Elections
From 27 August 2026 09:00 CEST to 28 August 2026 11:30 CEST (First Vice-President, Secretary General, Executive Committee)
On 28 August 2026 from 10:30 to 11:30 CEST (General Assembly resolutions)
FOR AIJA MEMBERS
AIJA members can vote for…
AIJA First Vice-President
VALERIO SCOLLO
VALERIO SCOLLO
The interview with the candidate, Valerio Scollo, will be scheduled to take place in Vienna on Wednesday 26 August from 14:45 to 15:30 CEST.
From 27 August 2026 09:00 CEST to 28 August 2026 11:30 CEST, AIJA members will be able to vote electronically for the First Vice-President of AIJA.
AIJA Secretary General
ZOYA GYUROVA
ZOYA GYUROVA
From 27 August 2026 09:00 CEST to 28 August 2026 11:30 CEST, AIJA members will be able to vote electronically for the Secretary General of the association.
AIJA Executive Committee
From 27 August 2026 09:00 CEST to 28 August 2026 11:30 CEST, AIJA members will be able to vote electronically for the new Executive Committee members of AIJA.
To formally submit your application, please send your completed and signed candidacy form to elections@aija.org, and ensure the following requirements are met:
- To be eligible to run, you must yourself be an AIJA individual member with voting rights, i.e., under 45 on 28 August 2026 and up to date with your membership fee;
- The form must be signed by at least 5 different AIJA members who support your candidacy (you may include one additional “reserve” signature);
- The individual AIJA members signing in support of your candidacy must have full voting rights, meaning they must be 45 or younger on the date of the General Assembly (28 August 2026) and have paid their membership fee for 2026;
- Signatures can be collected on separate forms, but they must be submitted together via email to elections@aija.org
- The final deadline for submitting the application is Wednesday, 26 August 2026 at 18:00 CEST.
We look forward to receiving your applications and seeing many of you take part in shaping the future of AIJA.
AIJA Executive committee candidates
Johannes Bammer
Partner, Binder Grösswang,
Vienna, Austria
Johannes Bammer is a partner in the firm’s employment law team and has many years of experience advising national and international clients on all aspects of employment law as well as employment law disputes. In addition, he deals with compliance with data protection law.
Tomasz Baron
Partner — TIGGES
Poland
Tomasz Baron, LL.M. is a Partner at TIGGES, a German and Polish law firm with offices in Düsseldorf, Warsaw and Katowice. Admitted as a radca prawny in Poland and as a lawyer in Germany, he advises clients on cross-border corporate, M&A, employment and commercial law matters between Germany and Poland.
Tomasz holds law degrees from Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań and the European University Viadrina in Frankfurt (Oder). For more than ten years, he has been assisting companies with international transactions, restructurings, market entries and complex cross-border projects. He also serves on supervisory bodies of commercial companies and acts as a judge of the disciplinary court of the Polish-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
Since joining AIJA, Tomasz has found in the association far more than a professional network. As a lawyer working daily on cross-border matters, he highly values the opportunity to exchange ideas with colleagues from different jurisdictions, develop lasting friendships and build trusted professional relationships across the world. He has actively contributed to AIJA as a moderator and session coordinator at international events in Rio de Janeiro and Vienna and is particularly passionate about strengthening connections between members and promoting cross-border cooperation. He also actively encourages colleagues and peers to engage with AIJA and become part of its international community.
By joining the Executive Committee, Tomasz would like to contribute his international perspective, his experience in bringing together lawyers from different legal cultures and his enthusiasm for further growing the AIJA community.
Leonardo Carvalho
Senior Partner, BVA – Barreto Veiga Advogados
Brazil
Leonardo Carvalho leads BVA’s Litigation, Labor & Employment, and Social Security practices as a senior partner.
With more than 20 years of experience in these fields, he is widely recognized as one of Brazil’s leading Labor & Employment lawyers and one of the country’s foremost practitioners in Employee Incentive Plans. He has consistently been ranked Band 1 by Chambers, the directory’s highest individual distinction for two consecutive years.
