Conference programme

As artificial intelligence tools transform legal research, drafting and client service, the question isn’t whether technology will replace junior lawyers – it’s how it will reshape their roles. This session will explore how AI is redefining entry-level legal work, from automating routine tasks to enabling deeper strategic engagement earlier in a lawyer’s career. Join us for a candid discussion on skills, expectations and how to future-proof your legal career in an AI-augmented world. 

This panel will discuss the ongoing relevance of coal in countries facing energy crises due to droughts, such as Zambia, and the continued importance of coal in nations like China amid fluctuating gas prices.

In an increasingly complex and globalised Intellectual Property (IP) landscape, traditional litigation may not always be the most effective path to resolving disputes. Mediation offers a dynamic, collaborative alternative that not only resolves conflicts but can also foster innovation and preserve valuable business relationships. This panel will explore how mediation, particularly in the context of intellectual property, can unlock creative solutions that litigation often overlooks. From licensing arrangements and joint ventures to novel settlement structures, mediation allows parties to move beyond zero-sum outcomes and toward mutually beneficial resolutions. Panellists will examine the unique characteristics of IP such as its intangible nature, cross-border implications, and rapid evolution, and how these influence the mediation process.

The session will also highlight international mediation frameworks, including the EUIPO’s mediation services and the Singapore Convention on Mediation, offering practical insights into how these mechanisms are shaping the future of global IP dispute resolution.

Key discussion points will include: the required elements to have a successful mediation from the mediator’s perspective and the parties’ perspective, the impact of the nature of intellectual property on these requirements, the interest of early neutral evaluations, examples of creative results from mediations in IP matters, international mediation forums, such as EUIPO’s new initiative, and the Singapore Mediation Agreement.
 

The IBA Rules of Ethics for International Arbitrators (1987) saw limited adoption compared to other IBA instruments. Meanwhile, arbitration laws and practices have evolved, once again bringing the need for updated and harmonised ethical guidance to the forefront. This panel will explore the need for a unified global standard, and how far those reforms should go.

How do law firms fund innovation when traditional partnership models weren't built for it? As legal services evolve in North America and England, this question has become urgent. Arizona, Utah and Puerto Rico have broken new ground by allowing limited non-lawyer ownership, but private equity hasn't waited for regulatory permission everywhere. Instead, investors are finding creative workarounds through management service organisations (MSOs). This session will examine how prevalent these structures have become, where regulators are drawing the line, and what it all means for US firms navigating a patchwork of global regulations. 

The last few years have seen a recalibration of shareholder primacy and stakeholder priorities. Despite these headwinds, some companies have demonstrated resilience and remained committed to a sustainable corporate purpose, including prioritising stakeholder engagement where it contributes to preventing harm to people and planet as well to the company. This panel will examine the current debate in various jurisdictions, including how some companies have operationalised their corporate purpose through capital allocation and long-horizon strategic decisions. It will also explore where new laws are requiring companies to manage risks to people and planet as well as the legal ways that these businesses have reinforced their mission even where legislation is not requiring them to. This includes through the use of dual-class or trust-based control, shareholder agreements or stakeholder charters, certification frameworks such as B Corp and embedding into legal contracts commitments to core international business and human rights standards as part of their risk management strategies. The panel will consider how alliance-building, including through co-investment vehicles, mission-driven joint ventures or procurement ecosystems, could allow businesses to amplify their impact and to meet their commitments to international standards.

Many activities on Earth rely, or even deeply depend, on space. Reliance of key economic sectors on space poses new risks and opportunities to both public and private actors. Are regulations and policies playing catch-up, stifling innovation or enabling growth in the new space economy? How is the influence of space developing ESG on Earth and ESG itself in space? Dependence on space is increasingly being reflected in the areas of safety, defence and security in the face of new challenges.  Finally, AI-driven mechanisms struggle to be, at the same time, risks and opportunities within the space sector.

In today’s fast-evolving aviation landscape, litigation plays a critical role in navigating operational, regulatory, and commercial risks. Geopolitical tensions, sanctions, and fragmented legal frameworks are reshaping the way disputes arise and are resolved. Ongoing crises, particularly in regions such as the Persian Gulf, are disrupting key airspace corridors and forcing airlines to reroute operations, with significant cost and liability implications. These developments are generating new disputes around contractual performance, insurance coverage, and risk allocation across the aviation sector.

This panel will explore:
• comparative overview of recent landmark aviation cases across different jurisdictions;
• analysis of how courts address complex, multi-party disputes involving airlines, lessors, manufacturers, and insurers;
• practical insights into the real-world implications for the aviation industry; and 
• strategies to effectively manage litigation risks and legal challenges in a rapidly evolving environment.

This panel will examine how Pillar Two considerations are reflected in purchase agreements, joint venture agreements, credit facilities and other transaction documents.

The IBA Judges’ Forum has once again organised court tours for the IBA Annual Conference. Please note that places are limited. Delegates registered for the conference will be invited to sign up in person at the Conference Help Desk. Attendees are advised to show up 5 to 10 minutes before the start of the tour to make sure there are no delays.
 

This panel will focus on the critical role that arbitral institutions play in shaping international arbitration. As technology evolves and user expectations shift, institutions are at the forefront of innovation-adapting procedures, launching new initiatives, and addressing emerging concerns. Join us for a forward-looking discussion on what’s next in institutional arbitration, the key developments practitioners should be aware of and the challenges that lie ahead.

Since its involvement with the BIC AI project in 2024 and the issuance of the IBA report, the BIC’s working group has been updating and expanding its findings and research. The Working Group report will be issued in 2026, with anticipated recommendations for further commentary to the IBA’s Principles of Conduct for the Profession, as well as guidance for bar associations in issuing their own statements or considering changes to their own ethics rules.

This session will explore how immigration systems are adapting to labour shortages by creating pathways for essential, lower-skilled, workers without degrees. It'll examine ethical recruitment, worker protections, and evolving definitions of 'skilled' labour in modern migration policy.

Aircraft financing is a key factor for the entire aviation sector: it enables the modernisation of airline fleets, sustainable growth and long-term compliance with environmental standards. This panel will analyse the latest developments and trends, at a time when the industry is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the most important convention for aircraft financing, whilst facing unprecedented challenges due to global conflicts and uncertainty.

A panel of recognised experts will discuss the hottest topics, including, among others:

• the Cape Town Convention turns 25: a success or an opportunity for reform?;
• the impact of escalating conflict on aircraft leasing, financing and insurance;
• the process of returning an aircraft to the lessor: key challenges; and
• lessons learnt: Russian leases.

How should we deal with defect notification requirements? Join us for this session where we will discuss.