Martin Šolc—IBA

Martin Šolc is the new President of the International Bar Association (IBA) and the first person from the Czech Republic to assume the role in the Association's 70 year history. His tenure will run for two years, from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2018. 

A founding partner of the law firm Kocián Solc Balastík in Prague, Mr Solc commented: "It is with enormous pride and a great sense of responsibility that I have taken up the position of President of the International Bar Association and I intend to build on the good and important work of my predecessors, the most recent being David W Rivkin. Thinking back to the spring of 1990 when I attended my first IBA meeting, I did not envisage that one day I would have the privilege of presiding over this august body. However, what I did know was that I respected enormously the work of the Association and its members' dedication to its founding principles, particularly the underpinning ethos to bring together people from across continents regardless of heritage, religion or ideology. I knew then quite certainly that I would be a life-long member of the IBA and would contribute as best I could to this unique organisation."  

Prior to assuming the presidency Mr Solc held many senior positions in the IBA, including Vice-President (2015-2016), Secretary-General (2013-2014), Co-Chair of the International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute (2009-2010) and Chair of the Public and Professional Interest Division (2007-2008). He has been a member of the IBA Management Board since 2003 and a member of the IBA for more than a quarter of a century, initially representing the Czech Bar Association on the IBA Council. He held the presidency of the Czech Bar Association in 1994 and was a member of its Management Board from 1990-2002.