The new ICAM statutes come into force

Following their publication on Tuesday in the Official Bulletin of the Community of Madrid (BOCM), the new Statutes of the Illustrious Madrid Bar Association (ICAM) officially came into force yesterday, Wednesday. These statutes were approved last December during an Extraordinary General Assembly, with 79% support from members, and unanimously ratified by the General Council of Spanish Lawyers (CGAE) in a plenary session held on January 24, 2025. After registration with the Professional Associations Registry of the Community of Madrid, ICAM now operates under an updated legal framework aligned with recent regulatory changes and the current and future needs of Madrid’s legal profession.

The new statutory regime introduces substantial changes to the corporation’s functioning, notably including university teaching among the core objectives of the Bar Association and establishing the Collegial Council as a consultative body. It also strengthens the regulation of professional secrecy, guarantees gender parity in governance bodies, and subjects the management of association services to sustainability and quality standards certified by independent entities.

Regarding member rights, the Statutes eliminate the distinction between practicing and non-practicing lawyers when requesting General Assembly meetings, while maintaining vote weighting as stipulated in the General Statute of the Legal Profession. Additionally, a fairer regulation for fee opinions has been introduced, based on objective criteria such as maturity, and a statutory cap prevents membership fees from increasing above the annual Consumer Price Index (CPI), ensuring predictable and realistic financial management for professionals.

The reform also brings relevant changes to the guiding principles of the Association. The institution will now be governed by transparency, participation, equality, and sustainability criteria, as explicitly stated in Article 39 of the new Statutes. A minimum of 40% representation of the less represented gender in governing bodies is mandated, and a stronger commitment to quality and continuous improvement in service delivery is ensured through external audits and independent certifications.

For ICAM’s Dean, Eugenio Ribón, the new Statutes “mark the beginning of a structural transformation phase for the Association, with a more transparent, participatory model adapted to today’s challenges.” He believes that “these Statutes reflect our commitment to a Bar Association that is useful to its members, respected for defending the profession, and influential in major legal and social debates. With tools such as remote voting, university teaching, and the principle of sustainability, the Association is positioned to lead the changes required by 21st-century legal practice.”