IAFL Introduction to International Family Law Conference 2026, Manila, Philippines

The International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL) is a worldwide association of practising lawyers who are recognised by their peers as the most experienced and skilled family law specialists in their respective countries. The Academy was formed in 1986 to improve the practice of law and the administration of justice in the area of divorce and family law throughout the world.

This conference is organised by the IAFL's Asia Pacific Chapter and is hosted in collaboration with the University of the Philippines College of Law. The Academy's registered address, as printed on the registration portal's receipt line and on its contact page, is 321 N Clark St, 12th Floor, Chicago, IL 60654, USA.

The Introduction to International Family Law Conference is a one-day meeting exploring key developments in international family law issues that affect modern family law practice. The programme brings together leading international family law practitioners from across Asia, Europe and Australia, along with government representatives and academics, to share insights, comparative perspectives and practical guidance on cross-border family law work.

The Academy describes it as an informative and enjoyable day that also provides excellent networking opportunities for delegates. The education programme invites delegates to engage with international experts, deepen their understanding of cross-border family law issues, and connect with colleagues from across jurisdictions.

• Family lawyers up to ten years qualified who practise in international family law and who are considering applying for fellowship of the IAFL and want more of a feel for the Academy.
• The Academy states that the target audience is family lawyers and academics in the Philippines who wish to know more about the IAFL and its activities.
• The meeting is expressly not aimed at current Fellows of the Academy. The registration portal repeats this: "This event is not for current Fellows of the Academy. The target audience is potential Fellows."
• Places at the conference are limited and will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Registrations are unique to the individual named on the registration form and are not interchangeable or transferable, in part or whole, to another person.

Note for readers outside the Philippines. The education programme records the invitation in these terms: the Asia Pacific Chapter of the IAFL "warmly invites members of the Philippine legal and academic communities to attend", and the sessions are framed as "practical guidance for Filipino lawyers who have an interest in domestic and international developments within family law". The registration form does collect the delegate's address country and the city, province or state and country of practice. Beyond that, neither the event page nor the registration portal states any nationality, citizenship or bar-membership condition, and neither states whether practitioners based outside the Philippines may book. If you practise outside the Philippines, write to iafl@judylaneics.com and confirm before committing to travel.

The official education programme ("AP Manila October 2026 Version 3") lists three moderated sessions:

• International Child Abduction and the Hague Convention. Moderator: Jaerey Velasco (Hong Kong China). Speakers: Sasha Allison (Hong Kong China), Tomoko Takase (Japan), and Undersecretary Raul Vasquez (Department of Justice, Philippines).
• Financial Support and Property Relations. Moderator: John Spender (Australia). Speakers: Linda Ong (Singapore), Olivia Grobtuch (Australia), and Atty. Soledad Margarita Deriquito-Mawis (Philippines).
• Domestic Violence: Spouse, Child and Protection. Moderator: Stephen Peaker (Hong Kong China). Speakers: Simon Bruce (England and Wales), Azan Marwah (Hong Kong China), and Atty. Minerva June Ambrosio (Philippines).

Individual session start times are not published in the programme document. The document gives only the overall window: the education programme runs from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, followed by networking cocktails at the Grand Hyatt Hotel.

• Date: Monday, 12 October 2026.
• Education programme: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
• Networking cocktails / drinks reception: 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Manila.
• Venue: UP BGC Auditorium, University of the Philippines, College of Law, Bonifacio Global City (UP BGC), 32nd/38th Street, Taguig City 1634. The event page links a Google Map for directions.
• Mode: In person. No online or hybrid attendance option is offered on the official page or in the registration portal.

There is a single registration category. The registration fee is US $80 per delegate. The portal's fee table carries one row only, "Registration Fee / FULL / USD / 80.00"; FULL is the portal's own category label, not a separate or higher tier.

The fee includes:

• Attendance at the Education Programme on Monday 12 October.
• Light lunch and coffee break.
• Drinks reception, 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. This is included in the fee, but the portal asks delegates to indicate attendance so that numbers can be controlled and dietary requirements catered for. The reception ticket appears in the portal at USD 0.00.

