History

On March 4, 1925, the “International Law Association (French Branch)” was created in Paris, a member of the federation of national branches created in 1873 in Brussels, Belgium. The purpose of this association was “the reform and codification of international law, the unification of private law, in particular maritime, commercial and air law, and generally all studies of public and private international law.” It was in 1966 that it took its current name “Association de droit international – Branche française”. Its honorary president was then Paul GOVARE, an honorary lawyer specializing in maritime law, and its president Léopold DOR, also internationally known in this field. Its Steering Committee included, in particular, Henry FROMAGEOT, legal advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Professors Ambroise COLIN, private sector, Albert DE GEOUFFRE DE LA PRADELLE, publicist, Georges RIPERT, private sector, Charles LYON-CAEN, private sector, and the Secretary General of the Central Committee of Shipowners, Jacques MARCHEGAY.

In 1935, Professor Albert DE GEOUFFRE DE LA PRADELLE was elected President, while Jacques MARCHEGAY was elected Secretary General, with Pierre-Olivier LAPIE, lawyer, as his deputy, who was to become Minister of National Education after the Second World War.

In 1936, the French Branch organized the 39th Conference of the World Association and Professor Albert de LA PRADELLE became, following tradition, the President of the World Association for two years.

In 1951, Marcelle KRAEMER-BACH was the first woman elected vice-president.

In 1965, Professor Henri BATIFFOL, a private practitioner, became president. He then gave way to his colleague Berthold GOLDMAN, also a private practitioner, who was president of the University of Paris 2 in the 1970s. Professor André FRANÇON, a private practitioner, became secretary general, with Professor and lawyer Jean-Denis BREDIN, a private practitioner, as his deputy. Professor Jacques DEHAUSSY, a publicist, then dean of the Faculty of Law in Dijon, became vice-president. Professors Yvon LOUSSOUARN, a private practitioner, and Charles ROUSSEAU, a publicist, as well as Paul-François RYZIGER, a lawyer at the Council, joined the Bureau.

In 1967, Prof. Suzanne BASTID, publicist, joined the Bureau, at the same time as Pierre BELLET, then President of the Chamber at the Paris Court of Appeal (who would later become First President of the Court of Cassation), Jean LISBONNE, lawyer and Eugène PEPIN, Vice-President of the Society of Air and Space Law.

In 1971, Prof. Yvon LOUSSOUARN was elected President of the French Branch, a position which he was succeeded by Jean LISBONNE, lawyer, in 1981.

In 1984, the French Branch of the ADI/ILA organized the 61st Conference of the World Association. Prof. Michel VIRALLY was elected President of the French Branch after Jean LISBONNE became President of the ADI/ILA.

In 1989, Mr. Gilbert GUILLAUME, judge at the International Court of Justice, of which he was later to become President, was elected President of the Association. During the term of President Guillaume, the positions of Secretary General were succeeded by Prof. Emmanuel GAILLARD and Catherine KESSEDJIAN, then Mr. Dominique HASCHER and Prof. François-Xavier TRAIN.

The almost perfect alternation between private and public practitioners was still respected in 2014, when Prof. Catherine KESSEDJIAN, private practitioner, was elected President while Prof. Franck LATTY, public practitioner, became Secretary General.

For the first time in 2015, the position of Director of Studies for the French branch was created.

In 2021, Prof. Franck LATTY was elected President while Ms. Carla BAKER-CHISS, Lawyer, was elected Secretary General. The Board of Directors is expanding to assume the governance of an association that now exceeds 300 members (full members and student members).

In 2023, the French Branch is organizing the 150th anniversary of the International Law Association, under the leadership of Prof. Catherine KESSEDJIAN, President of the Organizing Committee.

In 2025, the French Branch is celebrating its centenary.