European Law Society

"If Europe were once united in the sharing of its common inheritance, there would be no limit to the happiness, to the prosperity and glory which its three or four hundred million people would enjoy. ... We must build a kind of United States of Europe. . . . . ."

Winston Churchill, Zurich, I9th September 1946

Prague 23rd - 28th June 2023

Cyprus 2024

(dates tba)

2005 Bozen | Italy

A small delegation of several members participated in a tour to Bozen, Italy, in November 2005, visiting the Administrative Court, Bozen, and the famous Burg Runkelstein. In the evening the traditional Tyrolean "Toerggelen" had its time.

Apart from that another delegation undertook an Intellectual Property Excursion to Munich, Germany. Besides a lecture on the 'ne bis in idem' principle in European antitrust law by Dr. Andreas Haas, LL.M. Eur., Munich, the delegation visited the Bavarian Supreme State Court (Bayerisches Oberstes Landesgericht) and the European Patent Office as well as the famous Oktoberfest.

2006 Brussels | Belgium

Between May 18, 2006, and May 20, 2006, the European Law Society has organised an academic travel for a delegation of 12 of its members to Brussels.

Living in some lovely hotels in the very heart of the city the delegation visited the European Parliament on May 18, 2006, upon invitation of the office of MEP Dr. Wieland. The group had a great opportunity to gather information about the work and position of the members of Parliament being one of the central organs of the European Union.

On the same day the delegation was pleased to visit also the Mission of Switzerland to the European Union, being also in charge of the cultivations of the relations between Switzerland and the NATO.

May 19, 2006, was dedicated to the representations of some smaller units within the EEA and the EU, i.e. the Embassy of the Principality of Liechtenstein in Brussels, being the Embassy of the Principality of Liechtenstein to the Holy See and the Mission of the Principality of Liechtenstein to the European Union at the same time, as well as the representative office of the Free State of Bavaria, Germany. The ambassador of Liechtenstein, H.S.H. Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein, was so kind to explain the role of Liechtenstein in the EEA as well as in EFTA and its relations with the European Union. Another topic was the development of the relationship between Liechtenstein and the Czech Republic as contractual partners in the EEA. The meeting took place at the EFTA Secretariat, where also the activites of EFTA and its relations with the EU were explained in every detail. In the afternoon, the representative office of Bavaria had an impressing self-presentation at its seat in the impressive Institut Pasteur in the middle of a beautiful park besides the European Parliament.

In the evening the annual meeting took place at the delegation's hotel in the city center.

2007 Lucerne | Switzerland

Annual Meeting in Luzern / Switzerland

The seat of the European Law Society is Luzern / Switzerland, so that it seems that there are many convincing arguments to hold an Annual Meeting in the beautiful and elegant city in Switzerland.
On Saturday, November 24, 2007, the participating members met in the city center of Luzern and enjoyed a sightseeing walk through the center guided by Dr. Markus Kaufmann of Kaufmann Rüedi & Partner.

The Annual Meeting took place in the famous Luzern Water Tower, the towns medieval landmark. Besides the annual society activities report and the accounts report 2006/2007, the general members' meeting discharged the board members and elected the board for another 2 years.

Lecture about AlpTransit by Mr. Olivier Klaus, the in-house lawyer of AlpTransit Gotthard AG about the status of the project as well as technical and legal challenges. Since more and more passengers and cargo crosses Europe through the Alps this traffic flow shall be canalised and coped with by Switzerland by the AlpTransit railways project. The central part of the NEAT (New Railways Alp Transversal) is the 57 km long Gotthard Base Tunnel, which is going to be the longest railways tunnel in the world.

Before dinner the Society of the Luzern Water Tower granted the exceptional possibility to inspect the 34 m Water Tower which was built in the 13th century and which was used as an archive, a prison and a medieval torture room.

2008 London | United Kingdom

As planned and announced during Annual Meetings in the past the Society had a scientific members' excursion to London / United Kingdom in 2008. The participating members and their guests arrived in London in the evening of June 3, 2008. Between June 4 and 6, 2008, a varied program gave the possibility to not only do some legal studies, but also to have an interchange of views and experiences with international colleagues and to do some networking. Apart from that, the Society hosted a Society Dinner for members at the Wiltons Restaurant.

