For the first time in two decades and only the second time in its 76-year history, a woman has taken the helm of the International Bar Association (IBA). Almudena Arpón de Mendívil y Aldama, partner at the Spanish law firm Gómez-Acebo & Pombo, will lead the association for the calendar years of 2023 and 2024. 

Arpón de Mendívil succeeds Sternford Moyo of Zimbabwe, to whom she served as IBA vice president from 2021 to 2022.