Program

Registration opens and continues until the conference starts.

The Bar Leaders and CEOs Roundtable brings together heads of Bar Associations and legal institutions from across East Africa to exchange insights, address shared challenges, and chart a unified course for the future of the legal profession in the region.

Internal and partner meetings hosted by the Governing Council

The Leading Law Firms Forum is an exclusive platform that convenes partners and lawyers from the region’s most distinguished law firms to network and engage in high-level dialogue on the evolving legal services market in East Africa. This premier gathering facilitates strategic conversations on cross-border legal practice, regional investment trends, innovation in legal service delivery, and the positioning of East African firms within the global legal arena. Delegates benefit from rich interactions with esteemed legal minds, senior corporate executives, and influential members of the international legal community, including representatives from global firms and regional bar associations.

The annual EALS In-House Counsel Forum convenes legal professionals from corporations across the region, offering a unique platform to address shared challenges and explore emerging opportunities within their diverse operating environments. This exclusive gathering fosters meaningful networking and the exchange of best practices, empowering in-house counsel to enhance their strategic impact.

This premier forum, co-hosted with the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law and other Partners under the Regional Africa Programme III seeks to improve access to justice in the African Continent through ensuring Court decisions are implemented and other human rights and rule of law commitments enforced by African governments.

Tee Off in the Heart of Africa’s Capital!

Join us for the Lawyers Annual Golf Tournament at the iconic Addis Ababa Golf Club, where East Africa’s legal minds swap courtroom precision for the perfect swing. Nestled in the bustling heart of Ethiopia’s capital, this 18-hole gem offers a surreal and unforgettable golfing experience.

This day of the conference is dedicated to transformative dialogue and empowerment through three flagship events: the Women Lawyers Conference, the 9th Young Lawyers Conference, and the Climate Justice and Strategic Litigation Forum.

Marking its 9th edition, the Young Lawyers Conference continues to serve as the premier platform for emerging legal talent. With the theme “Shaping Tomorrow: Young Lawyers as Catalysts for Integrity, Innovation, and Inclusion,” this full-day gathering empowers young professionals to lead boldly in a rapidly changing legal environment.

The Women Lawyers Conference brings together women legal professionals from across the region for a day of inspiration, mentorship, and collaboration under the theme “Power, Progress, and Purpose: Elevating Women’s Leadership in the Legal Profession.” Participants will engage in critical conversations on gender equality, career advancement, and legal reform, with guidance from some of the region’s most influential female practitioners.

Running concurrently is the Climate Justice and Strategic Litigation Forum. Under the theme “Advocating for Tomorrow: Legal Pathways to Climate Justice in East Africa,” this session provides a deep dive into the principles, case law, and strategies behind effective climate litigation.

Delegates will be expected to be seated by 9am for the opening session which will include an official address by H.E. Abiy Ahmed Ali, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, alongside keynote presentations and high-level remarks from distinguished leaders within and beyond the legal profession.

Thereafter, the delegates will disperse into various break-out sessions set up to cover wide areas along the conference theme and sub-themes.

Areas of focus will include:

1. The Past and Next 30 Years of EALS: Redefining Regional Integration through Law
2. Legal Innovation and the Transformation of Justice Systems in Africa
3. Digital Regulation, Data Justice and Cyber Law in East Africa
4. Constitutionalism and Rule of Law in Flux: The Lawyer’s Role in an Age of Disruption
5. Justice in Crisis: Climate, Conflict and the Lawyer’s Humanitarian Mandate
6. Corporate and Commercial Law in Transition: Supporting East Africa’s Emerging Economies
7. The Rise of the Legal Consultant: Navigating the Shift from Courtroom to Boardroom

As the sun sets over Addis Ababa, the day’s formal engagements will give way to the much-anticipated Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony — a vibrant celebration of excellence, culture, and connection. This year’s gala will feature electrifying performances from Ethiopia and the broader East African region, spotlighting the continent’s incredible cultural mosaic under the theme "One People, Many Cultures: A Celebration of East African Heritage."

As the curtain falls on this landmark 30th Annual Conference, EALS members will con-vene for the Annual General Meeting — a pivotal moment of reflection, accountability, and forward planning. This important session, led by the Governing Council, will fea-ture presentations on the Society’s performance, financial health, strategic direction, and key developments over the past year.