Leonardo represents large corporations, financial institutions, middle-market companies, senior executives, and statutory officers. Throughout his career, he has handled thousands of labor disputes, negotiations, and judicial proceedings, including matters involving the Brazilian Labor Prosecutor’s Office (Ministério Público do Trabalho), labor unions, and industry associations.
He also has extensive experience designing and implementing Stock Option Plans, Partnership Programs, Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), and other long-term incentive arrangements in Brazil and internationally, advising both domestic and international clients across a broad range of industries.
Leonardo holds an LL.M. in Labor Law from the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo (PUC-SP) and has completed several postgraduate and executive programs in labor, civil procedure, and social security law. In 2026, Leonardo has completed the Leadership in Law Firms program at Harvard University.
In addition to his Labor & Employment practice, Leonardo advises clients on complex commercial litigation, primarily involving corporate and contractual disputes, including non-compete obligations, controlling shareholder abuse, minority shareholder rights, enforcement of shareholders’ agreements, earn-out disputes, contractual breaches, and related matters. In 2026, he was recognized by Chambers in the Dispute Resolution: Mid-Market ranking.
He is a member of the International Bar Association (IBA), the International Association of Young Lawyers (AIJA), IR Global, and the Labor Law Research Group (NETPUC) at PUC-SP.
Paul-Henry Devèze
Founder, Devèze Avocat
Paris, France
Paul-Henry Devèze is the founder of Devèze Avocat in Paris, where his practice focuses on EU regulatory law and product compliance for regulated industries, in particular life sciences and food.
Paul-Henry has been a member of AIJA since 2023 and is actively involved in several commissions, notably in the Healthcare & Life Sciences Commission and IP/TMT commissions. He has contributed to several AIJA events as a speaker and is part of the Organising Committee of the 2027 AIJA Francophone Conference in Lyon.
Through his involvement in AIJA, Paul-Henry has particularly valued the openness of the association and the opportunity to build lasting personal and professional connections with lawyers from different jurisdictions.
Having experienced first-hand how much AIJA gives back to those who invest in it, he is standing for the Executive Committee to play a more active role in the association and contribute to its continued development.
Oksana Domina
Partner, BG2V
Paris, France
I am a Partner at BG2V, a full-service Paris-based law firm with more than 65 lawyers, where I lead a practice focused on M&A, Corporate, Private Equity and Commercial Litigation matters. I advise French and international clients on domestic and cross-border transactions, corporate reorganisations, shareholder disputes and strategic investments.
I also head the firm’s Ukrainian Department, assisting Ukrainian businesses and investors with their activities and projects in France and across Europe, while supporting French companies and investors involved in reconstruction and investment projects in Ukraine.
With more than 10 years of experience in both the French and international markets, I have developed a strong interest in cross-border work and international business relationships. Beyond my legal practice, I enjoy connecting with people from different cultures, sharing experiences and building long-term professional relationships.
Cristina Enaga
Counsel, Schoenherr Romania
Roumanie
As a Counsel at Schoenherr Bucharest with over 15 years of experience in Corporate/M&A and Real Estate, I have advised domestic and international clients on complex cross-border transactions across Central and South-Eastern Europe. I believe I bring a powerful combination to the Executive Committee: the fresh perspective and enthusiasm of a new AIJA member backed by substantial professional seniority. This positions me well to contribute meaningfully to the Executive Committee.
My action plan for AIJA:
- Grow CEE Presence — I will leverage my extensive regional network to attract new members and strengthen AIJA’s footprint in high-potential, developing jurisdictions;
- Boost Cross-Commission Collaboration — fostering greater interaction between AIJA’s commissions and working groups as modern legal practice is multidisciplinary; and
- Keep the network inclusive – since joining AIJA, I have been impressed by the warmth and inclusiveness of its community. I am committed to playing an active part in its continued growth ensuring that young and senior lawyers alike feel welcome, empowered to thrive and ready to benefit from this exceptional network.
