Nielson Sanchez-Stewart for chairing the webinar and for his valuable leadership in advancing this important discussion.

The AEA-EAL expresses its sincere appreciation to all speakers and participants for their active engagement and contribution to the success of the event.

The AEA-EAL Deontology Committee is pleased to invite you to save the date for an upcoming online webinar:

 Lawyers, Deontology and AI: Can those Match Together?

🗓 Date: 19 March 2026
🕔 Time: 17:00 CEST
💻 Platform: Zoom

This timely discussion will explore the intersection between professional ethics and the growing use of artificial intelligence in legal practice, addressing both theoretical and practical dimensions of responsibility, liability, and ethical safeguards.

Registration

Kindly confirm your participation by 10 March 2026 by sending an email to: 📧 office@aea-eal.eu

Further details and the Zoom link will be shared with registered participants.

We very much look forward to your valued participation.

See the program below.

On October 24, 2025, the University of Gdańsk hosted the International Conference on “The Right to an Adequate Quality Environment and Its Protection: Perspectives of the Public Sector, Entrepreneurs and Individuals.”

The event was co-organized by the Gdańsk Bar Association of Attorneys-at-Law and the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Gdańsk, in collaboration with the European Association of Lawyers (AEA-EAL).

The conference brought together 20 distinguished speakers from around the world — including representatives from Indonesia, France, Belgium, and Georgia — spanning academia, legal practice, government, NGOs, and the business sector. Among the speakers were representatives of the Council of Europe, the European Court of Human Rights, and the European Association of Lawyers (AEA-EAL). AEA-EAL was represented by Immediate Past President Maria Ślązak, Chairman of the Sustainable Development Law Commission Giorgi Tshekhani, Attorney at Law Magdalena Witkowska, and Attorney at Law Patrick Van Cauwenberghe.

Beyond the formal sessions, participants enjoyed valuable opportunities for networking and exchange, exploring avenues for future cooperation. The conference underscored the crucial role of collaboration among academia, lawyers, NGOs, and governmental institutions in advancing environmental protection — a key challenge for the legal profession in the 21st century.

The Council of the District Chamber of Legal Advisers in Gdańsk and the European Association of Lawyers (AEA-EAL) invite you to attend the International Conference – „The right to appropriate environmental quality and its protection – the perspective of the public sector, entrepreneurs and individuals”.

When: October 24, 2025

Where: Faculty of Law and Administration, University of Gdańsk, Jana Bażyńskiego Street 6, Gdańsk

>Click here to view the detailed program.

The European Association of Lawyers (AEA-EAL) and the Georgian Bar Association invite you to attend the International Conference entitled “The Convention for the Protection of the Legal Profession as an Effective Pathway to Safeguarding the Rule of Law”.

When: November 8, 2025

Where: Pullman Tbilisi Axis Towers, Tbilisi, Georgia

Click here to view the detailed program.

The President of the European Association of Lawyers (AEA-EAL), David Asatiani, delievered a speech at the international conference “The Independent Legal Profession – A Pillar of the Rule of Law,” which took place on October 12, in Chișinău, the capital of Moldova.

🔸 During the event, David Asatiani shared insights on the contemporary challenges facing the legal profession. He underscored the significance of unity, independence, and international solidarity among lawyers, which are essential for upholding and strengthening the rule of law. In addition, he provided an in-depth discussion on the crucial role of initial and continuous legal training in maintaining the standards and quality of the profession.

🔸  The conference brought together the Presidents of Bar Associations from France, Belgium, Poland, Ukraine, Germany, and Romania, and provided an excellent opportunity for professional exchange and networking.

🔸 Within the framework of the conference, a thorough discussion took place on the Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer, with particular emphasis on the importance of its ratification by all European countries.

On July 10, 2025, the Annual General Assembly of the European Association of Lawyers (AEA-EAL) was held, during which a new member of the Board of Directors was elected. Mr. Michał Widawski, Attorney at Law (Radca Prawny) and member of the Gdańsk Bar Association of Attorneys at Law (Poland), has joined the Board of AEA-EAL.

In professional career he holds a position of a Managing Partner at the Law Firm in Gdańsk and serves as general counsel in one of companies operating in CEE region. Beyond his primary responsibilities, he is involved in the corporate governance of other companies in Poland and actively collaborates with local and international organizations, NGOs, and academic institutions. His professional experience includes specialization in corporate law, M&A, due diligence, and the succession and restructuring of family-owned and international businesses. Michał directly works for international capital groups, and represents clients in civil, administrative, criminal, and commercial disputes.

Since 2012, Mr. Widawski has been serving as a member of the Permanent Commission for International Cooperation at the Gdańsk Bar Association of Attorneys at Law. Over the years, he has taken part as a speaker and delegate in numerous legal events across Europe and internationally. He also serves as a delegate in both regional and national elections to the Polish Bar Association of Attorneys at Law.

Mr. Widawski’s cooperation with the Association dates back to 2019, when he co-organized and participated as a speaker in the “Twinning of Lawyers” event held in Gdańsk, representing his Bar Association. He remains a strong advocate for the continuation of this initiative, launched by the immediate past President of AEA-EAL, Maria Ślązak.

His extensive experience and dedication to international legal cooperation will further strengthen the mission and activities of AEA-EAL.