Conference programme

This is an exclusive event for corporate counsel only - by invitation only.

This breakfast session will discuss the latest hot-topics in law firm management.

A breakfast meeting of the IBA Power Law Committee will take place to discuss matters of interest and future activities, as well as to provide updates on the activities of the Committee.

As more in-house lawyers demand remote or hybrid work environments, how does the structure of the legal function change? Can law firms profit from the shift away from an expectation that a company's lawyers will be located and interacting in fixed physical locations? Will the rise of the “fractional GC” and other types of non-traditional legal service providers become more embedded in the legal services ecosystem?

Some of the challenges that will be discussed include:

• Preserving confidentiality;
• recruiting, training, and mentoring;
• are remote lawyers more subject to burnout?;
• maintaining productivity without intrusive measures;
• sustaining the culture of the company and the legal department;
• are remote lawyers at risk of being phased out in favour of seconded law firm lawyers or other external resources?;
• how can law firms position themselves to provide the flexible, dedicated legal resources companies need?

Many Law Societies have a "fit and proper" character test for admission to the profession but its application varies considerably in many jurisdictions. Some only apply it at admission stage but others require compliance through your career. In this session we will discuss the appropriateness of the test and what factors countries take into consideration. 

This panel will discuss the legal regime surrounding the allocation of landing slots at congested airports, and how aviation law specialists can optimise their advice to stakeholders.

The panel will highlight the need for efficiency and standardisation in airport operations and discuss how these issues can best be addressed. We will review the Worldwide Airport Slots Guidelines, which was developed by the industry and discuss its implications for legal practitioners. The panel will also touch on several frequent issues that arise in connection with slot allocations, slots secondary trading, and review best practices that can be recommended by private practitioners.

Finally, discussions will be conducted around the legal constraints relating to the development of infrastructures and the handling of safety concerns. We will explore the sources of potential liability for airport operators and review crisis management principles that can be adopted to mitigate such risks. 

This panel will explore the challenges and opportunities of business combinations of profit-driven and purpose-driven companies, examining the key legal issues, and the implications on compliance and corporate governance.

This session will discuss the green transition, more urgent than ever, creates various challenges of which financing the enormous investment amounts needs is one of the more prominent ones. Also, in addition to requiring large sums, the repeated access needed to capital for long term investments poses unique challenges for traditional financing instruments.

This panel will identify and discuss how (and how not to) contract for innovative projects. Discussions will reflect draft wording to deal with the fact that the technology may be prototype, unproven or being developed through construction. For example, what constitutes “state of the art” or “good industry practice” in a rapidly developing technological world? What kind of warranties will owners expect the market to be prepared to provide for innovative technology?  And what new procurement models will the construction industry be adopting now and in the coming years? Or is the old adage “there is nothing new under the sun” still applicable today?

This joint session is intended to be a dialogue between judges and arbitrators on the topic of the seeming trend of reconsideration and remissions of awards from the bench back to tribunals.