Philip Exenberger
Partner, DORDA
Vienna, Austria
Philip Exenberger is a legal professional at DORDA, specializing in international commercial arbitration and cross-border litigation. He joined DORDA’s Dispute Resolution team in 2011 and has expertise in complex disputes, particularly in construction-related matters. Philip is also recognized for his extensive experience managing evidentiary proceedings and is an author of multiple publications on commercial arbitration. He has been promoted to Partner within the firm and is a member of the Young Austrian Arbitration Practitioners and the International Young Lawyers Association.
Caroline Fort
Senior Associate, Arendt & Medernach
Luxembourg
I am a Senior Associate in the Employment Law, Pensions & Benefits practice of Arendt & Medernach (Luxembourg) and a dual-qualified lawyer, admitted to practice in Luxembourg and the State of New York.
I advise employers on individual and collective employment law matters, from day-to-day advisory work to employment-related litigation, including matters arising from corporate restructurings and mergers and acquisitions, such as transfers of undertakings. My expertise also extends to emerging workplace challenges, including ESG considerations, workplace harassment, and remuneration policies.
I have been an engaged member of AIJA since 2021, contributing as a member of the organising committee for the Luxembourg Half Year Conference held in November 2024. I have served on the Executive Committee from 2023 to 2026, a period during which the EC’s role and involvement within the association have grown considerably. Building on this experience, I am seeking re-election to the Executive Committee to continue contributing to and supporting the increasing impact of the Committee’s work.
Eva Gargya
Counsel, Oppenheim Law Firm
Hungary
Eva Gargya is a Hungarian attorney-at-law and Counsel at Oppenheim Law Firm in Budapest, where she has been working since 2013. Her practice focuses primarily on corporate and M&A law, as well as corporate-related dispute resolution. She advises both Hungarian and international clients on corporate transactions and represents clients in complex contentious and non-contentious matters.
Eva graduated from Eötvös Loránd University Faculty of Law and also studied at KU Leuven in Belgium. She was admitted to the Budapest Bar Association in 2013.
Eva has been a member of AIJA since 2023. A particularly important milestone in her AIJA journey was the Winter Seminar in Courmayeur in January 2026, where she participated as a speaker for the first time. The experience inspired her to become increasingly active within the Association and to contribute more to its community.
For Eva, AIJA has become much more than a professional network. It is an international community that brings together professional exchange, shared experiences and genuine friendships. She is now keen to take the next step, contribute her ideas, experience and energy to the life of the Association, and give back to a community that has already given her so much.
Alexander Goebel
Senior Associate chez Niederer Kraft Frey,
Zurich, Suisse
Alexander Goebel is a Senior Associate with Niederer Kraft Frey in Zurich, Switzerland, focusing on M&A (including VC and PE) as well as technology law – and, alongside his practice, on how AI and legal tech are changing the way lawyers work.
Alexander joined AIJA in 2021, and it has long since become far more than a professional network to him. Attending three to four events a year, he has spoken at and moderated panels at seminars and congresses throughout the years, served on the Organising Committee of the 2023 M&A Winter seminar and, most recently, of the 2026 VC seminar in Berlin, where he also moderated a panel on alternative financing and US flips. What keeps him coming back are the people: colleagues across jurisdictions who have become trusted counterparts on cross-border matters and, just as importantly, genuine friends.
Alexander was elected to the Executive Committee last year for a one-year term. That first year confirmed how much of the AIJA spirit depends on the work happening behind the scenes and Alexander looks forward to contributing even more to this fantastic association.”
Torsten Groß
HEUKING
Düsseldorf Germany
I have been part of AIJA for more than ten years, and it has become much more than a professional network to me. Through conferences, seminars, and countless conversations, I have built lasting friendships and trusted professional relationships across jurisdictions. Along the way, I have had the pleasure of contributing to AIJA as both a speaker and moderator, and I look forward to moderating again at the conference in Prague this year.
AIJA has given me so much over the years, and I would be honoured to give back as a member of the Executive Committee. I am particularly passionate about creating low-barrier opportunities for younger lawyers and first-time attendees, helping them discover the unique spirit that makes AIJA such a special community.
