Event Overview

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Seven years on from AIJA’s ground-breaking seminar, “The same sex family: ‘going global’”, LGBTQ+ individuals and families are more visible than ever before.  More countries have legalised same-sex marriage.  Trans voices are being heard as part of mainstream national and international conversations in ways that few could have predicted.

For all the progress that has been made, huge challenges remain.  71 jurisdictions currently criminalise private, consensual, same-sex sexual activity (and in 11 of those the death penalty is a possible sentence).  Fifteen jurisdictions criminalise the gender identity and/or expression of trans people.  Many others refuse to recognise same-sex family relationships at all, and countless challenges remain.

This seminar will explore:

  • same-sex marriage, civil partnerships and LGBT rights, including international developments in the last five years;
  • the developing law relating to financial claims upon separation, including an exploration of the role of gender in such claims;
  • trans issues;
  • LGBT issues in children cases;
  • surrogacy and immigration issues; and
  • wealth planning for international LGBT+ families.

 

Register for Thursday Gala Dinner only

AIJA Commissions involved
  • International Private Clients and Family Law

Programme

08:30 - 09:30

09:30 - 10:00

10:00 - 11:15


An update as to developments in recent years and a look at potential progress and challenges facing LGBT+ communities in relation to rights and recognition.

Moderator:
John Davies, Farrer & Co LLP, UNITED KINGDOM 

Speakers:
  • Scott Halliday, Irwin Mitchell, UNITED KINGDOM
  • Paul van Lange, Voogt Advokaten, NETHERLANDS
  • Sandra Strahm, Schwärzler Rechtsanwälte, SWITZERLAND
  • Melanie Burtscher, Schwärzler Rechtsanwälte, LIECHTENSTEIN
11:15 - 11:45

11:45 - 13:00


A panel discussion considering whether courts are gender blind when it comes to financial disputes on divorce or relationship breakdown.  What if the claim is made following the breakdown of a same-sex relationship?  Does that make any difference to the way the financially weaker/claimant party is treated in practice?

Moderator:
Jennifer Wilkie, Burness Paull, UNITED KINGDOM

Speakers:
  • Rachael Kelsey, SKO Family Law Specialists, UNITED KINGDOM
  • Frances Auchincloss Goldsmith, Libra Avocats, FRANCE
  • Roxane Reiser, 1 Hare Court, UNITED KINGDOM/SWITZERLAND
13:00 - 14:00

14:00 - 15:15


A panel discussion considering what considerations there might be when acting for members of LGBTQ+ families in different jurisdictions (including in jurisdictions where marriage is not open to them).  This discussion will also consider how “neutral” tax law is so far as it relates to LGBTQ+ issues and whether there are tax burdens which are more likely to affect LGBTQ+ people.

  • Hannah Mantle, Forsters LLP, UNITED KINGDOM
  • Ruth A Mattson, Verrill Dana, USA
  • Catherine Kavadze, MLL, SWITZERLAND
  • Valentin Todorow, Raue, GERMANY
  • Julien Tron, SWITZERLAND (Moderator)
15:15 - 15:45

15:45 - 17:00


A session considering issues relating to LGBTQ+ pensions, including the extent to which the type of partnership determines the pension rights of partners and spouses.  Do partners have the same pension rights as spouses?  Is a less strict approach conceivable?  What about LGBTQ+ partners in jurisdictions where marriage is not open to them?

Moderator:
Ferenc Ballegeer, FB-tax, Belgium

Speakers:
  • Inès Amar, Libra Avocats, France 
  • Julius Berling, Mishcon de Reya, United Kingdom 
  • Matthijs Roest Crollius, Doorn &  Keizer, The Netherlands 
  • Lucy Chebout, Raue, Germany
17:00

19:15 - 22:30


• Embark: 19.15 at Westminster Pier
• Disembark: 22.30 at Westminster Pier

09:00 - 09:30

09:30 - 10:45


Moderators:
Emma Holland and Jenny Duggan, Stewarts, UNITED KINGDOM 

Speakers:
  • Berangere Diot, Cadiou & Barbe FRANCE
  • Andrea Dorjee-Good, Schellenberg Wittmer, SWITZERLAND
  • Carolina Marin Pedreno, Dawson Cornwell, UNITED KINGDOM/SPAIN
  • Fernanda Machado, BRAZIL
10:45 - 11:15

11:15 - 12:15


A discussion concerning the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ asylum seekers fleeing persecution.

  • Malini Skandachanmugarasan, UNITED KINGDOM
  • Moud Goba, UNITED KINGDOM
12:15 - 13:15


An introduction to LGBTQ+ paths to parenthood, including international and domestic adoption, surrogacy and assisted reproduction.  This session will explore the various options in different jurisdictions.

