European Company Lawyers Association (ECLA) is the umbrella organisation for 22 company lawyer associations in Europe and represents the common interests of European company lawyers. ECLA was created in 1983. It is an international non-profit association governed by Belgian law. Membership is open to national associations only. While individuals are not members of ECLA directly, each company lawyer who is a member of a national association can partake in the benefits negotiated by ECLA. These include discounts for conferences, legal education, training, free publications, and more. During the past 30+ years, ECLA has gained recognition as the leading representative of European company lawyers’ associations and their individual members. In this unrivalled position, ECLA has established a platform to respond to and exercise influence on the European in-house corporate counsel network, European organisations, and policy making bodies.
Members & Organisation
England and Wales
Greece
Ελληνική Ένωση Εμμίσθων Δικηγόρων
(GILA)
Ireland
Slovenia
HISTORY
In 1980, an organization of company lawyers in Belgium took the initiative to contact other similar organizations in the Netherlands, England and Wales, Germany, Italy, and France. These organizations began exchanging experiences and best practices on legal matters with particular reference to international business and the European laws affecting the activities of their respective companies… Read more.
MISSION
During the past 30+ years, ECLA has gained recognition as the leading representative of European company lawyers’ associations and their individual members. In this unrivalled position, ECLA has established a platform to respond to and exercise influence on the European in-house corporate counsel network, European organizations, and policy making bodies… Read more.
FACTS
ECLA is the leading European association for company lawyers; it is an umbrella organization of 19 national associations of company lawyers in Europe. ECLA is a non-governmental and a non-profit organization that provides an ideal structure to participate in the development of the company lawyers’ profession across Europe. It also offers a unique platform for discussing, networking, and lobbying at a European level.
STRUCTURE
ECLA is managed by its General Assembly, which includes as many members as there are national associations; each national association appoints one representative. The General Assembly usually meets twice a year. It elects the Executive Board, which consists of the President, the Secretary, the Treasurer, and one or more Vice Presidents who manage the daily activities of ECLA with the assistance of the General Manager.
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Stéphanie Fougou,
President
SVP- General Counsel & Board Secretary,
Technicolor SA
Mark Cockerill,
Vice President
Privacy, ServiceNow
Laure Lavorel,
Vice President
Broadcom inc.
Silvia Bonacossa,
Vice President
Xerox
Waldemar Koper,
Vice President
Head of Legal,
Asahi Poland
Eric Lennerth,
Treasurer
Stéphane Barthe,
Secretary
Head of Legal and Regulatory – renewable energies,
Plenitude España
Marcus M. Schmitt,
General Manager
Managing Director,
dfv European Corporate Counsel Group BVBA/SPRL
Dr. Michael Henning,
General Manager
Managing Partner,
dfv European Corporate Counsel Group BVBA/SPRL
HONORARY PRESIDENTS
![Philippe. Coen[1]](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_lossless,ret_img,w_180,h_180/https://ecla.online/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Philippe.-Coen1-180x180.jpg "Philippe. Coen[1]")
Philippe Coen
Vice President, Legal and Public Affairs, The Walt Disney Company EMEA
Jonathan Marsh
STATUTES
In 1983, ECLA was formed in Belgium as a private non-profit international association after an organization of company lawyers in Belgium took the initiative to contact other similar organizations in the Netherlands, England and Wales, Germany, Italy and France. These organizations began exchanging experiences and best practices on legal matters with particular reference to the international business and the European laws affecting the activities of their respective companies. During the presidency of Barry O’Meara (October 1987 – May 1990), the cooperation among the European organizations of company lawyers became increasingly more integrated, not only at the scientific level, but also with respect to ethical principles. Therefore, it was decided to adopt a constitution for ECLA as an international association focused on scientific research under Belgian law, which was then publicly recognized in Brussels by royal decree on June 25, 1990.