STREATHERS Solicitors hosted the Autumn Meeting 2025 in London, UK
London is always a great experience with Euréseau. Our hosts STREATHERS took us to meet in Southwark/London which was once considered a seedy suburb of London located outside the city walls. In the Middle Ages, the area was notorious for its theaters, brothels, bear-fighting arenas, and prisons, as it was not subject to the strict jurisdiction of the City of London. It was also home to the legendary Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the district developed into an important industrial and port hub. Today, the area is characterized by significant gentrification. Former warehouses and Victorian brick buildings have been extensively revitalized and now house innovative tech companies, trendy bars, and boutiques. Anyone strolling through Southwark today will experience the perfect contrast between tradition (the medieval Southwark Cathedral or historic pubs like The Anchor, which has been welcoming travelers since the 17th century) and modernity: The breathtaking skyline along the Thames, featuring Tower Bridge and the latest architectural developments.
The meeting has been very successfully guided by our dear President Özlem Odabas Tavares. One of its highlights has been the introduction to the legal system of England and Wales. Gabriel Grant STREATHERS took us on a very interesting legal journey explaining us the legal system of England and Wales that is a common law jurisdiction in which judicial decisions carry significant weight; it is embedded in a parliamentary democracy characterized by parliamentary sovereignty and a strong tradition of judicial independence and is organized through a tiered court system (from trial courts up to the UK Supreme Court). Legally, it remains unified for England and Wales, although Wales possesses its own legislative powers and a special political status through devolution. Although there is a single legal jurisdiction of “England and Wales”, political and legislative responsibility is partially decentralized (“devolution”) in favor of Wales: Wales has its own legislative powers and institutions (Senedd Cymru, the Welsh Government), which are governed, among other things, by the Government of Wales Act 2006.
The social program’s highlight has been our festive dinner at the Royal Automobile Club which is a prestigious private members' club that has been shaping automotive history since 1897. Its historic headquarters are located in the Westminster district of London. The club features exclusive restaurants, a historic library, and a sports center with one of London’s oldest surviving swimming pools. Thanks to Felix Appelbe STREATHERS we were given this exclusive opportunity to hold our traditionally festive Meeting Dinner on Saturday night.