My international outlook was shaped early on. I studied law in Münster (Germany), in Lyon (France), returned to Germany to complete my law degree, and later pursued an international LL.M. in London alongside lawyers from all over the world. Today, I am a Salaried Partner at HEUKING in Düsseldorf, Germany, advising clients on employment and immigration, with a particular focus on global mobility. My work involves supporting multinational groups, foreign companies entering the German market, and established businesses employing international talent. Navigating the intersection of different legal systems, business cultures, and workforce challenges is at the core of my daily practice.
Nathalie Herzog
Senior Associate chez Wenger Plattner
Zurich, Suisse
As a Senior Associate at Wenger Plattner in Zurich, my practice focuses on commercial litigation and arbitration, representing domestic and international clients in complex disputes before state courts and arbitral tribunals. My legal studies at the University of Fribourg led to a Bachelor and Master of Law, followed by admission to the Swiss bar in 2019 and an LL.M. in Comparative and European Private Law from the University of Edinburgh in 2024.
Since joining AIJA in 2022, I have had the opportunity to participate in seminars, Half-Year Conferences and Annual Congresses across different continents. These experiences have given me the chance to discover AIJA not only as an international professional network, but as a community that I genuinely value. International exchange has been close to my heart since my high-school exchange year. What makes AIJA particularly special to me is the combination of meaningful professional connections with a genuinely relaxed atmosphere. Whether at a seminar, over dinner or during a Day Out, connections are made in a way that feels natural rather than formal. Above all, it is the strong sense of community that I value most.
After several years as a participant, I now feel ready to take the next step and contribute more actively to an organisation that has given me so much. As a member of the Executive Committee, I would like to support AIJA’s continued international growth while preserving its spirit, encourage younger and new members to get involved early, and create opportunities to connect both professionally and beyond. AIJA has given me an international network, memorable experiences and a community I am proud to be part of. I would be delighted to give something back.
Jan Hüniken
Corporate/M&A lawyer, GvW Graf von Westphalen
Frankfurt, Germany
Jan Hüniken is a corporate/M&A lawyer at GvW Graf von Westphalen in Frankfurt (Germany) specializing in cross-border M&A. Jan joined AIJA in 2022 and has been actively participating in numerous events as well as being a speaker and moderator in the past.
Natalia Kabacinska
Counsel, WKB Lawyers
Poland
Natalia Kabacinska (WKB Lawyers, Poland) I am a counsel in the Dispute Resolution team at WKB Lawyers (Warsaw, Poland), where I focus on litigation and arbitration, with a particular emphasis on cross-border proceedings.
I have been an active AIJA member for three years, attending several events a year and regularly taking on speaker and moderator roles. For a lawyer whose daily work involves multi-jurisdictional disputes, AIJA has proved invaluable – the friendships I have built along the way have become a true professional lifeline, and being able to reach a trusted colleague in virtually any jurisdiction within minutes is something I genuinely treasure. AIJA has made me a better lawyer and given me a much deeper understanding of how legal systems work beyond my own.
I am also passionate about growing our community – I actively encourage new members to join and have a strong track record of doing so. I hope to contribute even more as a member of the Executive Committee.
Aishwarya Kaushiq
BTG Advaya
New Delhi
Aishwarya Kaushiq is a Partner at BTG Advaya, New Delhi, specialising in cross-border disputes, international arbitration and investigations. He advises Indian businesses expanding overseas and international companies operating in India. Through BTG Advaya’s wider practice, he also helps clients navigate cross-border transactions, market entry, data privacy, tax and employment law, providing coordinated legal support in India.
He is ranked Excellent for Dispute Resolution by various international legal directories. He writes on dispute resolution for platforms including Forbes, Bar & Bench, Mondaq and the International Bar Association, and often contrubites to newspapers and journals on legal and regulatory issues.
