Partnership with the European Young Bar Association (EYBA)

About the association

European Young Bar Association was founded in 1993 as a platform for bringing together young lawyers from across Europe. Its goal is to promote professional development, create conditions for establishing international contacts, and protect the interests of young lawyers in Europe. Today, EYBA is one of the most active associations of young lawyers, bringing together hundreds of members from more than 20 countries around the world.

Sergiy Barbashyn on the EYBA board

In 2020, Sergiy Barbashyn became the first Ukrainian representative elected to the EYBA board. After two years on the executive committee, he became president of the association for a one-year term in 2023 and continued his work as Immediate Past President from 2024 to July 2025. This was a landmark event not only for Barbashyn Law Firm, but also for the entire Ukrainian legal community, as it provided an opportunity to represent Ukraine on the international stage during extremely challenging times.

Activities and events of the association

One of the main activities of the European Young Bar Association is the organization of annual international conferences. Traditionally, they take place three times a year in spring, summer, and fall and bring together young lawyers from all over Europe and the world. In 2024, conferences were held in London, Istanbul, and Copenhagen.

The 2024 spring conference in Istanbul focused on gender equality, contemporary challenges in the legal profession, and the role of young lawyers in the development of the legal community. During the general meeting, a budget policy was adopted, and a decision was made to exempt Ukrainian participants from paying membership fees during martial law  a significant gesture of support for the Ukrainian legal profession.

The 2024 summer conference in Copenhagen focused on the theme of a new world legal order. Here, the results of Serhii Barbasin’s presidency were summarized, and the results of the year and new projects were discussed: cooperation with the CCBE, CoE, ERA, participation in WebSummit, and a survey on the impact of AI on legal practice.

In the fall in London, as Immediate Past President, Sergiy Barbashyn continued his work on the association’s board, participating in summarizing the results and discussing future directions for development. He particularly noted his year as president as a period of important initiatives that contributed to strengthening cooperation between EYBA members.During the academic part of the conference, issues of law and climate action, human rights protection were discussed, and the topical Ranking and Recognition Workshop 3.0 was held, dedicated to the challenges and opportunities created by artificial intelligence.

Thus, EYBA’s activities combine both traditional educational events and modern initiatives that respond to global challenges and contribute to strengthening the role of young lawyers in the international legal arena.

Research on the impact of artificial intelligence on the legal profession

In spring 2024, Sergiy Barbashyn, in collaboration with EYBASergiy Barbashyn, initiated an international survey among lawyers from more than 15 countries on the impact of artificial intelligence on legal practice. The results of the study showed that most lawyers believe that AI can automate routine tasks, giving lawyers more time for strategic work. This confirms the need for responsible and ethical use of technology in the legal field.

Under the presidency of Sergiy Barbashyn, EYBA launched an international working group to coordinate efforts to regulate the use of AI in legal practice. Joint action by professionals paves the way for the safe and effective implementation of innovations.

End of Sergiy Barbashyn’s presidency at EYBA

During the 2024 summer conference dedicated to the topic of the new world legal order, Sergiy Barbashyn summed up his term in office. In his speech, he thanked his European colleagues for their continued support of Ukraine and emphasized the importance of the legal community’s rapid response to global challenges.

Among the key initiatives of his presidency, the following are worth noting:

• a renewed Task Force project to support Ukrainian refugees;
• the launch of a series of practical Recognition Accelerator workshops;
• he decision to exempt Ukrainian EYBA members from paying membership fees during martial law.

These steps were not only a manifestation of professional solidarity, but also real assistance to the Ukrainian legal community during martial law.