However, after World War I"," European lawyers gradually realized the importance of helping certain bar associations modernise and build international contacts[1] In July 1925, lawyers from Belgium, France and Luxembourg initiated the "Union Internationale des Avocats" project, which came to fruition after two years of collaboration on July 8, 1927, in Charleroi, Belgium[2] The President of the Paris Bar Association, Georges Guillaumin,[3] was nominated as the Association’s first president.

Each year, one or more principal themes are established for the Congress, inciting national and international legal and economic experts to engage in fruitful debate.

[20] These summits permit bar association presidents to further the work initiated by the UN in diverse domains of international law.

Past Presidents: Since its creation, the UIA has organised annual congresses in locations all over the world for members and non-members to discuss legal topics in an international forum.

Carlo MASTELLONE, Italy : Sales-related issues not covered by the CISG: assignment, set-off, statute of limitation, etc., under Italian law Stefano DINDO, Italy : How to negotiate a cross-border business deal Jorge MARTI MORENO, Spain : Migration of companies within the World Trade Organization, European Union and worldwide Peter TURNER, UK : Ethics in International Arbitration James MOORE, USA : Economic globalization and its impact upon the legal profession Luis ZARRALUQUI, Spain : El arbitraje en Derecho de Familia en general y en España en particular – La problemática de los procesos en los procesos arbítrales Howard H. SPIEGLER, USA : Restitution of nazi-looted art: view from the United States Judith GIBSON, Australia: Detention after sentence Carolina PINA, Spain : Copyright in the digital age: from dadaism to mash-up Francis GERVAIS, Canada : Qui est le client ?

Francisco RAMOS ROMEU, Spain : El embargo internacional de créditos en la UE Janice MULLIGAN, USA : How would you like your Pacemaker to be hacked?

Healthcare cyber vulnerability: a risk management nightmare for the 21st century Maria CRONIN, UK (Special Mention – Young Lawyer) Ian DE FREITAS, UK : Towards an international regulatory approach for mass surveillance and profiling – Striking the balance between national security and privacy Barbara BANDIERA, Italy (Special Mention) From 2010 to 2017, Jacques Leroy Prize was awarded to a law student who, by his or her written submission, promoted the recognition of human rights in the business world.

Since 2016, UIA, in partnership with LexisNexis, acknowledges and publicises individuals and/or organisations for their commitment and actions to the development and promotion of the Rule of Law.