04/06/2008
Visit to the Houses of Parliament.
4:30 h p.m. Meeting with Rt. Hon. Lord Justice Robin Jacob and Mr. Justice Kitchin at the Royal Courts of Justice, London
6:15 h p.m. Lectures at Marks & Clerk patent and law firm London.
8:15 h p.m. Formal Society Dinner at the Wiltons Restraurant(est. 1742)

05/06/2008
11:00 h a.m. Visit to the Commonwealth Secretariat, meeting with the Director of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Division, Ms. Betty Mould-Iddrisu, and Legal Adviser Mr. Kevin Maguire

7:00 h p.m. informal After-Work Drink with London lawyers from British law firms Marks & Clerk, Rouse & Co., Nabarro and others as well as with a representative of Canon Europe at the Mandeville

2009 Lisbon | Portugal

18/06/2009
11:00 h Touristic program, visit to the town of Sintra
17:30 h Reception at the law firm PKMJ A. M. Pereira Sárraga Leal, Oliveira Martins, Júdice e Associados

19/06/2009
11:00 Lisbon City Tour
19:00 h Lecture by Prof. Maria José Rangel des Mesquita, University of Lisbon about the impact of the Lisbon Treaty on the scope of jurisdiction of the Court of Justice of the European Communities

2010 Barcelona | Spain

14/06/2010
Lecture of
Mr. Kai Fischer, Cuatrecasas, Gonçalves Pereira and
Mr. Florian Roetzer, rwzh Rechtsanwälte
and discussion at the Barcelona office of Cuatrecasas, Gonçalves Pereira
Society Dinner at the restaurant in Casa Calvet, a famous Gaudí building in the heart of Barcelona

15/06/2010
19:00 - 21:00 h
ELS & rwzh Meet the World at Sundown - the European Law Society and co-sponsor rwzh Rechtsanwälte Munich (Germany) hosted an exclusive receptionwith drinks and refreshments for lawyers participating in the ELS Meeting and the ECTA Meeting on the roof-top terrace of Hotel Granados 83 in the center of Barcelona

additionally:

IP Law Session in Munich

16th – 17th July 2010 at the premises of rwzh Rechtsanwälte.
topics and speakers:
The International Trademark - Chances, Problems and Perspectives

Rechtsanwalt Jan Klink, LL.M., Solicitor in England and Wales, Fachanwalt für gewerblichen Rechtsschutz

Current Problems in German Trademark Practice
Rechtsanwalt Dr. Thomas Tetzner, Fachanwalt für Gewerblichen Rechtsschutz

German and European Customs Surveillance Procedures
Rechtsanwalt Michael Zoebisch, Fachanwalt für Gewerblichen Rechtsschutz

Current Developments in Design Protection
Rechtsanwalt Julian F. Wachinger, LL.M.

10 credits for the German specialised attorney in Intellectual Property (Fachanwalt für Gewerblichen Rechtsschutz) according to Sec. 15 FAO .

2011 Munich | Germany

30/09/2011
Get together & drinks with the Early Arrivals downtown.

01/10/2011
Annual Members Meeting in the offices of
rwzh Rechtsanwälte
activity report 2010 – cash report 2010 - approval

Wheat Beer, Champagne & Snacks

Two short lectures on international commercial and corporate law (by an attorney at law) as well as on the law on protected geographical indications (by an inhouse counsel of the Bavarian Beer Brewers' Association)

Departure for the Oktoberfest, late afternoon and evening on the balcony of the Armbrustschützen Tent – the invitation to this cultural experience for the participants covers non-alcoholic beverages, Bavarian beer and cuisine, stroll at the historic "Wies'n" (Oktoberfest), music and dancing amusement.

2012 Rome | Italy
ROME 2012

ROME 2012

14/06/2012

Visit to the Vatican

Reception by the President of the pontifical council for the interpretation of legal texts, Cardinal Francesco COCCOPALMERIO, and Lecture on the nature, expertise and working method of the council

Annual Members Meeting at the Istituto Svizzero – activity report 2011 – cash report 2011 - approval

Visit to the Italian law firm in Rom “Barzanó & Zanardo”

Reception by Alfredo Zanardo

Lecture and Networking

ELS Sundowner – upon invitation of the ELS: have a chat and a cocktail while networking with international colleagues [Members free, Guests only upon prior registration] on the Tiepolo Lounge terrace in the Waldorf Astoria Hotel (co-sponsor: rwzh rechtsanwälte)

15/06/2012

Visit to the Court of Cassation in Rom

Reception by the President of the Court and discussion

Visit to the Swiss Guard

Viewing of the armory and accommodation with subsequent aperitif

Society Dinner at the restaurant Il Palazzetto Roma

2013 Vienna | Austria

26/09/2013

General Assembly

Presentation „ New Developments in European Competition Law“ (assoc. Prof. Dr. Thomas Müller)

