The first World-Wide Congress of Balms Group International was celebrated in May 1998, in Marbella, Spain. The foundation of B.G.I. was an initiative of the Spanish firm Balms Abogados S.C. with offices in Marbella and Madrid, and the English firm Black Graf & Co., in London. Therefore it seemed to be a good idea to celebrate the First International Congress in Marbella, Spain.

This congress was attended by all the partners of the members´ offices of B.G.I., by then: Balms Abogados S.C. (Spain), Black Graf & Co. (United Kingdom), Nuñez & Co. (Gibraltar), Neumayer & Walter (Austria), Vicent To (China), Andrási, Réti Szegheo & Partners (Hungary), Siseles, Lichtmann, Indij & Associates (Argentina) y Lewin & Wills (Colombia).