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CONFERENCE REPORT
Opening Ceremony
Vânia Costa Ramos — Chair of the ECBA
The Spring Conference 2026 opened with a welcoming address by the Chair of the ECBA Vânia Costa Ramos, who noted the symbolic significance of the date – 25 April, a day of liberty celebrated in both Portugal and Italy. She presented the programme for the day, outlined the mission of the ECBA and its Working Groups, and introduced the newly launched ECBA website as the central hub for members, tools and activities. Participants were encouraged to engage actively, network, and connect with Working Group members throughout the day.
Clara Martínez Nogués — President, Criminal Section, Il·lustre Col·legi de l’Advocacia de Barcelona
Clara Martínez Nogués delivered a passionate address on the essential role played by lawyers in counterbalancing power and protecting citizens from the excesses of the system. Her remarks set a strong human rights tone for the rest of the conference.
Human Rights Award
Alexis Anagnostakis — ECBA Human Rights Officer
The Human Rights Award was presented by the HR Officer Alexis Anagnostakis to Ali Yildiz, founder of the Arrested Lawyers Initiative. Alexis described Ali as “a fighter with a kind heart” and a valued friend. The Initiative was established in 2016 in response to the systematic persecution of lawyers arrested for the exercise of their professional duties by documenting and monitoring abuses by governments worldwide. Ali’s work gives a voice to lawyers who have been silenced.
Read the full Conference Report here
Opening of the Spring 2026 Conference
- Vânia Costa Ramos, ECBA Chair (Portugal)
- Clara Martinez Nogués, President of the Criminal Section of the Barcelona Bar Association
Scott Crosby Human Rights Award 2025
- Presenter: Alexis Anagnostakis, ECBA HR Officer (Greece)
- Awarded to: Ali Yildiz, The Arrested Lawyers Initiative
- Speaker: Prof. Dr. Dr. H.C. Lorena Bachmaier Winter, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain
Panel 1: Freedom of Speech and Legal Repression
Chair: Katarzyna Dabrowska, ECBA Advisory Board, Poland
- Ben Keith, defence lawyer, United Kingdom
- Jaantje Kramer, defence lawyer, The Netherlands
- Christophe Marchand, defence lawyer, Belgium
- Benet Salellas, defence lawyer, Spain
Panel 2: E-Evidence Regulation and Fundamental Rights
Chair: Maria Barbancho, ECBA Advisory Board, Spain
- Judge José Manuel Sánchez Siscart, Spain
- Julian Hayes, defence lawyer, United Kingdom
- Brendan Newitt, defence lawyer, The Netherlands
- Stephanie Schott, defence lawyer, Germany
Breakout Sessions
A. Business Crime
Innovative approach on the interrogation of fraud suspects
Coordinator: Rosa van Zijl, ECBA Advisory Board, The Netherlands
Speaker: Tom Willems, PhD Researcher, University of Luxembourg
B. Procedural Safeguards – Prisoners’ Rights
Prisoners’ rights and detention conditions around Europe
Coordinators: Carla Reyes, ECBA Advisory Board, Switzerland and Elena Fedorova, defence lawyer, France
Speaker: Hugues de Suremain, director of the European Prison Litigation Network (EPLN)
With the participation of
- Cristiana Bianco, ECBA Human Rights Committee and Antigone, Germany/Italy
- Federico Cappelletti, ECBA Human Rights Committee, Italy
- Liliia Kuznets, defence lawyer, Ukraine
- Diana Silva Pereira, defence lawyer, Portugal
- Alex Tinsley, ECBA Human Rights Committee, United Kingdom
- Daniel Trajilovic, defence lawyer, Switzerland
C. Business Crime: Environmental Criminal Law and Companies’ Liabilities
New scenarios
Coordinator: Tanneguy de Bellescize, defence lawyer, France
Speakers:
- Jean-Baptiste Maillart, defence lawyer, Switzerland
- Dirce Rente, defence lawyer, Portugal
ECBA General Assembly
Financial report 2025, Neil Swift, ECBA Treasurer
Full Comment podcast by Ed Grange, ECBA Advisory Board Member and Danielle Reece-Greenhalgh, ECBA member: episode ‘Barcelona, the ECBA and Perspectives from European Criminal Lawyers’
Impressions from the Conference
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