Jaime Carey

Mr Carey, senior partner of Carey, Chile’s largest law firm, succeeded Spain’s Almudena Arpón de Mendívil y Aldama at the start of the year.

He has previously held a number of senior positions in the IBA during 41 years of membership, including co-vice-president and co-secretary-general, and has been a member of the IBA management board since 2011.

“I feel honoured to have been elected president of the International Bar Association and will carry out the duties of this office with full conviction and high resolve, building on the efforts of predecessors,” Mr Carey said.

Knowing that I am part of a continuum working to uphold the rule of law fills me with pride.

“During my tenure, I hope to increase the IBA’s visibility in Africa and Asia and encourage more peers in those regions to get involved in the association’s work.

“Additionally, because I am from Latin America, I will work to increase the region’s visibility in the international legal community by creating more opportunities for interaction with colleagues from other jurisdictions.”

He added: “Undoubtedly, our world is rapidly changing and becoming more divided. Legal professionals have a role to play in countering division 

“Since unity, collaboration, diversity and integration are essential to improving the world, it is my intention to encourage these things as widely as possible across all IBA constituents and as many jurisdictions as possible.”

Although IBA presidents usually serve a two-year term, Mr Carey will serve as president for one year before handing over to Italian lawyer Claudio Visco under an unprecedented joint presidency arrangement.

The pair have been good friends since 1991, when they first met at an IBA conference in Hong Kong.

In a joint statement, they said: “We are grateful that this historic agreement was supported by the IBA Council.

“Our joint presidency reflects the collaborative approach of IBA members who freely and voluntarily share their knowledge with legal professionals around the world.

“As we continue the work that embodies the IBA’s founders’ vision of promoting and defending the rule of law and human rights globally in an environment of mutual respect, cooperation, and shared objectives, this shared two-year mandate will ensure order, coordination, and continuity.”