Frederik Laevens
MVVP
Belgium
I’m a Belgian lawyer who first got a taste of AIJA at the Paris conference in December 2023. What quickly became clear is that AIJA is much more than an international network of lawyers; it is a community built around connecting, exchanging ideas and enjoying time together.
Since becoming a member in 2024, getting increasingly involved has been a natural next step. Most recently, this included organising and moderating a panel at the Half-Year Conference in Bruges on the legal challenges surrounding drones, bringing together perspectives from defence, industry and the legal profession.
That experience only strengthened my desire to contribute further. Standing for election to the Executive Committee is an opportunity to bring my energy, enthusiasm and ideas to an organisation that has already given me great friendships, memorable experiences and an international community I am proud to be part of.
And, of course, here’s to many more AIJA conferences, discussions, dinners and late nights along the way!
İsmail Mert Şanlı
Founding Partner, Vardar Şanlı
Türkiye
İsmail Mert Şanlı is the Founding Partner of Vardar Şanlı, where his practice focuses on international litigation, arbitration, financial crime and global asset recovery. He has been actively involved in AIJA since 2023 and is a member of the Business Crime and Civil Fraud, Corporate and M&A, Environmental and Energy Law, and Litigation Commissions. Since joining the Association, he has maintained a strong and consistent level of engagement, contributing to its academic and professional programmes in different capacities, including as a speaker and moderator. He is also a member of the Organising Committee for the Mediterranean Event to be held in September 2027, and he was the champion of the World Cup Fantasy League organised among AIJA members.
His involvement in AIJA reflects both the breadth of his professional practice and his interest in connecting lawyers across jurisdictions and practice areas. Through his regular participation in commissions, conferences and academic sessions, he has developed a strong connection with the AIJA community and is keen to contribute further to the Association through the Executive Committee.
Archita Mohapatra
Trilegal,
India
Through AIJA, I have found not only a global network of colleagues but also a community of friends, mentors, and collaborators. Having served on the Executive Committee, I would be honoured to continue strengthening these connections, championing broader representation, and helping AIJA remain a vibrant and welcoming platform for lawyers across jurisdictions.
Eva Indruchova
Founder, WELLINLO
Czech Republic
Eva Indruchova is a lawyer, founder of Wellinlo – Wellbeing of lawyers initiative, yoga instructor and coach. Eva has been a member of AIJA since 2010. She has been actively involved in AIJA as member of the OC of the AIJA Annual Congress in Prague in 2014 and served as a member of the EC as well as AIJA National Representative for the Czech Republic. Eva initiated many wellbeing-related activities within AIJA – she led the first ever AIJA yoga session during the AIJA Congress in Brussels in 2018 and launched the Wellbeing of Lawyers First Aid Desk in Paris in 2023. She also conducted coaching sessions for AIJA members in Milan and last year in Hamburg.
Gennaro Paone
De Berti Jacchia
Milan, Italie
Gennaro Paone is a senior associate at De Berti Jacchia in Milan, where his practice mainly focuses on domestic and international commercial arbitration.
Gennaro has been a member of AIJA since 2022 and is actively involved in the Arbitration Commission.
He has contributed to several AIJA events as a speaker and moderator and served as session coordinator at the 2024 AIJA Annual Congress in Madrid.
For more than ten years, he has also been involved in the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot as a coach and arbitrator, reflecting his commitment to the development of the next generation of lawyers.
Through his involvement in AIJA, Gennaro has particularly valued the opportunity to exchange ideas and build lasting personal and professional connections with lawyers from different jurisdictions and backgrounds. Having built a strong connection with the AIJA community, Gennaro is standing for the Executive Committee to play a more active role in the association and contribute to its continued development.
Jacopo Piemonte
Senior Associate, De Berti Jacchia Franchini Forlani
Italy
Jacopo Piemonte is recognized as an expert in the field of law, science, technology, and society. His work focuses on the legal and regulatory implications of emerging neurotechnologies, particularly those interfacing with the human brain. He is also a qualified lawyer admitted to the Italian Bar, with extensive experience in technology regulation, data protection, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity matters. His academic interests include data governance and the regulation of artificial intelligence.
