Conference programme

Presented by the China Working Group of the IBA Asia Pacific Forum.

The strong economic tie between China and Europe is one of the prominent and solid pillars of today’s world but it has been tested in the turbulence of the ongoing trade war around the world due to the policy changes by Trump’s government. While decreasing investment in the US, China’s increasing investment in Europe is attracting more and more attention while Europe keeps its pace of investments in China. A global watch is needed more than ever on China’s economic relationship with Europe  and its development, changes, challenges and trends. This session will focus on China’s investments in Europe, trying to provide a vivid vision to the audience which goes beyond the specific legal issues in any specialised legal areas. The panel will discuss those hot topics and also recent case studies from different perspectives including the changes in investment structure, compliance requirements, technology transfer, labour issues, social responsibilities and more.  

This session will explore how law practice in the Arab world both aligns with and diverges from international norms. It will examine regional legal traditions, regulatory environments, and professional practices, highlighting the similarities, differences, and cross-border considerations that shape the work of lawyers locally and globally.

International arbitration offers dynamic career paths – but breaking into the field remains a challenge for young practitioners. This discussion will shed light on the evolving landscape of arbitration, mentorship opportunities, and how emerging lawyers can build credibility, networks and expertise early in their careers. Hear from experienced arbitrators and rising stars as they share lessons learned and practical advice for charting your path in this competitive field.

This panel will discuss the main challenges faced by shipping companies and freight forwarders, particularly in relation to cross-border intragroup transactions of international freight services. Topics include the qualification of global affiliates as agent or principal for tax purposes in each jurisdiction, intragroup payments and source taxation, and potential limitations under tax treaties.

This session will examine how geopolitical fragmentation, shifting regulatory regimes, ever-evolving climate policy are transforming cross-border M&A in the oil and gas sector. With a global and regional lens, it will explore how rising protectionism and energy security concerns are reshaping deal dynamics across different jurisdictions and creating new opportunities. The discussion will also highlight emerging due diligence frontiers, strategic use of AI in M&A, innovative approaches to allocating and mitigating political and regulatory risk, and drafting strategies that can build flexibility and resilience into contractual frameworks.

Since the litigation involving BHP and the Ok Tedi mine in Papua New Guinea in the late 1990s, there has been an increasing trend towards recognising litigation funding as well as class actions as effective modes of supporting litigation designed to redress the wrongs associated with environmental harm.   Some of these strategies have been mooted in connection with concerns about climate change. Judges and advocates will discuss the trend towards recognising litigation funding across various jurisdictions, as well as the different ways in which class actions have been recognised and supported.  How these have been utilised in connection with various types of claims involving litigation over the environment will be addressed and explained, as will the scope for taking gradual advantage of these litigation strategies.

Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) are standard tools for protecting confidentiality in commercial transactions, employment relationships and dispute settlements. However, when NDAs intersect with allegations of criminal conduct, ethical breaches, harassment, misconduct by professionals, or matters of clear public interest, their legitimacy and enforceability become far more complex.

This session will examine the legal, ethical and policy boundaries of NDAs across jurisdictions. Can an NDA lawfully prevent disclosure of potential criminal activity? When does confidentiality improperly hinder the reporting of wrongdoing or obstruction of justice? What duties do lawyers have when negotiating NDAs involving allegations of misconduct? How do courts and regulators view the use – or misuse – of confidentiality clauses in such contexts?

The offshore wind industry is facing rising costs from inflation and interest rates, supply chain bottlenecks, regulatory and political policy uncertainty, lengthy permitting processes, and grid connection delays. We will explore how regulatory policies, project structures and contracting models affect the ability to finance and operate projects profitably and contribute towards the energy transition.

Corporations and directors are increasingly facing criminal liability for breaches of health and psychosocial duties owed to workers. This panel will outline recent developments and what directors and companies should be doing to ensure a compliance to manage liability and establish a culture of safety and well-being in their organisation.

