The ICAM launches new section on gender-based violence

The Madrid Bar Association (ICAM) has announced the creation of a new Section dedicated to Gender-Based Violence, reinforcing its commitment to addressing this pressing social and legal issue. The Section will be chaired by Lola Calderón, a seasoned lawyer with extensive experience in criminal law, family law, and gender violence cases.

The new Section aims to serve as a technical and legal reference in the field, with a strong focus on supporting lawyers who serve in the court-appointed legal aid system (Turno de Oficio). It will promote continuous professional training, foster engagement in legal and policy debates, and facilitate dialogue between the legal profession and public protection policies.

Leadership and Advisory Board

Lola Calderón, a law graduate from the Complutense University of Madrid and a specialist in labour relations, brings over 20 years of professional experience to the role. She leads her own law firm, teaches in multiple postgraduate programs, and regularly contributes to professional publications, including Tirant lo Blanch’s Anuario de Derecho de Familia.

Supporting her work will be a multidisciplinary advisory board comprising leading professionals in the legal, academic, and psychosocial fields. Members include Gema Cornejo (family and gender violence lawyer and criminologist), Antonio Abellán (criminal lawyer and ICAM lecturer), Eva Papadopulos (legal aid attorney), Natalia Tejera (expert in criminal family law and legal educator), Carmen Armendáriz (professor of criminal law and director of the Equality Unit at UCM), and Ana Isabel Gutiérrez Salegui (forensic psychologist and specialist in gender-based violence).

With over 50 active Sections led by more than 80 professionals, ICAM maintains the highest level of sector-specific legal specialization among Spanish bar associations. These Sections serve as active platforms for legal discussion, training, and policy development.