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UK headquartered legal firms and chambers and UK based legal professionals are invited to apply to join the HM Government delegation to Toronto this November for the International Bar Association (IBA) Annual Conference 2025, delivered in partnership by the Ministry of Justice GREAT Legal Services campaign and Department for Business and Trade.
The delegation will provide UK legal professionals with access to a programme of activities including industry-leading roundtable discussions and exclusive networking events aimed at promoting UK legal services and growing UK businesses globally. The campaign has run a programme at the last three IBA annual conferences in Mexico City, Paris, and Miami, facilitating hundreds of business connections and supporting many business wins.
The IBA is the largest global legal event offering an unrivalled opportunity to connect with fellow professionals across the international legal sector and learn about the latest trends and developments. Our events are planned to capitalise on this. At a series of side events, we bring you together with individuals from across the globe as well as local legal and business professionals, whilst structuring our programme to allow you to attend and reap the benefits of the conference.
This programme will be delivered in collaboration with the Law Society of England & Wales and The Bar Council - as well as other expert partners. Our partners will provide guidance and support to delegates, including on how to get the most out of the IBA for those new to the conference. We ask any organisations interested in partnering with us to run an event to get in touch by emailing Matthew Readett for more information.
Our programme will explore the latest developments in the legal sector. We will be using the information provided in applications to help us plan and there will also be opportunity for you to shape the programme if your application is successful.
We welcome applications from SMEs, regional firms and those who may have not previously attended the IBA Annual Conference, as well as more established firms and chambers keen to grow their business.
Applications close 4 May 2025 at 23:59 BST.
Who we are?
This is a unique opportunity for UK legal professionals to be part of HMG’s flagship international marketing campaign, GREAT, offering you the potential to expand your network and grow your global profile with the support of the campaign.
The Department for Business and Trade are the department for economic growth. We support businesses to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities across the country.
GREAT Legal Services promotes the strength and breadth of UK legal services internationally, connecting UK professionals with counterparts across the world to support the development of mutually beneficial relationships and business partnerships. We achieve this primarily through a programme of in-person events, networking and engagement run in partnership with the sector. Previous programmes have taken place in destinations including Paris, Dubai, Miami, New York, Lagos, Singapore and Cape Town.
The Ministry of Justice is a major government department, at the heart of the justice system. We work to protect and advance the principles of justice. Our vision is to deliver a world-class justice system that works for everyone in society.
Why Toronto?
Toronto will host the IBA Annual Conference 2025. The largest city in Canada, and fourth largest city in North America , Toronto is one of the world leaders in business, finance, and technology and offers a diverse and dynamic business landscape. The city is Canada’s primary legal centre and home to the “Seven Sisters” leading firms in the country.
Canada offers considerable opportunities for UK law firms: its legal services market is worth around £14bn , English common law is used in most of the country, and it is also a member of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) which the UK recently joined.
The IBA Annual Conference will see more than 5000 at tendees from over 130 jurisdictions, and over 2700 law firms, corporations, governments, and regulators visit the capital looking to meet, share knowledge, build contacts and develop business. This delegation represents an easy and efficient way to amplify your firm’s attendance at this year’s event.
With UK legal services exports to Canada currently valued at nearly £150m, the IBA Annual Conference presents delegates with valuable opportunities to grow their share of this market.
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2-7 November 2025
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Here’s what two of our previous delegates have to say:
Charlotte Pope-Williams, 3 Hare Court:
"It was exceptionally helpful to meet individuals from a different jurisdiction and discuss opportunities for collaboration. I personally learned about facts and matters of which I was not aware of previously in respect of Mexico and financial services."
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Professor Mark-Watson Gandy, 3 Stone Chambers:
“Brilliant event. Such a useful opportunity to fly the flag for our legal services offering. Incredibly impressed by the energy, hard work and professionalism of the MoJ team. Thanks to contacts I made, I am now the “go to” advocate for a Dubai law firm – and, with the time difference, I can do my hearing before the DIFC courts on teams before I start work in the UK.”
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