25th Anniversary Video Introductory Remarks By Leonard H. Gilbert
Justice Ramesh and I decided early on how best to recognize the 25th Anniversary Conference. He invited Judge Chuck Case to join the project and we had several meetings. Thanks to CC we were able to do a series of videos which you will see shortly.
The story of the International Insolvency Institute is in fact the story of E. Bruce Leonard. Bruce started the Institute and for all intents and purposes, really operated the organization for many, many years. Bruce was a well-known practitioner in Canada, had served as Chair of the Insolvency Section of the International Bar Association( Committee J to many), and was active in that group for many years. He was also active in the Business Bankruptcy Committee of the American Bar Association and chaired it ' s early International Insolvency Committee.
16
It was there that I met Bruce and got to know him very well. He arranged for me to present at the annual IBA in Strasbourg. Hans Luer was in charge of that and John Barrett was chair.
When this organization was formed, I believe it was to be originally limited to 150 members, 75 from North America and 75 from the rest of the world. It’ s estimated growth was to be 200 or 250. It was not to be North American centric but enjoy a wide membership distribution. Referring to the eligibility criteria for membership: the nominee must be a senior and experienced practitioner, academic, regulator or judge with substantial interest and experience in a corporate or other role satisfying the following criteria: 1) excellence in the candidate’ s local market; 2) recognition as a leading practitioner, academic, judge or other professional
in the local market and internationally and 3) depth of experience in the insolvency field, there being a strong presumption that to qualify for a nomination the candidate must have no fewer than 15 years of actual practice in the field. Additionally, significant contribution to the insolvency field and community. For example, through scholarship, advocacy and international work, and finally, demonstrated international insolvency credentials.
A candidate must also be of excellent character and willing to actively participate and make a substantial contribution as a member of the Institute. Bruce had some flexibility in having a candidate meet that criteria because the Institute sought great geographic diversity, aiming for membership in unrepresented or underrepresented regions and countries. For example, when there was someone from a jurisdiction where there were very few cross-border insolvency matters or where there was limited insolvency work so that insolvency could only be a part of the practice, an exception might be made.
III had no problem in locating representatives except in certain obvious areas. There Bruce and others on the Board, active in membership, often sought out the only insolvency practitioner in the area and nominated them for membership.
Early on, in the history of the organization, we had members from not only the obvious countries, Canada, Great Britain, the United States, France, Germany and Italy but also Japan, Croatia, Australia, New Zealand, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Spain, Hong Kong, and Mexico. Other countries followed so that at this point in time we have approximately 65 countries represented among our membership.
16