Bartosz Pyzder
Sołtysiński Kawecki & Szlęzak
Poland
I am a Polish advocate at SK&S law firm in Warsaw. My practice centres on commercial litigation, with a particular focus on corporate disputes and disputes arising from IT services.
I joined AIJA in 2022, and the Vienna Congress will be my eleventh AIJA event — including two panel appearances along the way. What drew me in, and what keeps me coming back, is the famous AIJA spirit: a genuinely global network of talented professionals who are also great people to be around, both during the working sessions and long social events. After almost four years of attendance, I feel it is time to go deeper. I am putting my name forward for the Executive Committee because I want to contribute to the organisation by helping shape its programme, broaden its reach, and make sure the next wave of young lawyers finds the same welcoming, energising community that I did.
Hollie Ryan
Employment Partner, DMH Stallard LLP
United Kingdom
Hollie Ryan is an Employment Partner at DMH Stallard LLP in the UK. Hollie has a broad employment practice with a particular focus on inward investment into the UK. As a Spanish graduate, Hollie has always been drawn to working across cultures and borders – something that defines both her client work and her commitment to AIJA.
Hollie attended her first AIJA conference in Lisbon in 2019 and knew immediately that she had found something special. Since then, she has attended several conferences and seminars, participating as a speaker and, more recently, as a member of the Organising Committee for the upcoming joint Real Estate, Labour and Transport seminar being held in Prague in October 2026. Hollie’s involvement in the Prague OC has deepened her appreciation for the dedication and collaboration that make AIJA events so unique.
Through AIJA, Hollie has gained not only a strong professional network but genuine friendships and trusted relationships with colleagues around the world. Hollie would truly welcome the opportunity to give back to AIJA as a member of the Executive Committee. She is keen to work with her international colleagues to continue to grow this wonderful network and ensure that AIJA remains a vibrant, welcoming community for lawyers in the early part of their careers.
Graziana Toscano
Associate Partner - Pirola Pennuto Zei & Associati
Milan, Italie
Graziana Toscano is an Associate Partner at Pirola Pennuto Zei & Associati in Milan, one of the Italian leading independent law and tax firm, where she advises multinational groups on cross-border M&A, international commercial contracts and corporate governance complex reorganisations.
Admitted to the Italian Bar in 2014, she works on deals from structuring and negotiation through to post-closing integration, regularly supporting clients on the financing and regulatory dimension of their transactions.
Graziana graduated with full marks in Law from Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan and holds a Certificate in American Law from the University of California, Berkeley. She writes regularly for specialised legal publications on corporate, M&A and contract law.
An AIJA member since 2023, she values the association for combining technical depth with the network of trusted counterparts that makes cross-border practice highly valuable. She would be honoured to take a more active role in AIJA as a member of the Executive Committee.
Luke
van de Laar
Partner, Kemperink Maarschalkerweerd Wouters N.V.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Luke van de Laar is a partner in the Amsterdam based corporate/M&A team of Kemperink Maarschalkerweerd Wouters N.V. who specializes in cross-border M&A, corporate takeovers, joint ventures, private equity investments, and corporate governance matters. With a strong track record in executing and overseeing complex international transactions and corporate governance initiatives, he has provided strategic legal counsel to a diverse range of clients across the technology, healthcare, agri-food, and manufacturing industries. His clientele includes both privately and publicly held corporations, as well as financial sponsors, whom he advises on a wide array of corporate and transactional matters.
Rachel Vella Baldacchino
Managing Associate,
WH Partners
Malta
I am a Malta-qualified corporate/M&A lawyer, also admitted in England and Wales, and advising on cross-border M&A, venture capital, financing, antitrust and FDI and technology transactions. I studied at the University of Malta and the University of Cambridge. Being based in a small jurisdiction has made AIJA’s international network particularly valuable to me, allowing me to build professional relationships and friendships across jurisdictions while bringing Malta’s perspective to the wider AIJA community.