Lunch at Restaurant Figlmüller

City-Tour

Vienna State Opera “Nabucco” by Giuseppe Verdi or alternatively, Wiener Hofburg Orchester “Strauss-Mozart-Concert”

27/09/2013

guided tour Justizpalast (Supreme Court) with lecture

Stift Klosterneuburg (www.stift-klosterneuburg.at) for lunch - guided tour including wine tasting in the oldest vineyard of Austria

Dinner at Heurigen Mayer am Pfarrplatz

Bermuda Triangle: Bars and Pubs

2014 Amsterdam | The Netherlands

03/07/2014

Visit to the International Court of Justice • Cour Internationale de Justice, Peace Palace • Palais de la Paix • H.E. Mr. philippe Couvreur

Visit to the Permanent Court of Arbitration • Cour permanente d'arbitrage, Peace Palace • Palais de la Paix

ELS Sundowner - networking night with Dutch colleagues at the A Bar of the InterContinental Hotel Amstel

04/07/2014

Visit to the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations; senior officials of the Constitutional Affairs and Legislation Division

General Assembly

ELS dinner at Ship Chandlers Warehouse (speech: Mr. mr. G.S.C.M. (Gino) van Roeyen, Banning Advocaten "Some Dutch (De)Light(s) in Commercial Private Law Practice"

The dinner keynote speech has been given by Mr. G.S.C.M. (Gino) van Roeyen who kindly provided the >>>script<<< of his speech.

2015 Madrid | Spain

24/06/2015

Welcome Dinner

24/06/2015

Visit to the Supreme Court of Justice

Lecture of Mr. Marcos Rio on the Challenge of Implementing Pan European Legislation in the EU

ELS Sundowner Networking with Spanish professionals at the Atenas Terrace

26/06/2015

Visit to the Museo del Prado

Visit to Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum

General Assembly

2016 Tokyo | Kyoto | Japan

Sponsored by and organised with the support of rwzh Rechtsanwälte and SOEI PAtent & Law Firm ELS is happy and proud to host the International Litigation Forum 2016 on the topic of "Patent Litigation in Japan and Europe - Present and Future" in Tokyo (12th July 2016) and Kyoto (14th July 2016).

2016 Milan | Italy

With the great contribution and a phantastic program composed by the esteemed members of BMLEX Milan ELS had not only a great insight into the work of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) but also enjoyed an overwhelming cultural and culinary experience.

14/09/2016

ELS Sundowner - networking night with Italian and international colleagues on the beautiful terrace of Giacomo Arengario.

15/09/2016

Visit to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in Parma and perfect lunch in the beautiful town of Parma.

General Assembly

ELS dinner at Restaurant Brellin

16/09/2016

Visit to the Duomo di Milano including a wonderful rooftop terrace tour on the cathedral as well as to the Pinacoteca di Brera with a guided tour through the impressive collection.

2017 Scotland | UK

In 2017 the excursion led a major ELS delegation to Edinburgh. After a warm up on 06/09/2017 the delegation trip had a tight program.

07/09/2017

Meeting and discussion on BREXIT and Scottish independence movements with Dr. Alasdair Allan, Minister for International Development and Europe, MSP, and Mr. Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary for Justice, MSP

Annual Assembly and Formalities (minutes); election of the new Board of ELS

ELS Sundowner at 99Hanover and dinner at The Witchery by the Castle

08/09/2017

Visit to the Edinburgh Gin Distilleryand lecture on gin production

Visit to the Tartan Weaving Mill and lecture on tartan production

Whiskey tasting, clay pigeon shooting and fomal ELS dinner at Springkell Castle

2018 Athens | Greece

ATHENS 2018 - 12th - 16th June 2018

2019 Luxembourg | France

In 2019 a delegation trip to Luxembourg and France took place

2020 Berlin | Germany CANCELLED

In 2020 a delegation trip to Berlin is planned.

2021 San Marino | San Marino

In autumn 2021 a delegation of the European Law Society will visit the Republic of San Marino and hold meetings with government officials.

2022 Berlin | Germany

The 2023 delegation trip led the European Law Society to Berlin and Dresden. In Berlin the Stasi Records Archive, the Bunkers of Berlin and the German Parliament were the highlights of the visit. The group then visited Dresden with a fabulous ELS Dinner at elements Deli Restaurant Lounge and a guided tour through the Green Vault and the Dresdner Zwinger.

2023 Prague | Czech Republic

Events

Details on the 2023 and 2024 events to be found below.

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If you wish to host an ELS related event, please send an e-mail to contact@e-l-s.org.

Calendar

2023:

Prague23rd - 28th June 2023

2024:

Cyprus 2024