The six-day meeting and exhibition is expected to attract about 4000 delegates from around the world, and bring $17.9 million into the local economy.

The IBA is the world's largest law association, bringing together about 30,000 individual lawyers and 195 bar associations and law societies. The aim of the annual conference is to bring the profession together to share knowledge, insights and expertise and to generate new business with leading law firms in big cities throughout the world.

The bid was lead by Allens Arthur Robinson partner Fred Chilton, working in conjunction with events organisation Business Events Sydney. The Law Council of Australia, the Law Society of NSW, the NSW Bar Association and the Australian Bar Association also played key roles in the project.

Law Council of Australia president and IBA management board member John Corcoran described the win as "great news" for the Australian legal profession.

"The conference will provide our lawyers - especially young lawyers who may not otherwise have the chance to attend - the opportunity to meet with some of the world's most prominent members of the profession close to home," he said.