Melanie Kilian of Fairbridges Wertheim Becker attended the annual meeting of the International Bar Association (IBA) in Vienna, Austria in October 2015. Over 6000 attorney delegates from all over the world attended the proceedings where the focus this year was on humanitarian issues and the refugee crisis affecting the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. Delegates were addressed by Jose Manuel Barroso, former Prime Minister of Portugal and eleventh President of the European Commission. He emphasized that being an attorney is much more than merely practising law but it is also about the contribution you can make to assist people as in a humanitarian crisis and society as a whole. There was plenty of time for delegates to enjoy the many attractions of the ancient city including a reception at the British Embassy, a performance by the Vienna Boys Choir and the breathtaking routines of the Lipizzaner horses and riders.