Ukrainian advocate receives an award from the European Federation of Bars

The European Bars Federation (Fédération des Barreaux d'Europe, European Bars Federation) recognized the activities of the UNBA Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution member Viktoriya Polishchuk. She was named the best professional mediator for her work in the field of alternative dispute resolution.

The award ceremony took place during the regular congress of the Federation (FBE), which this year was held in Paris. Among other nominees, V. Polishchuk received the FBE ADR Awards based on a joint vote and discussion of her contribution to the development of the legal profession. The award was established at the initiative of the Mediation Commission to create a space for the recognition and promotion of mediation and dialogic approaches to dispute resolution.

The Congress brought together leading attorneys to identify key topics that need to be researched and developed in the legal community, as well as to discuss tools for engaging young professionals in the development of the Bar.

The event stood out not only for its content but also for its unique format. One of the panels brought together representatives of different professions, including a political journalist, a priest, and a doctor. This multidisciplinary approach ensured a lively discussion of the issue of professional secrecy in various fields.

In addition, the FBE Congress addressed the impact of new technologies, especially artificial intelligence, on professional secrecy. According to experts, AI can pose a significant threat to confidentiality, which is caused by imperfect software, improper anonymization of data in tools such as ChatGPT. Certain economic and political challenges also have a significant impact.

As a reminder, the European Federation of Bars was founded in Barcelona on May 23, 1992. Its headquarters is located in Strasbourg. Membership in the federation is open to all national bars, as well as to the law societies of the Council of Europe. Today, the FBE has 200 members representing more than one million lawyers.