International Bar Association elects Noerr partner Jörg Menzer as its President

Jörg Menzer is to become the President of the International Bar Association (IBA) with effect from 1 January 2027. The 58-year-old partner from Noerr was elected to the post by a large majority at this year’s annual conference of the world’s largest organisation for legal practitioners in Copenhagen.

The IBA is the leading international association of legal practitioners, lawyers’ associations and law firms. Founded in 1947, the organisation consists of more than 80,000 legal practitioners and over 190 lawyers’ associations from over 170 countries. Around 300 of the world’s leading law firms are also members of the IBA.

Jörg Menzer has held various roles at the IBA since 2005. He was Chair of the Section on Public and Professional Interest (SPPI), Secretary-General from 2023 and Vice President from 2025. With his election as President, he is now taking on the organisation’s top position.

“The key issues of the rule of law come up in a lawyer’s day-to-day work – in the protection of legal confidentiality, the independence of legal advice and access to effective judicial proceedings,” said Jörg Menzer. “The IBA provides a platform for defining common standards and supporting fellow practitioners worldwide. Our objective is to safeguard the rule of law in times of change as a reliable framework for clients and the legal profession, especially in view of the current geopolitical and economic uncertainties.”

Alexander Ritvay, co-managing partner at Noerr, added: “Jörg Menzer’s election as President is a credit to his long-standing and successful involvement in the IBA. As the global voice of the legal profession, the IBA stands up for high professional standards and the independence of the legal profession. The fact that a partner from our firm will be at the helm of this globally recognised organisation is a real honour for us.”