Conference programme

This session will frame a dynamic and participatory conversation about the intersection of Generative AI and legal practice, explore its implications and benefits, and delve into the critical role of human oversight in AI-driven legal work. Participants will be invited to engage in discussions on ethical concerns, the importance of maintaining confidentiality, and the evolving duties of lawyers in the age of AI. This is a must-attend event for both seasoned practitioners and young lawyers eager to understand and embrace the future of AI-led legaltech without undermining fundamental aspects of the legal profession.

The "Funds and Fund Distribution" panel session will cover the setup of investment funds, including legal, tax, passporting and governance aspects, and address challenges in distributing funds internationally. Experts will discuss regulatory barriers, compliance, and market-specific hurdles, alongside trends and innovations in the fund industry, such as technological advancements, evolving investment strategies and fund structures, that influence fund management and distribution efficiency.

Regulators are increasingly focussing on individual accountability of directors and managers as a way to prevent misconduct by financial institutions. Some jurisdictions such as Ireland have introduced specific regulatory regimes to enhance individual accountability. Directors and managers can face potentially serious consequences if there is a failure in their area of responsibility, including loss of employment or a fine. This encourages a culture of compliance but does it stifle innovation and risk-taking? This panel will consider the benefits and drawbacks of individual accountability laws and regulation.

In today's dynamic business landscape, the composition of boards plays a pivotal role in shaping organizational success. This session delves into the significance of diversity within boards, encompassing factors such as gender, ethnicity, age, and expertise. By embracing diversity, boards can enhance innovation, mitigate risks, and better serve stakeholders, ultimately driving sustainable growth and competitive advantage. Join us to unravel the transformative power of diversity in boards and unlock opportunities for organizational excellence.

As the landscape of restructuring continues to evolve, private credit funds have emerged as significant players in the process. This panel discussion aims to delve into the intricate intersection of private credit funds and restructuring, exploring their roles, strategies, and impacts on distressed situations.

Securities settlement procedures and requirements represent an important and technical, although often misunderstood, element of capital markets, and are particularly complex in the case of cross-border transactions.  This panel will explore important legal and commercial settlement issues relevant to counsel of both issuers and security holders throughout a settlement cycle in the context of equity-based transactions involving differing jurisdictions for listing, incorporation and place of issuance. Topics to be discussed include:
•    Overview of settlement systems in Europe and the U.S.; 
•    Key elements of a settlement cycle; 
•    Interaction between corporate and securities laws applicable at the place of incorporation and settlement rules applicable at the place of listing; 
•    Interaction between central securities depositories (CSD) and custodian banks; 
•    Impact of certain jurisdictions’ plans to transition to a T+1 settlement cycle in May 2024; and 
•    Involvement of CSDs in corporate actions (voting, dividends, take-privates) post-IPO. 

Regulatory and public scrutiny of financial institutions shows no signs of lessening. Regulators and the public increasingly look to ‘whistleblowers’ to expose wrong-doing and unethical behaviour within regulated firms and the resulting internal and external investigations can be complex, time consuming and resource intensive. The panel will examine these trends from a cross-jurisdictional perspective and will provide practical guidance for lawyers called upon to advise institutions dealing with these issues.

The last few years have seen a dramatic expansion of Foreign Direct Investment and “national security” regimes, with more mandatory filings, lower thresholds and harsher potential penalties. At the same time, merger control authorities are becoming more influenced by broader questions of national industrial and trade policy than by customary competitive or antitrust concerns.    This panel will explore what this means for companies and dealmakers.  What new risks have to be taken into consideration?  How are deal terms evolving in response to the changing regulatory environment?

Subscription lines have become commonplace and are an important tool for investment funds. The session will look at the key considerations of sponsors and lenders and examine how the complex multijurisdictional nature of fund structures can impact these considerations. Panellists will also share their insights on trends and developments in their jurisdiction and the growing popularity of alternative fund finance structures.