This session will explore the particular challenges and opportunities related to financing, procuring and delivering infrastructure projects in developing countries including the role of multilateral agencies.

However, even in 2022 the crypto sector is still in its relative infancy, and at least for now is largely unregulated. This brings with it a great deal of uncertainty and risk.

This programme will examine what franchise companies are doing to adapt to customers' increased awareness for climate change and demand for carbon neutral products and services.

The rules are changing in some important jurisdictions; new EU distribution rules in June included stricter rules for online intermediation services, price parity (MFN) clauses and dual distribution arrangements. UK rules changed at the same time, and differently from in the EU. Asian enforcers are increasingly active in in the digital sphere and beyond, and the US, though generally more relaxed about vertical agreements, has tricky rules around certain issues such as price discrimination. This session will explore how best to meet the significant challenges of factoring all this into distribution system design and ensure compliance across an international network.

This session will discuss what to expect from the courts and regulators as well as the current and future cookies’ regimes that will emerge.

This panel will cover the various tax and non-tax considerations that individuals should consider before becoming a US income tax resident.  The panel will primarily focus on pre-immigration planning to mitigate exposure to US income and estate tax, including:  stepping up the client’s basis in assets prior to residency, addressing the impact of the various US anti-deferral regimes, creating income tax advantaged structures, and protecting assets from US estate and gift tax.  Panelists will also provide an overview of the technical rules on US tax income, gift and estate tax residency.  Further, the panelists, which consist of private client attorneys from around the world, will analyze how to coordinate US pre-immigration planning with the relevant tax and succession regimes in the client’s home jurisdiction.

YoungLawyersBuilding and developing an international strategy and its implementation; including the utilisation of all available tools such as the IBA and National Law/Bar Associations etc. The relevant experience of senior and successful practitioners in discussion with a group of younger lawyers.

These issues are also paramount to legal operators, which can see their turnover greatly impacted by the offering of illegal gambling, and players who may be at risk of compromising their funds, their personal data and even of unknowingly collaborating with criminal organisations. However, some recent examples of a desire for more co-operation between national prosecutors and regulators may be one of the keys to a more efficient and successful prosecution. The session will also address the perspectives of prosecutors, regulators, operators and players.

As the use of social media as a means of communication on the securities markets is increasing, it continues to impose challenges for market participants and regulators who must abide by and enforce rules that were written with print media in mind. Simultaneously, social media is less costly, instantaneous and easily accessed, providing almost infinite possibilities for marketing, information sharing and investor relations. 
  
This session discusses how financial regulation and the regulation of securities offerings has evolved in the face of the growing use of social media by issuers, investors, broker-dealers and intermediaries, and what more can market participants and regulators do to efficiently but fairly harness the power of social media.

HumanRightsWhen home country laws permit irresponsible ESG practices, international norms like the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights can help guide companies’ in the right direction. Many multinational companies commit to high standards but do not have proper controls and people in place to achieve them. When one of the world’s largest mining companies recently destroyed ancient archaeological sites in Australia, it arguably did not break any Australian laws.

 Among other things, the panellists will reflect on the role that Africa's minerals resources will play in the green energy transition, the management of relationships with local and indigenous communities, governance and the consequences where the rule of law is disregarded, and finally, the need for collective action.  By drawing on specific examples, the panellists will identify the legal mechanisms which governments, development finance institutions, civil society organisations, and the private sector have used to establish and promote sustainable practices.

The role of judges in times of conflict, revolution and political oppression requires bravery to uphold the Rule of Law. There are many famous historical examples, but we have witnessed in modern times judges who have upheld their moral and ethical standards to ensure the Rule of Law prevails.

As China is determined to open itself up further at a high standard to the world and share market opportunities with other countries for a community of shared future for the mankind, a lot of uncertainties include the pandemic, change of climate and international relationship arising at the same time in today’s world will bring changes to the flow and activities of China’s outbound investment.

Sometime the relationship between an in-house legal team and a law firm is a story of long lasting success and sometime it is not. The session will address what can make a relationship win-win and what instead put it at risk. Expertise and costs are not the only two variables. Soft skills and reciprocal understanding are also important.

Regulators and litigators seem to be playing catch up with Big Tech and misuse of personal information as they try to reign in Big Tech's reach and power.

In addition to discussing the effective steps the panellist have taken to create and maintain the right law firm work culture for the current environment, we will be examining the forward-looking actions that law firms are taking to plan for and manage future challenges and changes. Overall, we will exchange thoughts and experiences on how to create and sustain a work place culture that is better for people, business and the society at large.   

Additionally, with the pandemic, the ongoing global climate crisis and other crucial current events, the world’s focus on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) compliance has been further heightened, and lawyers worldwide are now also examining how they and their law firms can adopt ESG best practices and adhere to them.

The investor space for oil and gas assets and companies continues to change, driven, amongst others, by ESG requirements, commodity price fluctuations, access to debt and equity financing and host government initiatives. Who will be the owners, partners and financiers of the industry going forward? What types of deals are we likely to see driven by such investors? A number of important M&A and financing issues will be covered in this session.

Art is sold that has been looted, in today’s war zones and former colonies or acquired with dirty money.