Business lawyers have a crucial role to play in defending the rule of law, which is “under threat and being ignored” according to the president of the International Bar Association, Francis Neate.

Addressing more than 3,500 delegates at the opening of the IBA’s annual conference in Prague on 26 September, Neate, a consultant at US firm Kirkland & Ellis and former head of legal at Schroders, urged multinational companies and business leaders to help maintain the rule of law.