Conference programme

The exponential growth of the digital economy is powered by data centres, which have an immense and often overlooked thirst for two critical resources: energy and water. This session will dissect the intricate legal and regulatory nexus between water rights and energy supply, which are essential for the operation and cooling of these vital infrastructures. Our panel of experts will explore the mounting challenges of securing water permits in water-scarce regions, structuring power purchase agreements (PPAs) that account for water availability, and navigating the complex web of environmental licensing. We will also analyse the contractual risks, ESG imperatives and innovative legal strategies required to ensure the sustainable development and operation of data centres globally.

This presentation explores the intersection of genetic testing and human rights, focusing on four key areas: (1) privacy; (2) ethics; (3) rights to genetic material; and (4) genetic selection. Issues for discussion include:

• legal protections for genetic privacy, including data protection laws and the right to privacy, highlighting issues such as consent, confidentiality, and the risk of genetic discrimination.

• ownership and access to genetic material, particularly in sensitive situations such as death or divorce. The session will examine how the law addresses disputes over frozen genetic material, the requirements for consent, and relevant case law.

• the ethical and legal implications of genetic selection, including pre-implantation genetic diagnosis and gene editing. The session will consider the balance between individual rights, such as the right to found a family and non-discrimination, and broader societal interests.

The session concludes with an overview of the challenges and future trends in this rapidly evolving area, inviting discussion on how best to protect human rights in the context of advancing genetic technologies.  

Join us at the awards breakfast where the IBA Award for Outstanding Contribution by a Legal Practitioner to Human Rights, the IBA Outstanding Young Lawyer Award, and the IBA Pro Bono Award will be presented.

Who owns a borderless, AI-generated brand identity and advertising creative? As AI transforms the creative process, legal frameworks are diverging globally. This session will explore the tension between innovation and authorship, contrasting the U.S. Copyright Office’s strict "human authorship" requirement with more permissive international jurisdictions.

This session will build on the round tables and findings of the working group and provide an opportunity to bring bars and lawyers up to date.

The panel will explore issues that arise in relation to digitalisation and data in the context of investigations and merger reviews: data storage and extra-territorial jurisdiction, legal privilege, use of technologies including AI for document production, use of private digital messaging and devices and the interaction of privacy and competition law in this area.

This session focuses on topical human rights issues prioritised by Bar Associations and Law Societies across different jurisdictions. 

The IBA Aviation Law Committee has once again organised an outing 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.