Conference programme

Marilu Capparelli is one of the managing directors of the EMEA Google Legal Department, she leads an international team of lawyers located in different countries and is also leading a copyright litigation strategy area in EU. Marilu is an Italian qualified lawyer with experience in major international law firms, at the Court of Justice of the European Union and as an in-house counsel. Before joining Google, she was Head of Legal and Government Affairs at eBay Inc, Skype and Paypal.

Organisations worldwide employ algorithms in HR management, including recruitment, task assignments, monitoring, performance evaluations, and disciplinary actions. In this session we will explore the growing impact of AI on employment decisions and the legal landscape. We will consider the employment law challenges posed by AI, the delicate balance between efficiency and fairness and the ethical and legal considerations surrounding human agency in AI-driven decision-making. Our panellists will anticipate the future of AI in employment and provide recommendations for international employment lawyers

The rise of digital nomads, satellite employees and Employers of Record (EORs) are reshaping the employment landscape. How can global employers best deal with the legal and managerial challenges related to people working from various jurisdictions? In this session we will consider the contractual solutions, employment rights, social security, immigration and tax implications that employers need to be aware of.

Leading HR professionals and discrimination lawyers will examine the HR and legal issues in tense political contexts which lead to increasing incidents of racism, xenophobia and intolerance. Csaba Kőrösi, President of the United Nations General Assembly, says that racism adapts and mutates to different times and contexts; but the breadth of its harm remains intact, with online racism taking on new and covert forms and algorithms perpetuating racial stereotypes.  

This is particularly topical in light of the US Supreme Court’s decision in June 2023 which declared affirmative action policies in college and university admissions unconstitutional. There has also been an increased number of court cases in the US recently where it has been claimed that diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) initiatives constitute reverse discrimination, or that they contribute to a presumption of discrimination, in the context of decisions on recruitment, promotion and dismissal. These cases and decisions may have significant implications for diversity and inclusion (D&I) programmes in the workplace both within the US and abroad.

This session looks at the role employers must take in implementing effective D&I policies and eliminating all forms of discrimination.
 

According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2023, it will take 131 years to close the gender pay gap. How useful are initiatives such as the new EU Pay Transparency Directive and laws on quotas? Is it time for stronger action to call out gender pay inequality? Are social movements like #MeTooPay more effective than laws in bringing about cultural and systemic change? This session will debate these big questions while reviewing what’s happening around the world in regards to gender pay equity.

In this workshop you will learn how to enhance and develop your personal brand. We will also consider presentation skills and how you can boost your social media presence in the global legal market.

Dr Iff studied medicine at the Universities of Bern, Zürich and Sydney and is a specialist in public health and occupational medicine. After leaving university he worked as a clinical epidemiologist in medical research, before becoming an occupational physician at the State Secretary for Economic Affairs of Switzerland. For ten years he has been responsible for the occupational health aspects of health protection in the workplace and serves as the medical backbone of the labour law. His areas of expertise include motherhood protection, protection of apprentices, the organisation of first aid and also protection against psychosocial stress.

The future of the contingent workforce is shaped by various factors, including evolving labour market dynamics, technological advancements, changing worker preferences and organisational needs for flexibility and cost-efficiency. As the contingent workforce continues to grow and play a significant role in many industries, it is increasingly important for employment lawyers to understand and navigate the legal implications associated with this evolving employment landscape.

Lene Wendland is Chief of the Business and Human Rights Section in the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). She contributed to the development and drafting of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), the authoritative global standard on business and human rights. Wendland oversees OHCHR’s work on implementation of the UNGPs at national level and in global policy developments. She directs the UN Human Rights’ Accountability and Remedy Project, which aims to enhance accountability and access to remedy in cases of business involvement in human rights abuses. She also directs the UN Human Rights B-Tech Project, applying the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights to key human rights challenges related to digital technologies. Wendland is currently a member of the International Olympic Committee’s Advisory Committee of Human Rights, the Advisory Council of the Geneva Centre for Business and Human Rights and the Copenhagen Tech Committee.

With increasing longevity and rising retirement ages, modern workplaces are witnessing a diverse mix of generations – each with unique expectations and values. This session will explore how employers can effectively navigate the recruitment and retention of multi-generational workers while preserving their organisational culture. Discover strategies to harness the advantages of a diverse workforce and proactively address the expectations of different generations. Additionally, this session will consider pertinent topics, such as the right to disconnect and how to manage generational differences.

In this session we will explore the key issues and trends in executive compensation, these include: the increased focus on clawback provisions as a corporate governance and executive compensation issue; apprehension about inflation and a potential recession; changing priorities for C-suite executives; and increased government and public scrutiny. In this session we will discuss the trends likely to impact how executives are remunerated, in addition to shared experiences and best practices.

Working from home (WFH) is here to stay, for some it will be full-time, but hybrid models are favoured by many. Our panel will look at how this new model is working, highlighting the main challenges and opportunities arising from this redefined employment relationship. For many businesses, WFH increases productivity rather than decreasing it, but managing the relationship is sometimes problematic, giving rise to employment law issues like performance management, being monitored too much or too little as well as issues around ‘visibility’ and proximity bias. Are underrepresented workers better off or losing out as a result of WFH? Statistically, remote workers get promoted less often than their in-office peers and are being paid less, despite being considerably more productive on average. The panel will look at the potential discrimination or other employment claims which are emerging as WFH becomes more established as a norm.