About the Forum
Join co hosts- the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, the International Academy of Family Lawyers and the Rwanda Bar Association - at the Africa Legal Forum 2026 in Kigali, where Africa’s leading legal minds converge to shape the future of commercial practice.
Be part of critical conversations in corporate and commercial law and family law, from cross-border transactions and dispute resolution to wealth structuring and enforcement of family rights across jurisdictions. Connect with decision-makers, sharpen your strategic edge, and position yourself at the forefront of Africa’s evolving legal landscape.
Secure your place. Engage. Lead. Shape what comes next.
Steven Thiru
President, Commonwealth Lawyers Association
It is with immense pleasure that I invite you to join us in Kigali for the Africa Legal Forum – a unique gathering where Commonwealth lawyers converge to explore the evolving landscapes of commercial and corporate law, their fascinating intersections with family law, and the transformative impact of artificial intelligence and legal technology on modern practice. Over three dynamic days, we will exchange ideas, challenge perspectives, and uncover solutions that resonate not only in our courts and boardrooms but across our communities.
This Forum is more than a conference; it is a moment to connect, learn, and influence the conversation on legal practice across our diverse jurisdictions. From Rwanda’s vibrant legal ecosystem to our shared Commonwealth traditions, we will reflect on where we have come from—and more importantly—where we are heading.
I encourage each of you to register and be part of these critical discussions. Together, we can shape law that is innovative, inclusive, and responsive to the challenges and opportunities of our time. I look forward to welcoming you to Kigali for what promises to be an inspiring and transformative experience.
Rachael Kelsey
President 2023 - 2025, International Academy of Family lawyers
The International Academy of Family Lawyers are delighted to support this important meeting of practitioners from across Africa, and beyond.
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is the largest free trade area in the world; seventy percent of the Sub-Saharan population of Africa is under the age of 30; by 2050 Africa will be home to at least one quarter of the global workforce and to the largest and youngest population, and Africa’s millionaire population is projected to grow by 65% over the next decade.
All those involved in the business of making Africa fly rely on family law- we have children, partners, parents and extended families. As we live increasingly global lives, these family law issues impact on our ability to be active and engaged participants in the growth of our communities- we need people to be able to work, live and love across borders.
The family law aspects of the programme will cover a diverse range of topics from the intersection of family law and business, wealth and succession planning in a family law context, the recognition of status and court orders across borders and hot topics in child law, including fertility and surrogacy.
We look forward to examination of the breadth, depth and importance of family law from specialists from Commonwealth jurisdictions across Africa and worldwide, the US and Europe.
What will THE FORUM offer you?
Connect
Network with a diverse congress of 200 plus delegates from a variety of African jurisdictions and beyond.
Learn
Hear from leading Commonwealth figures, senior justice leaders, members of the Judiciary, civil societies and practitioners with an exciting speaking faculty.
Share
Advocate for your projects and add your voice - the floor is yours!
Enjoy
A warm legal fraternity of well established and new faces awaits, with opportunities in the social programme for relaxation and networking outside the conference centre
Questions? Reach out!