ILA Annual Dinner and lecture 2012

15/11/12

The ILA's 23nd Anniversary Annual Dinner, held under the dinosaur in the impressive Great Hall of the Natural History Museum in London was a memorable evening. Over 500 members and guests from solicitors' firms, barristers' chambers and other leading UK and overseas organisations attended the prestigious black tie event.

ILA members enjoyed the informative pre-dinner lecture from Dr John Tribe entitled  "Punishment and Insolvency: a historical overview - should modern policy take a more punitive approach to debtor misconduct". Dr Tribe's lecture notes will be available shortly.

Following dinner, Nigel Barnett gave his Presidential address and took the opportunity to launch the ILA's support of the charity Depression Alliance. 

Since the start of the financial crisis in 2008 increasing numbers are reported to have suffered from depression or other mental health related problems. Members of the legal and accounting professions seem to be particularly vulnerable. Depression Alliance has over 30 years experience of providing non medical support to people living with depression, this is done by connecting people with depression with others who have the condition for peer support. 

The money raised by the ILA at the Annual Dinner will go directly to supporting Depression Alliance in its launch of a brand new service called Friends in Need which will help people with depression get the support and reassurance they need from people that know what they are going through because they have been there too. It sounds simple, but it will be life changing.  

Nigel asked the Association to join him in thanking the team from Clifford Chance, led by Philip Hertz and Tessa Bartley once again for their superb organisation of another fantastic evening.

Photographs from the evening are in the Gallery section of the website and can be viewed here.