Conference programme

An open committee business meeting where all members and Officers are invited to learn more about the current and upcoming activities and developments of the Committee.

Leading with resilience: empowering women litigators in uncertain times
In today’s rapidly changing world, the ability to lead with clarity and confidence is more crucial than ever. This panel explores how women (and men) can cultivate a powerful leadership presence that drives results and fosters resilience. Panelists will share insights on their journey to strengthening their leadership footprint, navigating challenges, connecting authentically with teams, and inspiring meaningful change all while maintaining their personal and professional integrity.

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

In today’s competitive legal environment, effective leadership is key to career advancement and professional success. This session is designed to equip emerging legal professionals with the fundamental leadership skills necessary for thriving in their roles and setting the stage for long-term career growth. Join us to gain valuable insights and actionable strategies that will help you step into leadership roles with confidence and competence, setting a solid foundation for a successful legal career.

This panel will discuss developments related to the allocation of risk and responsibility for Pillar 2 tax in the context of business combination and investment, the challenges associated with participation exemption and credit regimes within the Multinational Enterprise (MNE) group and issues and tips with respect to the preparation and filing of the GLOBE return.

What if your firm could grow faster - not by doing more, but by doing better? This session challenges the idea that growth comes from chasing every opportunity, and instead makes the case for focused, strategic client development that drives exponential returns. We’ll explore how firms that prioritize collaboration, client experience, and clarity of focus outperform their peers in both revenue and retention. Learn why clients served across multiple practice areas are not only more profitable but also more loyal - and how internal collaboration can unlock hidden value within your existing relationships.
 

• Define your firm’s core strengths and concentrate on the work that aligns with your expertise, profitability, and market demand.
• Avoid the pitfalls of trying to be everything to everyone by developing clear client targeting and tailored marketing strategies.
• Unlock organic growth by nurturing strong client relationships that lead to referrals, endorsements, and expanded mandates.
• Pursue aspirational clients with discipline by pre-qualifying opportunities, using CRM effectively, and tracking key financial performance metrics.
• Collaborate with your business development professionals to identify high-value opportunities, refine targeting strategies, and drive follow-through.
• Understand and address hidden costs, evaluate client and matter profitability, and know when to walk away from relationships that no longer serve your firm’s strategic goals.

This session will explore the pros and cons about investing in data centers.

In recent decades, democracies around the world have faced political polarisation and disinformation to growing inequality and erosion of public trust in institutions. At the centre of these crises lies a fundamental question: how can democracy truly thrive without equitable access to justice? This panel explores the pivotal role of access to justice in safeguarding democratic values and institutions. It will also analyse into how limited access to legal resources, barriers to fair representation, and inadequate protections for human rights contribute to democratic decline. Experts will discuss the intersection between justice and democracy, focusing on the ways in which an inclusive and accessible legal system is essential for holding governments accountable, protecting civil liberties, and ensuring equal participation for all citizens. Join our legal experts as they discuss how access to justice can help to stop the current democratic crisis.

In this session we will be discussing the following key topics:

• Impact of the current economic environment on private fund terms, structures, and financing;
• recent trends in financial, governance, and other fund terms;
• trends in sustainable investing;
• 'retailisation' and new opportunities.

Carefully navigating disclosure rules - pre and post transaction - is crucial to ensuring a successful deal. This session will discuss thresholds and requirements diverge per jurisdiction, but timely identifying the lowest threshold and most onerous requirements is key.

International sourcing and supply of certain goods such as special devices and machinery of technology leaders for industrial applications used to be handled in some areas mainly through dealers/ distributors and/or local subsidiaries. Such manufacturers increasingly also offer their goods and products directly through own webshop solutions, including extended customisation options to international customers.

One of the reasons for offering these selling channels is, aside of economic reasons, the connectivity of this source to digitalised supply chains, a step towards automated procurement. Not every manufacturer is aware however, of all the specifics of international online trade and the relevance of different jurisdictions, whether regulatory (f.ex. data Protection, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), export control), contractual (f.ex. retention of title) or reg. liability (punitive damages, secondary warning duties, etc.).

The objective of the session is to demonstrate what opportunities lay ahead, but also touch on the scope of the required preparation and present some of the crucial pitfalls to be avoided.

Large-scale energy storage, such as pumped hydro storage, compressed air energy storage, and advanced battery technologies, can play a critical role in supporting grid stability and facilitating the integration of renewable energy sources by addressing the inherent variability and intermittency associated with these technologies and helping smooth out the fluctuations deriving from these technologies or optimising the sale price of the electricity produced. Large-scale storage can also enhance grid reliability by acting as a reserve that can quickly respond to sudden changes in energy supply or demand, filling gaps and preventing blackouts, thus reducing the need for fossil fuel-based peaking plants, which are often used to meet demand spikes but are less environmentally friendly. This session will explore the various ways large-scale storage facilities can facilitate the energy transition.

Kick off your week with our dynamic introductory session, where you'll connect with both young and young-at-heart lawyers. This is your ideal opportunity to start the week with energy and enthusiasm and to learn about the IBA structure and the IBA conferences. Meet fellow young (and also not so young) professionals, dive into engaging discussions, and gain valuable tips on effective networking throughout the week. Join us to set a positive and productive tone for the days ahead!

Space activity requires special application of law for insurance, regulatory compliance and financial risk. The session examines risk management for space activities.