Conference programme

This session will explore the impact of trade restrictions on global food security (eg, tariffs, pricing, commodities and protectionism, etc)

The session will analyse the perspectives on current developments in a polarised world for energy, environment, natural resources and infrastructure law.

This panel explores how AI is reshaping legal practice, from automating routine tasks to enabling smarter client services and firm management. A key focus will be on the role of Gen Z professionals, who are not only fluent in emerging technologies but also instrumental in guiding other generations towards meaningful adoption. How will this intergenerational collaboration accelerate transformation? What challenges and opportunities lie ahead as law firms evolve into more agile, tech-enabled environments? Join us for a forward-looking conversation that invites diverse perspectives and open debate.

As more disputes are resolved by private international arbitration, notably post-transaction disputes and in the construction sector, is this trend impacting the quality and availability of relevant jurisprudence and procedural know-how? What effect does this have on predictability, efficacy and judicial expertise, and what solutions are out there?

This session will examine the key developments in private funds, highlighting emerging trends, regulatory changes, and market opportunities. It will provide insights into how fund managers and investors can navigate the evolving landscape and capitalise on growth prospects.

The session will examine the trade relationships between the United States, Canada and Mexico, and explore what lies on the horizon. The speakers will consider lessons learned from prior trade agreements and the new trade alliances forming between USMCA countries and third countries, what changes are being proposed, and the effect that a realignment of trade priorities would have on the North American alliance. Illustrations will be drawn from industries most significantly affected, such as dairy, agriculture and automobiles.

Examining comparative global approaches to research, development, patient programs and market access for orphan drugs.

Banks are no longer the only dominant providers of credit. Private funds, insurers, fin-techs, and tech-driven platforms are rapidly expanding their footprint. This panel will analyse the competitive pressures facing incumbents, the opportunities for cooperation with new entrants and the implications for legal structuring, market stability, and regulatory oversight.

This session will explore the role of legal regulators in promoting, supporting and embodying the rule of law during a time of increasing polarisation and populist rhetoric. The session will examine their activities including through the lens of ethical and competency requirements and mandatory education and training. 

Hostile takeovers seem to be re-emerging as a feature of the European M&A landscape, perhaps driven by depressed valuations and activist investor pressure, among other factors. This panel will examine the dynamics of unsolicited bids in the European market, drawing on recent high-profile contested transactions to explore the strategies deployed by both bidders and target boards.

The discussion will consider how differing national regulatory frameworks, including the UK’s Takeover Code and the EU’s Takeovers Directive, shape the conduct of hostile campaigns across borders. Panellists will dissect specific hostile and contested bid situations, analysing the offensive tactics employed by acquirers, such as bear hugs and dawn raids, alongside the defensive measures available to target companies, such as white knight strategies and litigation.

The panel will also address the role of institutional shareholders and proxy advisers in determining the outcome of hostile contests, the increasing intersection between hostile M&A and activist campaigns, and how boards can navigate their fiduciary duties when faced with an unwelcome approach. Practical insights will be offered on deal preparation, stakeholder communication, and the lessons learned from bids that succeeded, failed or were abandoned in the face of determined resistance.

In the annual mock trial session of the Criminal Law Section, we will explore cross-border corruption and international criminal justice cooperation.

Join us for our SEERIL Section open business meeting where all members and Officers of all SEERIL Committees are invited to learn more about the current and upcoming activities and developments of the Section.

A session in which the Regulation of Lawyers Committee, in collaboration with the Law Firm Management Committee and others, will explore emerging trends in the management and regulation of lawyers and law firms, how the associated risks associated with change can be managed, and how opportunities can be identified to ensure resilience and success.

With the geopolitical tensions and increases in defence spending, it is timely to discuss the arbitration of disputes arising in the defence sector. This panel will examine the continued growth of private military contracting, and the emergence of advanced cyber defence technologies, including AI systems. Does the privacy or confidentiality offered by international arbitration make it suited to these disputes, and is arbitration equipped to handle sensitive national-security-related information? Do we need special protocols or frameworks to address the unique challenges posed by this sector?

This panel will explore how advisors to closely held companies can structure cross-border transactions and partnerships in ways that reduce friction. The panel will examine the missteps that can arise when US‑style agreements are deployed in non‑US transactions, including the interpretation of common law concepts by civil law courts, and will address how to choose governing law, including when to select neutral law that is neither the buyer’s nor the seller’s home country law. The panel will also evaluate different choices in arbitration provisions. The panel discussion will include tactical considerations, such as selecting and managing local counsel, coordinating multi‑jurisdictional diligence and reconciling negotiation styles across markets.  Finally, the panel will offer practical tips on how to prepare clients for the international components of a transaction (including labour law, regulatory approvals, data protection, tax and other local requirements).

This panel will explore the key features of the legal framework and cultural factors that shape investment decision-making and outcomes across the many jurisdictions in Latin America. The discussion will address regional nuances in areas such as governance, compliance, government relations, sustainability, and stakeholder engagement, highlighting the factors that can improve or affect deal execution, integration, and value creation.

The notion of 'economic security' has emerged as a core trade and industrial policy justification and as a guiding objective for a rapidly expanding set of trade, investment and regulatory instruments. The panel will explore how this concept reshapes legal frameworks, enforcement practice and international economic relations. Some of the key questions we will explore are:

• Key impact and implementation areas – inbound and outbound investment screening, foreign subsidy control, trade defence tools, and and their interaction in practice;
• Trade pacts, tariff measures, divestment obligations and other market access tools concerning 'critical sectors' (critical raw minerals, semiconductors, data centres, pharmaceuticals, defence, steel and aluminium). Is there an end to this list, and who defines what is 'critical'?;
• Does export control, investment screening and sanctions policy fit into the 'economic security' concept, and where are the legal and conceptual boundaries between military, dual use and emerging technologies (AI, data, quantum)?;
• How does 'economic security' fit within international economic law – WTO agreements, investment treaties, arbitration practice and Free Trade Agreements – and how are security exceptions tested in practice?; and
• Is economic security becoming the new normal of global economic governance, or will legal, political and diplomatic constraints force a recalibration?

This session will explore the ethical challenges of aggressive lawyering in court and negotiations through an interactive moot court/transaction, assessing how far advocacy should go and where ethical lines are drawn.

In today’s social media-driven world, passenger incidents can quickly escalate into global crises, where legal decisions directly impact public perception and customer trust. This panel explores how airlines balance legal risk, transparency, and crisis communication, while highlighting the role of lawyers in managing real-time, high-pressure situations alongside PR and operations teams.
 
This session will discuss:

• liability and duty of care in passenger incidents - legal obligations of airlines/airports towards passenger safety and potential liability for physical harm and/or emotional distress;
• real time legal risk management and decision making - lawyers play a critical role during unfolding incidents by advising operations and PR teams on immediate actions that minimize legal exposure while ensuring compliance with regulatory frameworks;
• defamation and privacy risks - how are these risks handled by airports and airlines when videos or personal information go viral; and
• regulatory compliance and government scrutiny - incidents often trigger investigations by aviation authorities. At such time, how do airlines/airports coordinate legal responses, preserve evidence and ensure adherence to national and international aviation regulations?

This session will explore key transactional issues such as employment due diligence, data privacy, pensions and TUPE considerations, and how these intersect with corporate structuring, warranties and regulatory compliance.