IAG Mumbai Report

February 2017

Dear IAG friends and colleagues

2017 got off to a flying start for IAG last month when Sameer and his colleagues at ALMT Legal

hosted the third Asia Pacific Assembly in Mumbai.

Those of you who were unable to attend missed an excellent, enjoyable and memorable few

days in the financial, commercial and entertainment capital of India. Whilst the numbers were

relatively modest, as we have found with similar attendance levels in the past, this was more than

compensated for by the enthusiasm of those that had made the journey, and in the business

session by the opportunity for everyone to take an active role in the various discussions and

debates.

We stayed at the iconic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, a spectacular destination in itself, and over three

superb evenings our kind hosts at ALMT Legal ensured we experienced a taste of India. The

highlight of these was an Indian themed evening with Bollywood dancing, which saw literally

everyone joining in.

New members

As you know, IAG remains in a growth phase. Following the ratification 5 new members in late

2016, we welcomed Pacific Legal Network (PLN)as a member in Mumbai.

The ratification of PLN gives IAG a unique offering across the Pacific, covering 14 new jurisdictions

including Papua New Guinea, Fiji and the Solomon Islands. PLN Australia, and Cavell Leitch from

New Zealand, retain their individual memberships.

Website development

We were able to present a near-final version of the new website design, first aired in Berlin, which

was well received. Several aspects including precisely how the layered map, a key feature of the

new design, should be displayed as one selects an advisor are still being adjusted , but we expect

to go live with the new design this month. When it goes live the new website will use the new URL

www.iag.global . Since its launch in 2009 there have been many changes to the current website,

although only two of these have made amendments to the copy. This is now being reviewed and

any comments are welcome. Please email the Admin Office by 14 March.

Subscriptions

The financial focus at this time of year is very much on the collection of subscriptions, maintained

unchanged for 2017 at the 2016 rates. Most IAG members are very good at paying their

subscriptions promptly, which is appreciated, so a large majority of 2017 subscriptions have

already been received. If yours is not among them, please would you give this your attention.

IAG Name

The Assembly formally and unanimously ratified the decision discussed at previous meetings to

change the name of the organisation to ‘IAG Global‘ , subject to the result of an EU trademark

registration currently in hand. This is a change to the Articles, so required a 75% vote in favour:

many thanks to those who kindly provided me as Chairman with their proxies to allow that

business to proceed.

Morison KSi report

I am pleased to report that our aim to continue the excellent relationship we developed with KSi

since 2011, following its merger to form Morison KSi, is making good progress. The shared meeting

in Berlin was regarded as a great success all round, and we are now discussing a likely repeat of

that exercise for 2019.

Meanwhile delegates from IAG and from Morison KSi continue to attend each others’ meetings

on a regular basis – 5 Morison KSi delegates attended Mumbai, with Morison Menon, the UAE and

Quatar member, giving a very well received presentation on doing business in the UAE and

Quatar. Our thanks again to Sudhir Kumar.

There will be opportunities during 2017 and beyond for IAG members to represent the group at

Morison KSi meetings, with some financial support. You will be hearing more on these in coming

months but the dates for your diary if you are interested are Athens 4-6 May and Boston 7-9 June

for the European and Americas regional meetings respectively.

As I mentioned in my last report, I would encourage all of you to reach out to your Morison KSi

counterparts locally to see if there are ways you can work together. The feedback both Morison

KSi and IAG are receiving is that there is an increasing amount of work passing between the two

associations. We are also continuing to assist each other with recruitment recommendations

where we can.

Discussion group topics

Delegates, in small groups, were invited to discuss three topics:-

- Geographical priorities for IAG recruitment

- Assembly pattern, dates and venue rotation

- Role and relevance of social media

The Mumbai groups had the opportunity to report verbally, but were also asked to submit a brief

summary of their points on paper by 7 March 2017. Briefings on each topic were circulated to

everyone on 6 February and comments from other IAG members are also welcome. I would be

grateful if any comments could also be emailed to the Admin Office by 7 March at the latest to

allow the Committee to review them before their next teleconference.

Other highlights

Sameer arranged for Shailesh Haribhakti, the chairman of DHC (the local member of Baker Tilly

International), to give a fascinating presentation to the Assembly on doing business in India and

the opportunities for and challenges facing India in the 21st century.

We also trailed two initiatives that you will hear more about at the General Assembly in

Cambridge.

The first was the relaunch of the IAG exchange programme with four exchanges taking place in

the run up to the GA and the participants then presenting on their experiences at the GA. As you

know, IAG has a fund available to subsidise member firm exchanges and previous experience

has shown that they bring benefits to the participants themselves, the member firms and IAG as a

whole.

The second was the launch of a new initiative to facilitate the sharing of information and ideas

between our members in relation to the issue of talent retention. This initiative will also enable

senior women within IAG’s member firms to share their experiences and advice with the next

generation through workshops and mentoring. At the GA we will have a panel discussion on

talent retention and related issues as well as an opportunity to launch the mentoring element of

the initiative.

Speed networking

IAG Committee

Committee elections will be held at the GA in May as usual. This year two places will be vacant,

one as I retire by rotation, the other following the sad death of David Kuhner as Treasurer late last

year. A candidate from within the Committee has already agreed to stand as Chairperson, and

the Committee has held discussions with willing candidates for the Treasurer and the other

Committee Member vacancies. If anyone else is interested in standing for the Committee and

would like to know more about what is involved please do not hesitate to discuss it with me, any

other Committee Member, or Chris at the Admin Office. Please note that candidates must be

declared by Thursday 27 May in order to be shown on the GA agenda which will be circulated

the following day. Finally, the next vacancies by rotation will arise in 2019.

Future meetings

We currently have meeting venues selected with some certainty until the end of 2018 and are in

discussions about 2019 venues. Thanks to all members who are keen to host, and please keep

the offers coming!

We will confirm 2018 venues, with dates, as soon as possible. The remaining Assemblies for 2017

are:-

- Cambridge 11-14 May - New York 12-15 October

I look forward to seeing you at both!

Regards to all

Daden Hunt

Daden Hunt

IAG Chairman