Go back to News
NEWS
Almudena Arpón de Mendivil, IBA Vice President in the Aptissimi Awards
The International Bar Association (IBA) is the recipient of the 2021 Aptissimi award for Contribution to the Legal Sector and Society. Organised by the ESADE Alumni Law Club, the Award recognises the outstanding contribution of organisations and individuals to the development of, or innovations in, business law as well as positive impacts on society.
Patricia Valenti, Director of ESADE Alumni, commented: ‘Among the many merits of the IBA, the panel has especially valued its leading role in the global development of the profession and its values since its founding more than 70 years ago, highlighting the promotion of human rights, the rule of law and the administration of justice. The IBA is a global reference point for the legal profession and notably contributes to shaping the profession. The IBA is the most important worldwide association of international lawyers and has proven to be an unparalleled forum for legal professionals to meet and debate, with a large social impact beyond a strictly legal sense.’
Now in their 13th year, the Aptissimi – Latin for the most competent – Awards were introduced to acknowledge individual or institutional ethos and endeavours that align with the core values of the global business and law school ESADE; integrity, sensitivity, diversity, contributing to the common good and working towards a fairer and more sustainable society.
IBA reaction to receiving the Aptissimi Award for the Contribution to the Legal Sector and Society includes:
IBA President Sternford Moyo, Senior Partner and Chairman at Scanlen & Holderness in Zimbabwe, commented: ‘The Aptissimi Awards have long been a marker of excellence.
It is a great honour for the International Bar Association to be recognised by such a key player in the field of legal education as ESADE. We are proud to be a leader in the global development of the legal profession, and to play a part in shaping it for the good of society.’
Almudena Arpón de Mendívil, IBA Vice President and Partner at Gómez-Acebo & Pombo in Madrid, said: ‘This award is a great honour for the International Bar Association and for the entire legal sector. The IBA was formed under the conviction that it may, and must, contribute to stability, to global peace, to progress and ultimately to the promotion and protection of the Rule of Law. Since its founding, and thanks to the work of so many volunteers everywhere and of a great executive team, the IBA contributes to the building of a robust legal sector where business law practitioners and ESADE, as a leader in legal education in Spain, have a principal role.’
IBA Executive Director, Dr Mark Ellis, added: ‘In conferring this accolade on the International Bar Association, the judging panel has recognised the IBA’s key contribution to the global development of the legal profession, as well as its focus on the promotion of human rights, the rule of law and access to justice. It is humbling to be recognised for the strides we have made in these areas.’
The award ceremony took place on Thursday 7 October 2021 in Barcelona, Spain. Ms Arpón de Mendívil received the award on behalf of the organisation.
Patricia Valenti, Director of ESADE Alumni, commented: ‘Among the many merits of the IBA, the panel has especially valued its leading role in the global development of the profession and its values since its founding more than 70 years ago, highlighting the promotion of human rights, the rule of law and the administration of justice. The IBA is a global reference point for the legal profession and notably contributes to shaping the profession. The IBA is the most important worldwide association of international lawyers and has proven to be an unparalleled forum for legal professionals to meet and debate, with a large social impact beyond a strictly legal sense.’
Now in their 13th year, the Aptissimi – Latin for the most competent – Awards were introduced to acknowledge individual or institutional ethos and endeavours that align with the core values of the global business and law school ESADE; integrity, sensitivity, diversity, contributing to the common good and working towards a fairer and more sustainable society.
IBA reaction to receiving the Aptissimi Award for the Contribution to the Legal Sector and Society includes:
IBA President Sternford Moyo, Senior Partner and Chairman at Scanlen & Holderness in Zimbabwe, commented: ‘The Aptissimi Awards have long been a marker of excellence.
It is a great honour for the International Bar Association to be recognised by such a key player in the field of legal education as ESADE. We are proud to be a leader in the global development of the legal profession, and to play a part in shaping it for the good of society.’
Almudena Arpón de Mendívil, IBA Vice President and Partner at Gómez-Acebo & Pombo in Madrid, said: ‘This award is a great honour for the International Bar Association and for the entire legal sector. The IBA was formed under the conviction that it may, and must, contribute to stability, to global peace, to progress and ultimately to the promotion and protection of the Rule of Law. Since its founding, and thanks to the work of so many volunteers everywhere and of a great executive team, the IBA contributes to the building of a robust legal sector where business law practitioners and ESADE, as a leader in legal education in Spain, have a principal role.’
