Episode 1 – The Legal Community Speaks: Gratitude, Responsibility, and Imagination with Prof. Teresa Rodríguez de las Heras Ballel
“We see democracies in question. We see abuse of power. We see the war prevailing over dialogue — and yet, our responsibility as jurists is dissatisfaction, never frustration. Because frustration risks inactivity.”
That’s how Prof. Teresa Rodríguez de las Heras Ballel, President of the European Law Institute (ELI), defines the challenge for Europe’s legal community today.
In this opening episode of The Legal Community Speaks, presented by Dublin-based barristers Mark Tottenham and Peter Leonard, we meet the new President of the ELI — a visionary jurist whose energy, intellect, and optimism are reshaping how Europe thinks about law, democracy, and the future.
Recorded at the ELI Annual Conference at the University of Vienna, Teresa shares her three guiding words — Gratitude, Responsibility, and Imagination — and why she believes law must evolve not just through doctrine, but through creativity.
She reveals how the ELI’s work has already influenced major European legislation, including the EU’s Digital Services Act, and how she plans to expand the Institute’s global reach to Latin America, Asia, and beyond.
“We need to imagine possible futures,” she says. “That’s where justice begins.”
This conversation captures the spirit of the ELI: independent, collaborative, and dedicated to ensuring that law remains a living force for democracy and human rights.
🎙️ The Legal Community Speaks is produced by The Fifth Court team in association with the European Law Institute.
Hosted by Mark Tottenham BL and Peter Leonard BL, this nine-part series brings you inside Europe’s legal community — where the minds shaping the future of law share their insights, stories, and ideals.
Listen on: Acast • Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Google Podcasts
Follow: #EuropeanLawInstitute #RuleOfLaw #LegalCommunity #ELI #TheLegalCommunitySpeaks #PeterLeonard #MarkTottenhametter law can make a better Europe.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episode 1 – The Legal Community Speaks: Gratitude, Responsibility, and Imagination with Prof. Teresa Rodríguez de las Heras Ballel
“We see democracies in question. We see abuse of power. We see the war prevailing over dialogue — and yet, our responsibility as jurists is dissatisfaction, never frustration. Because frustration risks inactivity.”
That’s how Prof. Teresa Rodríguez de las Heras Ballel, President of the European Law Institute (ELI), defines the challenge for Europe’s legal community today.
In this opening episode of The Legal Community Speaks, presented by Dublin-based barristers Mark Tottenham and Peter Leonard, we meet the new President of the ELI — a visionary jurist whose energy, intellect, and optimism are reshaping how Europe thinks about law, democracy, and the future.
Recorded at the ELI Annual Conference at the University of Vienna, Teresa shares her three guiding words — Gratitude, Responsibility, and Imagination — and why she believes law must evolve not just through doctrine, but through creativity.
She reveals how the ELI’s work has already influenced major European legislation, including the EU’s Digital Services Act, and how she plans to expand the Institute’s global reach to Latin America, Asia, and beyond.
“We need to imagine possible futures,” she says. “That’s where justice begins.”
This conversation captures the spirit of the ELI: independent, collaborative, and dedicated to ensuring that law remains a living force for democracy and human rights.
🎙️ The Legal Community Speaks is produced by The Fifth Court team in association with the European Law Institute.
Hosted by Mark Tottenham BL and Peter Leonard BL, this nine-part series brings you inside Europe’s legal community — where the minds shaping the future of law share their insights, stories, and ideals.
Listen on: Acast • Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Google Podcasts
Follow: #EuropeanLawInstitute #RuleOfLaw #LegalCommunity #ELI #TheLegalCommunitySpeaks #PeterLeonard #MarkTottenhametter law can make a better Europe.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
European Law Institute Podcast (Episode: Michael Strauss, EBRD)
In this special episode of The Legal Community Speaks – The ELI Podcast, recorded at the European Law Institute Annual Conference at the University of Vienna, hosts Peter Leonard BL and Mark Tottenham BL speak with Michael Strauss, General Counsel of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
Strauss, whose career includes senior roles at the IMF, World Bank Group, Asian Development Bank, and the US Treasury, offers a rare and deeply informed insight into the EBRD’s mandate, its origins after the fall of the Berlin Wall, and its continued role in supporting emerging democracies and developing robust private sectors across its regions of operation.
In a wide-ranging conversation, Strauss discusses:
• The historical purpose of the EBRD and its distinct political and environmental mandates
• The Bank’s investment model, capital structure, and oversight by its 79 members
• The EBRD’s expanding geographical remit and the legal framework supporting it
• The Bank’s extensive work in Ukraine, including infrastructure repairs, energy systems, and real-economy support
• Challenges of engagement in regions such as the West Bank and Gaza
• The ethical responsibilities of lawyers in matters of sustainability, governance, and climate-related decision-making
• The emerging importance of corporate climate governance and “speak-up” culture within large institutions
This thoughtful and compelling interview highlights the intersection of law, policy, finance, and geopolitics — and the essential role legal professionals play in shaping responsible international governance.
Recorded in collaboration with the ELI Conference in Vienna, this episode continues the series featuring leading voices from across Europe and beyond.
A series of podcasts recorded at the ELI Annual Conference at the University of Vienna
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.