This panel looks at the intersection between music, art, protest and the law. Where artistic expression through performance, lyrics and art becomes politically contentious and its use in criminal prosecutions, legal proceedings and investigations. It will also explore how artists navigate the world of protest and the protection of freedom of expression.

Unicorns may be attributed high valuations, but if the Initial Public Offering (IPO) market is not available (generally or for a specific unicorn) and cash is needed urgently, what are your options? The panel will disucss potential solutions and pitfalls.

This is an exclusive event for corporate counsel only - by invitation only.

With a panel of law firm leaders from across the globe, this breakfast session will discuss the latest hot-topics in law firm management.

Join us for the annual breakfast of the Power Law Committee.

This session will examine how emerging corruption risks and a shifting global enforcement landscape are reshaping anti-corruption compliance, and what this means for compliance practice, organisational culture and risk management strategies in an increasingly complex regulatory environment.

This session will examines AI’s growing role in immigration law — from tools assisting lawyers with research, drafting, and analytics to government use in adjudication, fraud detection, and border control — highlighting opportunities, ethical risks, and transparency concerns.

Panellists will review global trademark filing and maintenance, combating bad faith registrations, consistent trade dress, social media and marketplace enforcement, anti-counterfeiting and domain name disputes, trade secret hygiene in manuals and training, and the licensing of technology stacks and content across networks. Attendees will gain practical frameworks and contract clause concepts to safeguard brand assets across jurisdictions and channels while supporting scalable growth in franchise and distribution systems.

Both emission trading systems (ETS) and voluntary carbon markets (VCM) are market-based approaches aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) as part of the larger climate change action plans and goals of nations and companies. Whereas the EU ETS was established way back in 2005, an increasing number of countries, or states within countries, including in the Global South, have more recently adopted legislation to facilitate these carbon trading markets. This offers opportunities for lawyers to handhold their clients throughout this dynamic regulatory landscape, as well as play a key role in drafting emissions reduction purchase agreements (ERPAs). This session seeks to provide an overview of the different regulatory regimes, as well as lessons learned from more mature markets, the projected growth and opportunities, the experience with ERPAs and the role of lawyers as their corporate clients increasingly take part in these carbon trading mechanisms. 

Directors and boards face increasing criminal prosecution and personal liability for oversight failures. For example, in November 2024, the Italian Supreme Court convicted all members of a company’s board of directors for manslaughter after a workplace safety failure, highlighting that delegating tasks does not absolve board members from ensuring robust organisational controls and compliance. Similarly, the UK’s new 'failure to prevent fraud' offence which came into force in September 2025 exposes directors and executives to criminal sanctions if their companies lack effective anti-fraud procedures even if senior management was unaware of the specific misconduct.

These cases demonstrate the urgent need for boards to understand and fulfil their duty to prevent corporate crime, ensuring personal accountability for oversight and governance lapses. The panel will examine how board members and executives can manage personal liability while fulfilling their duty to prevent corporate crime. Focusing on practical strategies, we will discuss how effective governance, compliance systems, and good corporate housekeeping such as oversight, internal controls and ethical cultures can protect both the individual and the company.

Real case insights will illustrate how proactive leadership balances regulatory expectations with business priorities in today’s cross-border landscape.

Access to data has become a central legal and economic challenge in the data-driven economy. One year after the EU Data Act entered into force, the promise of greater data availability and fair access is being put to the test. The Act, together with the Data Governance Act and other emerging international frameworks, aims to break down barriers to data use, reduce data-driven lock-in effects, and enable a more balanced distribution of data value across stakeholders.

This session will examine how the right of access to IoT data, the sharing obligations for private and public entities, and the introduction of Model Contractual Terms and Standard Contractual Clauses are reshaping the legal architecture of the digital economy. Are these new mechanisms truly empowering users, SMEs, and public bodies to access and reuse data? How are businesses adapting their data governance models and contractual strategies to comply while remaining competitive globally?

Drawing on the first year of practical experience, legal experts and policymakers will discuss whether the EU’s approach to data access is setting a global standard — and will also conduct a deep dive on the Model Contractual Terms and the Standard Contractual Clauses.