Moderator:
Katie Newbury, Kingsley Napley, UNITED KINGDOM

Speakers:
  • Connie Atkinson, Kingsley Napley, UNITED KINGDOM
  • Veronica Dindo, ITALY
  • Lieven Vandendriessche, BELGIUM
13:15 - 14:30

14:30 - 15:30


An introduction to the trans* space designed for audiences coming to the subject for the first time.
15:30 - 16:00

16:00 - 17:00


An exploration of the approach of the court to child welfare issues involving gender identity in different jurisdictions.  The role of parents, medical professionals, schools and the state.

  • Niamh Ni Ghairbhia, Garvey Avocats, FRANCE
  • John Davies, Farrer & Co LLP, UNITED KINGDOM
  • Katie Fudakowski, Farrer & Co LLP, UNITED KINGDOM
  • Kristin Doeberl, Verrill Dana, USA
  • Scott Halliday, Irwin Mitchel, UNITED KINGDOM
17:00

19:30



* Payable onsite

10:00 - 16:00


You will be able to visit a free museum which has opened in Kings Cross on Queer Britain: https://queerbritain.org.uk/ 

Fees & General Info

There are currently no registration fees available.

General terms and conditions

By registering you have to accept the general terms and conditions and accept that your registration is considered binding immediately, but participation to the event is possible only after full payment of the registration fee.

Please note that any arrangements related to the participation of the participant in an AIJA event, including but not limited to booking or cancellation of accommodation or flights, as well as respecting the cancellation deadlines indicated in the general terms and conditions, are the sole responsibility of the participant. AIJA shall not be held liable for any expenses the participant may suffer as the result of participant’s failure to comply with his/her obligations.

It is recommended for each participant to purchase a cancellation and travel insurance.

Please note that in-house counsel registrations are subject to review and confirmation by AIJA. AIJA considers in-house counsel professionals who hold a university degree in law allowing access to a bar association and practicing law as an in-house counsel in private, public, or non-profit companies, institutions or organisations. Please note that in-house counsel who are at the same time active as fee-earning lawyers or consultants are not eligible to the discounted in-house counsel fee.

Please read the general terms and conditions applicable for AIJA events.

Scholarships

If you are a lawyer under 35 years old and meet the requirements, apply to our Scholarship Programme for this event. You can check more details here.

Practical Information

Seminar Venue

The seminar will be taking place at Friends House. 

Friends House is a meeting and event space in Euston, London. They are one of just a few London venues to be Green Tourism Gold accredited.

The venue is located in the city centre very close to Regent Park and the British Museum. 

Contact details:

Address: 173-177 Euston Road, NW1 2BJ , London 
Phone: +44 (0)20 7663 1100
Email: events@quaker.org.uk 

Friends House_Pic

 

Accommodation

We have negotiated special rates for the participants of the seminar with Ambassadors Bloomsbury Hotel:

  • Before 26 May 2022, the preferred rate for those registered to the AIJA seminar will be £ 199.00.
  • After 26 May 2022, the rate for those registered to the AIJA seminar will be 10% discount from best available rate the hotel will be selling at that time of the bookings
  • AIJA participants will also benefit from a 10% discount in food and beverage when staying at the hotel.

When booking your accommodation, please use the 3rd Party Authorization form and email to reservations@ambassadors.co.uk quoting  "Friends House" to get the preferred rate.

Rates are per room, per night, taxes and  breakfast.

Please note that rooms will be allocated on a first come first served basis according to availability and that we have the special rates until 26 May 2022.

Room Pic

Organising Committee

Ferenc BALLEGEER
Ferenc BALLEGEER FB-tax (BELGIUM)
John DAVIES
John DAVIES Farrer & Co (UNITED KINGDOM)
Katie NEWBURY
Katie NEWBURY Kingsley Napley LLP (UNITED KINGDOM)
Julien TRON
Julien TRON MLL Legal Ltd (SWITZERLAND)
Jennifer WILKIE
Jennifer WILKIE Burness Paull LLP (UNITED KINGDOM)

Sponsors

Become a sponsor

Partnership with AIJA as a sponsor provides the best networking opportunities in a relaxed business environment.
If you have any questions, contact us on ‘Become a sponsor’ and check for more opportunities.

Become a sponsor More about sponsorship

Personal Protection

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Your data will be managed by AIJA's General Services, Events and Accounts Section:

  • For the purpose of administering your registration for the event and your on-site access to the event;
  • In order to pay for the selected services - your bank details will be deleted after receipt of your payment;
  • In order to communicate information messages from AIJA.

To the extent necessary for the execution of their respective tasks, our subcontractors in charge of our seminar organisation, our IT infrastructure, our management, the production and maintenance of our website and extranet, are likely to gain access to your data from time to time. Their servers are located in the European Union.

Data relating to your participation in the event shall be stored for a period of 10 years. We are obliged to archive billing data until the end of the period required for our tax and accounting obligations, i.e. for 7 full tax years.

We shall store your contact information to keep you informed until you ask us to stop. You have the right to access your data and have it corrected if necessary.