Chaired by ELI President Teresa Rodríguez de las Heras Ballell, the Forum brought together Dean Spielmann, Advocate General at the Court of Justice of the European Union; Julie Couturier, President of the French National Bar Council; Roman Završek, President of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE); and Christoph Henrichs, Chair of the European Committee on Legal Co-operation.

Among other things, Advocate General Spielmann addressed the judicial perspective and the importance of independent lawyers for fair trial rights. Couturier turned to challenges faced by lawyers in practice and experience at national bar level, while Završek considered trends across Europe and the role of bar associations in defending professional independence.

Henrichs examined international standards, with particular attention to the Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer, having chaired the Committee of Experts responsible for drafting the Convention.

The broader discussion considered threats to lawyers’ independence, safety and professional secrecy; the consequences for fair trial rights and judicial independence; and the potential of international standards to strengthen protection in national legal systems.