Conference programme

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

Practitioners from around the world will discuss what went wrong in their previous cases, and what they would do differently next time.

This panel will examine the issues confronting Bretton Woods institutions (ie, the IMF, World Bank and other related entities) and financial multilateralism in general. The panel will touch upon their historic role and how it may be transformed in an era of adjustment of political priorities and heightened strains in geopolitical relationships. 

Since 11 December 2019, the Appellate Body has been unable to deliver binding resolutions of trade disputes, nor can it guarantee the right to appellate review. New appointments to the WTO's Appellate Body are blocked. Pending a resolution of the Appellate Body situation, the EU and other WTO members have established a multi-party interim appeal arbitration arrangement (MPIA), and other bilateral and multilateral initiatives have been undertaken.

Our roster of panellists will discuss how participating WTO members can continue to benefit from two-step dispute settlement systems, as well as the reform of the WTO dispute settlement mechanism.

This session explores how mediation can bridge the worlds of diplomacy and international law to transform entrenched conflicts into lasting cooperation. Drawing from the experience of distinguished leaders who have negotiated peace at the highest level, the panel will examine the human, political, and legal dimensions of dialogue between nations. It will offer insights into how trust, creativity, and courageous leadership can turn historical disputes into enduring agreements - lessons that remain vital for today’s global challenges.

In a world where nearly every conceivable process or communication has been or is being digitalised, the litigation process is not immune. And in particular, one of the most important aspects; service of process. Whilst service by email has been with us for a number of years, other forms of digital service are still in their infancy but gathering pace for example service through social media platforms, other messaging applications and through non-fungible tokens as well as the use by the courts of their own platforms.

The IBA Litigation Committee has undertaken an in-depth survey of how different jurisdictions approach digital service considering the law, practice, practical issues and challenges. The purpose of the survey is not only to assist practitioners who wish to utilise such processes in their current cross border cases but to understand the trends and best practice. This session will report on the work of the task force responsible and their progress thus far with a panel of distinguished speakers who will survey the landscape of digital service across the world and comment on the results collated. Additionally, they will consider if ultimately there is scope to make recommendations for a standardised approach to digital service.

The panel explores how employers balance individual rights with corporate responsibilities amid diverse legal systems. Local and global surveillance and border control systems are increasingly automated and driven by algorithms, introducing challenges for employees’ privacy and systemic bias. How do multinational organisations manage to preserve workers’ rights and freedoms and at the same time maintain a compliant workplace respecting employee expression, while upholding organisational integrity and legal obligations.

In an era of globalised law firms serving globalised clients engaged in cross-border transactions, and cross-border disputes, is there an accepted standard for ‘good’ legal writing and drafting?  Lawyers draft legal correspondence, memoranda, briefs, proposed legislation, regulatory commentary, speeches and many other documents. Is there a global benchmark for quality drafting? How (and by whom) is ‘good’ legal writing taught? Does it fall to law schools to find space in increasingly crowded curricula to teach the basics, or is the profession meant to devote scarce learning and development resources to the task? 

As the transition to renewables accelerates, Indigenous communities may face increased pressure to provide access to their land and experience related adverse human rights impacts, particularly in relation to free, prior and informed consent (FPIC). This session will cover businesses’ responsibilities in engaging with Indigenous peoples during the energy transition and explore how lawyers can advise on legal compliance and alignment with international standards.

An exploration of the legal difficulties LGBTQI+ families can face when becoming parents, including international variations in surrogacy, the rights of the “second parent”, and how different jurisdictions approach such matters.

Pre-immigration planning related to specific types of assets.

Global clients want seamless, cross-border legal services, but can independent law firms deliver them through international alliances, or do ethics stand in the way? This session tackles the regulatory and competitive challenges facing law firm networks:  1) How do different jurisdictions' ethics rules enable or restrict alliance structures? 2) Can independent firms truly operate as one-stop shops while managing conflicts, confidentiality and coordination across borders? 3) Can these alliances realistically compete with the brand power and integration of global law firms? Join us for a practical exploration of whether the alliance model can level the playing field in today's competitive legal marketplace.

This session examines key legal and strategic considerations shaping private equity exit transactions in today’s evolving market environment. Against a backdrop of shifting valuations and credit conditions, regulatory scrutiny and geopolitical uncertainty, the panel will explore the advantages and challenges of the principal exit routes available to sponsors, including trade sales, secondaries, continuation funds, initial public offerings and dual-track processes. Attention will be given to the structuring of deals and processes, and the management of competing stakeholder interests across jurisdictions. Drawing on practical experience from multiple markets, the panellists will also address emerging trends. The session aims to provide practitioners with insights into optimising strategy, maximising value and navigating cross-border complexity in today’s changing exit landscape.

Today’s legal profession often operates on an “always on” basis—constant access to emails, phones and messaging means many lawyers remain reachable well beyond office hours, including weekends and holidays, making it increasingly difficult to truly disconnect. Can lawyers still find fulfilment while meeting relentless client expectations and billable targets? This session will explore the tension between professional satisfaction, wellbeing, and financial performance in modern legal practice.

The intensification of rape as a weapon of war and the increasing use of drones for facial and gait identification demonstrate that the Geneva Conventions are not keeping up with modern warfare. This session will look at the laws of war and how they can be updated to respond to advances in warfare.

Around the world, the demand for legal assistance far outpaces the resources available to those most in need. Yet, when corporate legal departments and law firms work together across borders, they create powerful networks that amplify pro bono impact, share expertise, and drive systemic change. This session explores how in-house counsel and external firm lawyers are collaborating to deliver innovative, sustainable models for access to justice—whether through joint legal clinics, cross-jurisdictional research initiatives, clearinghouse models, or digital platforms connecting volunteer lawyers with underserved communities. Participants will hear from leaders who have built successful global partnerships, examine strategies for overcoming logistical and regulatory barriers (including limits, conflicts and other hurdles), and learn practical ways to align pro bono goals and initiatives with corporate values and community engagement goals. Panelists will also share examples of projects well-suited for cross-border support, along with “recipes for success” to deliver sustainable impact. The conversation moves beyond traditional notions of volunteerism to focus on shared responsibility, leadership, and the transformative potential of cross-sector collaboration in the legal profession.

Discussion on the legal challenges and strategies that global companies face when navigating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in a world with varying regulations and practices (eg, EU v US executive orders). We will explore how to manage DEI compliance in both progressive and restrictive environments and lessons learned so far, highlighting the approaches needed to balance and deal with conflicting regulations and practices. The 2025 DEI Workplace Report in Diversity.com shows DEI programmes have taken many forms across the workplace over the past two decades. While some organisations continue to lead in this space, others have recently scaled back due to political, legal or reputational concerns.

This session will focus on the various aspects of the IBA guidance that the BIC Policy Committee and BIC have pursued.