Registrations are collected through an EventsAir portal operated by Judy Lane ICS (JLICS) on behalf of the IAFL. The portal moves through these steps:

• Registration Fee - the single US $80 category and the inclusions.
• Contact Details - first name, last name, title, organization, address lines 1 and 2, address city, address country, province/state, postcode/zipcode, email address, verify email address, additional email/s and mobile/cell phone. The same step captures the name badge and participants list entry (preferred first name, city of practice, country, province/state of practice), emergency contact information (contact name and contact phone), and a photography choice - either "I agree to my photograph being shared on the IAFL website and/or social media accounts" or "I do not want my photograph shared on the IAFL website and/or social media account".
• Social Event - indicate attendance at the drinks reception.
• Dietary Requirements - a selectable list: Dietary Requirements - None, Gluten Free, Lactose/Dairy Free, No Beef, No Seafood (including but not limited to Shellfish, Fish etc), No Lamb, No Pork, No Poultry, No Spice, Nut Allergy, Pescetarian, Seafood Allergy, Seafood and Nut Allergy, Shellfish Allergy, Soy Free, Vegan, Vegetarian, and Other with a free-text box.
• Summary - review the booking, and tick the compulsory box "I confirm I have read and agree the Terms and Conditions". The full Terms and Conditions are a separate PDF linked from this step and are listed in the links section below. Acceptance is mandatory; the registration cannot be submitted without it.
• Payment - the portal redirects to a secure payment platform. The portal warns in capitals that once payment is complete you must click the "Continue" button in the top right-hand corner of the payment platform: "Please note if the 'Continue' button is not clicked payment will be taken but details will not be submitted to the booking system YOU WILL NOT BE REGISTERED FOR THE EVENT."

The receipt is issued by Judy Lane ICS on behalf of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL), 321 N Clark St, 12th Floor, Chicago, IL 60654, USA. Credit card charges appear as "IAFL" on the statement and are converted to the cardholder's currency. A registration confirmation email is sent after submission; if it does not arrive, the portal asks delegates to check their spam folder before emailing iafl@judylaneics.com to supply a personal secondary email for communications.

The official page and the registration portal do not publish a registration closing date. Because places are limited and allocated first-come, first-served, book early. The date shown on this listing is the conference date itself, not an organiser-stated cut-off.

Amendments and cancellations cannot be made through the registration portal. The portal's Summary step states: "Please note that you cannot amend or cancel your registration or any functions that you have booked through this portal. For all amendments and cancellations, please email Michele via iafl@judylaneics.com." Michele is the only individual the secretariat names for this purpose; no surname or direct telephone number is published.

• Registration cancellations received in writing to iafl@judylaneics.com will be accepted until 31 August 2026 and fees refunded, less a US $30 administrative fee per person.
• Registration fees for cancellations received after 31 August 2026 will not be refunded.
• No refunds will be made for non-attendance at the conference.
• Registrations are unique to the individual named on the registration form and are not interchangeable or transferable, either in part or whole, to another person.
• If, in the unlikely event, the conference is cancelled, any travel and accommodation costs will not be refunded.

The full Registration Terms and Conditions are published as a separate PDF, linked from the Summary step of the portal and reproduced in outline here.

• Who collects the data. The personal data requested on the registration form is collected by Judy Lane International Conference Services Ltd (JLICS), PO Box 273, Benfleet, Essex, SS7 9FS, UK (iafl@judylaneics.com) on behalf of the International Academy of Family Lawyers. JLICS will share the data with the IAFL.
• Why. To process and manage the meeting registration and take payment, and to send information about the Introduction to International Family Law Conference in Manila.
• Your rights. Delegates may access, amend or delete the personal data held about them, or where applicable withdraw consent, at any time by emailing iafl@judylaneics.com, including full name, organisation name, email address and country of residence as given on the form, and the action requested. The terms warn that a request to suspend processing or delete data, or a withdrawal of consent, may leave JLICS unable to process the registration or may result in the registration being cancelled, and that in case of cancellation the delegate remains financially liable for the cancellation penalties set out above.
• IAFL's use of the data. The IAFL uses conference booking data to answer queries, to manage and process registration, to organise social functions and to keep delegates updated with conference arrangements. It will not share this information with anyone outside the organisation except where necessary to deliver its services.
• Emergency contact consent. Emergency contact information is not shared with third parties and is used only in emergency situations. By supplying it, the delegate confirms they have consent from that person to share their personal data with the IAFL and Judy Lane ICS Ltd.
• Dietary requirements. JLICS will share any dietary requirements provided, including full names, with any venue where food is provided by the meeting and where attendance has been indicated. The terms state plainly that if a delegate does not provide information about special dietary needs, those requirements cannot be accommodated.

Dress code: Business casual.

Accommodation: Delegates requiring hotel accommodation may contact the Grand Hyatt in Manila directly to make a reservation, or book online through the hotel's own website. Grand Hyatt Manila, 8th Avenue Corner 35th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, Manila 1653, telephone +63 2 8838 1234. Accommodation is not included in the registration fee.

Sponsorship: The IAFL Asia Pacific Chapter gratefully acknowledges the support of its meeting sponsors, whose logos appear on the official event page and the education programme: Oldham, Li & Nie (OLN), Hone Maxwell LLP and Atanante & Ilagan Law Office. For details on sponsorship opportunities, contact Ele Dexter at ele.dexter@iafl.com.