I have been a member of AIJA since 2024 and have been actively involved in the Corporate & M&A, Antitrust and TRADE Commissions, through seminars and half-year conferences, speaking and moderating panels, and participating in AIJA’s mentoring initiative. I am running for the Executive Committee because I would like to contribute more actively to an organisation I genuinely value, helping strengthen its international reach and create meaningful opportunities for younger lawyers while preserving the professional and social spirit that makes AIJA special.
Olivia
Wybraniec
Legal Director, Barrister
Mishcon de Reya LLP
London
Olivia Wybraniec is a Legal Director and Barrister at Mishcon de Reya LLP in London. She practises commercial litigation, with a focus on complex, multi-jurisdictional civil fraud and banking and finance disputes. She plays a leading role in Mishcon’s International NextGen network, and on her firm’s Italian and CEE Desks (drawing on her Italian and Polish heritage). She also co-founded Greener Litigation, a cross-profession sustainability initiative to reduce the carbon impact of dispute resolution. Olivia has been an active member of AIJA since 2022, including as an Organising Committee member for the London 2024 Litigation and Real Estate Conference, and as a speaker on several panels. The Vienna Annual Congress will be her tenth AIJA event.
Kirsten
Wesiak-Schmidt
Homburger,
Zurich, Suisse
I am an associate at Homburger in Zurich, Switzerland, where I advise and represent clients in intellectual property, data protection and technology matters, with a particular focus on dispute resolution.
My AIJA journey started at the IP/TMT Seminar in Málaga in 2024, where I had the opportunity to moderate a panel. I immediately fell for the open and welcoming atmosphere, the international exchange and the genuine connections that make AIJA so special. Getting more involved has felt like a natural next step ever since. I returned as a speaker at the IP/TMT Seminar in Copenhagen in 2025 and am looking forward to the Annual Congress in Vienna.
Having experienced first-hand how quickly a first AIJA event can turn into a real sense of belonging, I would now like to give back as a member of the Executive Committee. I am keen to take on more responsibility, contribute actively to the association and open the same doors for others. Most importantly, I would like to play my part in preserving the unique AIJA spirit that drew me in from the start.
Jorge
Yaafar
Motta, Yaafar & Díaz,
PANAMA
Jorge Yaafar holds a degree in Law and Political Science from Universidad Católica Santa María La Antigua and a Master’s in International Business Law from King’s College (London, United Kingdom). His practice focuses on corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, real estate transactions, estate planning, and the structuring of cross-border transactions, advising both local and international clients. He has extensive experience coordinating complex multi-party transactions involving banks, trustees, and international advisors, as well as structuring real estate projects and risk-mitigation mechanisms under Panamanian law. He also advises multinational companies on regulatory compliance and the structuring of operations in Panama, combining a technical approach with practical, business-oriented solutions. He has been an active member of AIJA since 2024 and is part of the Organizing Committee for the 2027 Annual Congress taking place in Panama City, Panama. He has also been involved as a speaker and participant in various conferences.
Other Resolutions
The voting on other resolutions submitted to the General Assembly will be possible through electronic voting on 28 August 2026 from 10:30 to 11:30 CEST.
E-voting
The commitment of each member is crucial to the success of the whole organisation. And nowhere is this more evident than during our annual elections.
Once a year at the Annual Congress, the General Assembly of Members is called to elect some members of two very important bodies for the management of AIJA: the Executive Committee and the Bureau. In previous years this had to be done on paper, in person. But early in 2016, when AIJA launched an extensive online survey, members called for a stronger and more effective participation in the life of the association and in particular an e-voting system.
AIJA welcomed e-voting for the first time in 2018 and due to its resounding success the Association has been using it since then.
How AIJA members can vote
Electronic voting is easy – AIJA members can vote from any location, on any device. Members will receive in advance a link where they can join and watch the General Assembly, as well as the interview with the First Vice-President candidate and then vote electronically.
If AIJA members are not available to vote electronically during the elections date, they can give a proxy to another member. Instructions are available on the MyAIJA member dashboard.
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