Geneva, Switzerland, June 2026
The Alliance of Business Lawyers (ABL) has elected its Board for the 2026-2029 term during the General Assembly held as part of the organization’s 50th Conference in Vienna, Austria.
ABL members confirmed the re-election of Mark Ruddy (Ruddy Gregory PLLC, Washington, D.C.) as President, Laura Gobernado (MG Abogados, Madrid) as Vice President, Baudouin Dunand (DGM Avocats, Geneva) as Treasurer, and Hans Mathijsen (Willems Schmidt, Amsterdam) as Director.
Members also elected Claire Rigby (Druces LLP, London), David Zahra (David Zahra Associates, Malta), and Stefano Candela (Lexsential, Milan) to serve as Directors on the Board.
The General Assembly also marked the conclusion of Andres E. Bazo’s (Rasco Klock, Miami) service on the Board. After many years of service, Andres chose not to seek re-election for personal reasons. ABL thanks him for his dedication, support, and contributions to the alliance throughout his time on the Board.
The newly elected Board will lead ABL through the next three years, continuing to strengthen member engagement, support cross-border collaboration, and create opportunities for business development and professional exchange among member firms.
Founded in 1999, the Alliance of Business Lawyers is an international association of independent business law firms. The alliance brings together more than 40 member firms across over 25 jurisdictions, representing more than 900 lawyers worldwide. Through conferences, referrals, secondments, professional development initiatives, and collaborative projects, ABL provides a platform for member firms to build trusted international relationships and support clients in cross-border matters.
The election took place during ABL’s 50th Conference, which brought together a record 87 participants representing 31 member firms from around the world. The milestone event featured discussions on international legal developments, arbitration, mediation, artificial intelligence, sustainability, investigations, and business opportunities across jurisdictions, while also celebrating five decades of ABL conferences and collaboration.
The Board thanks all ABL members for their participation in the General Assembly and for the confidence placed in its leadership. The continued engagement of members remains central to the growth and success of the Alliance.
About the Alliance of Business Lawyers
The Alliance of Business Lawyers (ABL) is an international association of independent business law firms committed to fostering professional relationships, cross-border collaboration, and the exchange of knowledge among its members. With firms across Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, ABL provides clients with access to trusted legal expertise around the world while preserving the independence of its member firms.
