A gem of the IADC.

• Author: Sinclair, J. Walter
• Position: International Association of Defense Counsel - President's Page

THIS IS my last opportunity to write a President's Page for Defense Counsel Journal.

Opportunity of a lifetime

What a wonderful opportunity being the president of the International Association of Defense Counsel has been for me, and what a great year 2003-04 has been. I can honestly say that this year, as your representative, I have had the opportunities of a lifetime. All of the IADC meetings have been wonderful opportunities for me to meet some of the greatest people and outstanding lawyers I have ever had the pleasure to know. I have made many great friendships, adding to those I have formed over my years of membership in the IADC. Mine has been a truly a great experience serving an outstanding Association. Thank you!

International flavor in Barcelona

I recently had the opportunity to travel to London and Barcelona for IADC regional meetings. Each was very well attended and demonstrated the vibrancy of the IADC as a multinational association.

While we all know that the IADC is the oldest and truly the most prestigious international association of attorneys representing corporations and insurers, are we aware that we are a lot more? Spending an evening with our members in London was representative of the excellence and vibrancy of our international members. In Barcelona, more than 60 persons from throughout Europe, as well as many from the United States, attended the IADC reception. This gathering represented the diversity of our Association and the quality of our members--a truly impressive group.

Both regional meetings were not only personally gratifying but also professionally rewarding. While in Barcelona, I not only had the opportunity to meet with our members from the European Union countries, but also to meet a former president of the Council of the Bars and Law Societies of the European Union, Ramon M. Mullerat, and spend some time with our own IADC member David McIntosh, who is a past president of the Law Society of England and Wales, and Adam Barker and his mother, Baroness Trumpington P.C., a member of the House of Lords. Kristin and I were honored to attend the Lords with the baroness, Adam, and George and Eileen Hodges.

As a result of our visit, Ramon Mullerat, at the IADC's request, agreed to attend and speak at the IADC 2004 annual meeting at The Homestead in Virginia.

Diversity in the IADC

We have had an incredibly productive year in many other ways, including but not limited to addressing the issue of diversity within the...