IBA Executive Director, Dr Mark Ellis, added: ‘In conferring this accolade on the International Bar Association, the judging panel has recognised the IBA’s key contribution to the global development of the legal profession, as well as its focus on the promotion of human rights, the rule of law and access to justice. It is humbling to be recognised for the strides we have made in these areas.’
The award ceremony took place on Thursday 7 October 2021 in Barcelona, Spain. Ms Arpón de Mendívil received the award on behalf of the organisation.
Press contact
Sandra Cuesta
Director of Business Development, Marketing and Communications
Sandra Cuesta
Director of Business Development, Marketing and Communications
More information about
Gómez-Acebo & Pombo
PUBLICATION
03 Mar, 2026
Legal doctrine of the UPC’s Court of Appeal on the patent invalidity defence: is the way in which the ‘long arm’ is applied compatible with the UPC's own Rules of Procedure?
The Court of Appeal of the Unified Patent Court has ruled that a patent invalidity defence cannot be raised before the Unified Patent Court, with only a counterclaim being possible. This calls into question the way in which the ‘long arm’ is being applied with regard to European patents validated in States that are not party to the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court (UPCA), whether or not they are members of the European Union, since no counterclaim for revocation or plea of invalidity as a defence can be filed or raised with regard to such patents. This raises significant doubts about the compatibility of how the ‘long arm’ is applied in the Unified Patent Court system, given its own Rules of Procedure.
PUBLICATION
26 Feb, 2026
A restructuring plan sanctioned in England and Wales that modifies debt subject to German law has no effect in Germany
Recognition of UK restructuring plans remains a contentious issue in the European Union. This decision by the Frankfurt am Main Regional Court is controversial, but it raises questions about the consequences of the application of the rule in Gibbs by the courts of England and Wales in this context.
PUBLICATION
26 Feb, 2026
Pharma & Healthcare No. 47
The newsletter covers the main developments in Pharma & Healthcare legislation and case law.
PUBLICATION
23 Feb, 2026
Irregularities in public sector staffing. Jurisdiction and/or substantive law
When a serious irregularity is found in administrative contracts owing to their employment character, jurisdiction lies with the employment branch of the court system. However, if the administrative route is not outside the scope of the law, jurisdiction lies with the judicial review branch of the court system.
PUBLICATION
17 Feb, 2026
Squeeze-out of minority shareholders following successful mandatory takeover bid: rebuttable presumption of fair consideration
The Court of Justice of the European Union (Fifth Chamber), in its judgment of 27 November 2025 (Case C-567/24, Svema Trade), concerning the equitable price in a squeeze-out requiring minority shareholders to sell their shares to an offeror who, following a mandatory takeover bid, has acquired more than 90% of the capital carrying voting rights in the company subject of the takeover bid, states that the presumption that the price offered in the bid, in the context of such a squeeze-out of holders of securities, is equitable is rebuttable.
PUBLICATION
13 Feb, 2026
Senior management, membership of the board of directors and insolvency proceedings: single association theory yes, but also employer-employee relationship
Despite classifying the association as a commercial relationship and not an employment relationship, compensation amounts for termination of contract are allowed if they match those accepted by the insolvency practitioners, just as remuneration amounts are allowed if said practitioners had decided to accept remuneration in some months but not in others.
PUBLICATION
10 Feb, 2026
Application of Austrian law to liability in tort of directors of Maltese company offering online games of chance in Austria
The CJEU clarifies two important issues regarding the application of the Rome II Regulation: the scope of the exception relating to corporate matters and the determination of the place of damage in the case of games of chance offered via the internet from one Member State in another Member State without the licence required in the latter Member State.
PUBLICATION
09 Feb, 2026
Notarial enforcement of pledges. Is Article 1872 of the Civil Code mandatory? In what sense?
The clause agreed upon must comply, for greater certainty, with the provisions of the new judicial enforcement procedure. It will be necessary to agree on an appraised value, which is not required in Article 1872 CC, because otherwise the award would be similar to a ‘forfeiture proviso’ (pactum commissorium), which the Civil Code neutralised with the drastic imposition of extinguishment of the debt in its entirety.
PUBLICATION
06 Feb, 2026
Automotive and Sustainable Mobility No. 29
Summary of legislative and jurisprudential developments relating to the automotive sector.