The Rule of Law goes to the very foundation of order in our society. Around the world, countries are increasingly scrutinised for their adherence to, deviation from, or abuse of, the rule of law. What is becoming clearer, however, is the connections between rule of law and social and economic development. Today’s Symposium will move the debate from legal concepts and the role of state actors, to the specific roles that both business (including the business of the legal profession) and the legal profession have to play in respecting, supporting and advancing the rule of law. General counsels, corporate lawyers and the overall legal profession are called to understand the impact of business for the rule of law initiatives and lead them. The keynote speaker for this session will be Ian McDougall from Lexis Nexis. He is the Executive Vice President and General Counsel for the LexisNexis, Legal & Professional division of RELX Group. Ian McDougall is a champion of the corporate mission to advance the Rule of Law around the globe. Ian has sat on the United Nations Rule of Law Steering Committee and the UN General Counsel Advisory Board, where he helped formulae the Guide for General Counsel on Corporate Sustainability, discussing practical methods GCs can implement the goals of the UN Global Compact. McDougall will first explain the concept of the Rule of Law, describe its history, economic impact and its importance to the legal profession and society generally. Then, he will illustrate what business for the rule of law is, and why the rule of law is also a matter of businesses.