Anna Grishchenkova acted as moderator of the opening session at the IBA Annual Litigation Forum 2018 in Chicago

Anna Grishchenkova acted as moderator of the opening session at the IBA Annual Litigation Forum 2018 in Chicago

From 16 to 18 May, 2018 in Chicago, USA, the IBA Annual Litigation Forum 2018 took place. More than 300 litigation lawyers from different countries participated in the conference.

Anna Grishchenkova, Litigation and International Commercial Arbitration Partner of KIAP, Attorneys at law, Co-Chair of the Young Litigators Forum of the International Bar Association, took part in the conference and acted as a moderator of the first opening session “The science of advocacy and persuasion – social science perspectives on what works and what doesn’t work”. During the session participants have discussed the importance and role of psychology in course of litigation process, analyzed the decision-making process of the brain and impact of subconscious bias on decision-making, talked about cultural differences in the evaluation of arguments.

Anna has marked that psychology topic in litigation process is very interesting for her and IBA Annual Litigation Forum traditionally is a great success among litigation lawyers all over the world and constitutes a unique platform for experience exchange. “The thing I liked the most was a speech of judges – they shared their tips on what do they wait from lawyers and, what is more, told that they also attend special courses on writing of judgments. If judges continue to learn and improve their skills – than we, lawyers, also have to grow in professional sense”, - added Anna.

The global topic of the conference this year was “Advocacy in the 21st Century”. Besides questions on the impact of psychology on the litigation process, lawyers have discussed features of the construction of the position of the defense during the trial, as well as whether a different skill set is necessary in the  appellate advocacy. Another topic of discussion – advocacy and ethics – how far can the parties go during the trial. Participants have also talked about new technologies and social media and adapting of the advocacy to new kinds of evidence.

The International Bar Association (IBA), is the world's leading organization of international legal practitioners, bar associations and law societies from all over the world. The Association was established in 1947 and influences the development of international law reform and shapes the future of the legal profession throughout the world. The Association has a membership of 80,000 individual lawyers and more than more than 190 bar associations and law societies spanning over 170 countries. IBA has a global impact on the development of law and shapes the future of the legal profession around the world.