The International Bar Association Corporate and M&A Law Committee, with the support of the IBA Asia Pacific Regional Forum, recently hosted a two-day conference on 9th and 10th March 2012 at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Mumbai, India. Lex Witness was one of the Supporters & Exhibitors in the Conference. The conference cochairs were Cyril Shroff (Council Member, IBA Legal Practice Division), of Amarchand&Mangaldas& Suresh A Shroff& Co, Mumbai, and Sergio Sánchez Solé (Vice-Chair, IBA Corporate and M&A Law Committee), of J&A Garrigues, Barcelona.

The conference was attended by around 200 delegates and speakers from several countries, including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Cyprus, Denmark, England, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, USA and, India.

Commenting on the event, Co-Chairs Cyril Shroff and Sergio Sánchez Solé said: ‘It was a vibrant, informative and interesting conference which not only gave insight into the Indian M&A regulatory environment but also allowed discussion on the practical issues and practices of the modern M&A practice in India. There was an in-depth and well attended discussion on the thoughts, ideas and issues presented by the eminent speakers in relation to the themes of the Conference.

Due to the variation in the conference discussions, it appealed to both senior practicing lawyers and the comparatively junior attendees, which was an achievement, as most conferences lack this essential element.

The participants got an opportunity to understand the mind of the regulators who spoke at the conference and the regulators were clearly open to suggestions from the attendees; paving way for a better understanding between the authorities and the practitioners, which is a rare opportunity!