It was our first time in South America for a conference and we have many happy memories of a wonderful (early Spring) time in Buenos Aires, in a city known best for its romantic Tango as well its political heroine Eva Peron. With its wide, elegant boulevards, the city has a strong European ambience and style, mixed with serious Argentinean culture and tradition.  Prior to the conference some members had visited the mile-long Iguazu Falls in the northeast of Argentina on the Brazilian border, and after the conference a group visited the glaciers and abundant marine life of Patagonia in the south of the country.

Many members had not visited Buenos Aires, so the overall conference programme aimed to provide an introduction to Argentina - culturally, socially and economically, ranging from business presentations about the country and its legal and financial systems, through to a Tango show, visit to a Gaucho Estancia; and a city tour of Buenos Aires into some of its many districts. There was also a separate spouse/guest programme including an Evita/Peronism tour. Whilst in South America there were also presentations from a Brazilian perspective.

From an eating perspective, as frequently mentioned below, it was also an opportunity to taste many different types of Argentinean beef!

World Link for Law members and guests after the gala dinner on Friday
The beef in Argentina is excellent and we had many opportunities during the conference time to sample different cuts!	Waiting in the hotel lobby - about to go out for dinner.

Wednesday evening- dinner at the Buenos Aires Jockey Club

Before the first conference day, on Wednesday evening, there was a ‘welcome’ dinner’ following a short walk from the Caesar Park hotel to the nearby exclusive Buenos Aires Jockey Club, on Avenida Alvear, after some aperitifs and canapés. As a historic private club, the Jockey Club (mainly for the polo fraternity) is not generally open for non-member events, but it was kindly arranged by our local member firm of J P O’Farrell Abogados. It is a very traditional club and we had a very enjoyable first evening meal with ‘lomo’ (fillet of steak) on the menu.

The conference hotel

Buenos Aires is a huge city with many choices of hotels. We chose the Caesar Park hotel situated in the Recoleta district close to exclusive apartments on the Avenida Alvear (and many polo equipment and clothing accessories shops). The hotel was not large and always seemed quiet, but the staff were very courteous and provided much attention to detail. It was also convenient that it was situated opposite the ‘Patio Bullrich’, a small but sophisticated shopping mall.

The Caesar Park hotel	The Caesar Park lobby

The conference business programme

After the introductions, Esteban O’ Farrell, of our member firm of J P O’Farrell Abogados, Buenos Aires, provided an overview of the Argentinean legal system. Then, invited guest Andrés Chambouleyron of LECG, Argentina, provided an interesting presentation concerning international arbitration from an economist’s perspective of researching and providing expert evidence and information to aid dispute resolution.

After the coffee break, Guillermo Plate, Commercial Director of Equity Trust, Buenos Aires, provided a historical insight into the development and management of Argentina’s capital markets following the economic and financial crisis that took place in Argentina in 2001/2002 (perhaps with some relevance to current global economic conditions).

Member lawyer Nelson Slosbergas from Miami, USA, provided a dynamic presentation about possible methods of structuring direct foreign investments into the United States - creatively and tax advantageously.

After beef (!) for lunch, there was the World Link for Law Annual General Assembly with an interesting debate about the criteria for membership and emerging quasi-legal structures and entities. Subsequently, as promised at the 2008 conference in Bucharest, there was a workshop/small group based strategic discussion session, debating issues and creating ideas concerning the tactical development of World Link for Law, whilst also considering the issues affecting global legal service providers and law firm associations.

On Friday, attention turned to Argentina’s neighbour Brazil and initially a ‘multi-media’ presentation by Ricardo Thomazinho da Cunha, of member firm Höfling, Thomazinho Advocacia, São Paulo, concerning the legal aspects and cultural peculiarities of investment opportunities in the Brazilian market. Complementing this presentation, Santiago Albarracin, attorney and independent legal advisor, provided a presentation about his current and recent role in the South American energy market and also a useful insight into working with selected law firms from a client’s perspective.

Before lunch (not beef!) and the afternoon city tour, there was a ‘cross-border franchising contracts’ workshop, very capably organised and managed by Paul Sillis of Collyer Bristow LLP, London with the intention of harnessing legal ideas and later translating this into a ‘checklist’ to be used by members with their clients.

 Thursday night – dinner and Tango show at El Barracas

No visit to Argentina would be complete without a Tango show. On Thursday evening, after the first conference day, our group of 50 went to the intimate surroundings of El Barracas restaurant for an excellent dinner with singing and Tango dancing in between courses. It was an excellent, very professional show. More beef was on the menu, but also a fish option.

 Friday afternoon - Buenos Aires city tour

On Friday afternoon there was a guided city tour by bus, visiting many of the main landmarks of the city such as the Avenida 9 de Julio, Plaza de Mayo, San Telmo and the colourful Boca district.

Friday night gala dinner at the conference hotel

On Friday, as tradition, there was a World Link for Law gala dinner, in the hotel, this time preceded by Daiquiris and Margaritas – very strong! After dinner (beef again! but this time wrapped in pastry), there was the famous World Link for Law quiz, which only one table can win. After dinner we posed for a group photograph as presented above.

Answering some of the questions during the gala dinner quiz	Some of the winners of the quiz with their fantastic prizes of Buenos Aires key rings!

Saturday excursion – a full day tour to an Estancia

The weather was great for the full day Saturday excursion – very warm and not a cloud in the sky. With our loyal guide, Sylviana, we set out from Buenos Aires into the countryside, to an Estancia, after a short visit to a Gaucho museum. Initially, at the very quiet and pleasant Estancia El Ombú de Areco, we were welcomed with a drink and some traditional Argentinean Empanadas (small meat pies); and then, depending on courage, it was either a Sulky ride (horse drawn carriage) or horse riding. Some traditional Gaucho horseriding displays followed (with the extra attention of a few thousand mosquitoes!). Afterwards there was a very relaxing BBQ lunch with different cuts of beef - all set in the warm sunshine and the shade of some trees with some local guitar playing by one of the Gauchos. It was a sleepy return home in the air conditioned coach.

On Saturday night having returned to the city, a small group went to the Petanque Brasserie in San Telmo for an informal meal - mainly salads or fish for most people, but a few persevered and had ‘steak tartar’ (led by Marina O’ Farrell).

After the conference a small group headed off for a 5 day tour of Patagonia - much colder than Buenos Aires.

 Overall, we had a tremendous experience in Argentina. Many thanks to Esteban O’ Farrell, and Carmen Duarte and all the people at J P O’ Farrell Abogados, Buenos Aires, who made our experience very memorable. Muchas Gracias!

See you in Athens, Greece, in October 2010!

Thanks to Philippe Bedard (Paris), Cristiana Stoica (Bucharest) and Michael Raschendorfer (Hamburg) for use of their photos in this review.