The New York State Bar Association will soon enter its 10th new overseas bar association partnership in the last 13 months, building on a surge of expansion spearheaded by an International Section chair who prioritizes connection among overseas lawyers and by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine bringing into sharp relief the importance of enforcing international laws.

The COVID-19 pandemic’s global reach also has been a factor in the recent expansion of international partnerships, according to state bar association officials who say the pandemic made even clearer how crucial it is for attorneys across the world to share information and ideas.