Conference programme

This session will give a perspective on the work of the Hague Conference’s jurisdiction project which, following the success of the Choice of Courts Convention and the Judgments Convention, is now working on a new instrument on parallel proceedings. We will examine the potential impact of any new convention in the context of growing jurisdictional protectionism.

This aviation roundtable discussion is being led by industry experts and will cover global trends in aviation, repercussions to the industry and developments in finance and leasing laws.

General Counsel (GCs) are responsible for much more than providing legal advice. They can act as lawyers, risk managers, compliance officers, business advisors and more. Geopolitical developments, environmental changes, macroeconomic conditions and technological developments are all relevant to today’s GCs, not just changes to laws and regulations, and as a consequence, they frequently have disparate teams reporting to them. Our panel of experienced GCs and outside advisors will discuss some of the most important trending developments that affect companies of all sizes, from generative artificial intelligence (AI) to the effects of wars, trade tensions, environmental threats and economic challenges.

Many countries around the world are introducing cybersecurity legislation that require private and public players to implement specific technical and organisational safeguards to protect against cyberattacks throughout the entire supply chain. Recent examples include: NIS2 Directive and the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) in the EU; UN regulations R155/156; and US Federal laws, regulations and standards, such as the ’Sound Practices to Strengthen Operational Resilience’ paper issued by various US Federal institutions, the amendments introduced by the Federal Trade Commission related to the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA), the Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002 (FISMA) and the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA). One key aspect of such regulatory frameworks is often the objective to improve ‘operational resilience’ in digital services and other technology.

This panel session will explore the concept of ‘operational resilience’ from different perspectives and, specifically, if and how contractual arrangements can contribute to operational resilience. In addition, the panel will discuss practical aspects and challenges in implementation of local or regional cybersecurity regulation in national, regional and global organisations.

This session will cover new EU digital regulations – such as the Digital Services Act (DSA), Digital Markets Act and the Data Act – ) and explore how they have impacted other countries and what the first lessons learned are.

Balancing these issues requires careful consideration of individual rights and corporate interests. While employees have the right to express their opinions, employers also have a legitimate interest in protecting their business whilst upholding their environmental, social and governance (ESG) values.

This conference topic explores the intricate challenges associated with managing a global network of distribution agreements, while ensuring adherence to local laws, regulations and idiosyncratic market requirements.

In particular, the panel will focus on global enterprises, especially those in the software and cloud computing sectors, that engage local partners to distribute their products. These partnerships often involve agreements drafted from standardised global templates, typically subject to foreign choice-of-law provisions, which may need to consider the unique nuances of local jurisdictions more adequately.

The core objective of this discussion is to bring together in-house legal counsel and private practice practitioners to dissect the intricacies of these collaboration agreements. The conversation will encompass a range of critical topics, including addressing antitrust concerns, mechanisms for indemnification in breach or termination and the formulation of limitation of liability provisions.

This panel seeks to equip legal professionals with the knowledge and insights necessary to adeptly navigate the dynamic intersection of global companies and localised legal compliance within distribution agreements.
 

The cutting-edge seminar explores differing international perspectives on how lawyers best represent child trauma victims – be that through international conflicts, displacement, or domestic trauma.  We will study this dynamic through the lens of case stories and scenarios inspired by actual cases.  Among other topics, we will thoroughly explore whether there is an inherent conflict between individual representation and advocacy for systemic reform, and international practices and guidelines.

This seminar will include diverse perspectives from the Family Law Committee, the Judges Forum, the LGBTQI+ Committee, the Professional Ethics Committee, and the Immigration & Nationality Law Committee.

This is an important and timely program – not to be missed!

This session will be of particular interest to practitioners working in legal departments in local, national and international government and public bodies, including parliamentary counsel. This session will also provide a fascinating insight into the work of government and public lawyers for private sector lawyers.

In which areas do engineers, contractors and developers need to be most diligent in investigating local laws and practices that are likely to affect their projects (eg, labour practices, work hours, union rights and availability of common supplies and services)?

The concept of space and deep-sea mining, once confined to the realm of science fiction, are now on the verge of becoming a reality. As technological advancements pave the way for deep-sea and extraterrestrial resource extraction, the legal community faces a new frontier of challenges and opportunities. This topic delves into the legal frameworks, international agreements and ethical considerations surrounding these mining endeavours.

Many law firms continue opening offices. Many law firms are members of formal networks and alliances. Many law firms – with varying degrees of organisation – claim to have their own ‘personal’ networks or alliances (including ‘best friends’).

What is the right answer and how do you work out what is the right answer for your law firm? Deciding upon office locations, networks and/or alliances is hard, but it is much harder making them work, both within your law firm but also within a network or alliance.
 

Holding real estate in an international environment requires expert planning. The session will give useful advice to all.

The continued impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning is felt as keenly in legal education as anywhere in practice. This session will explore the latest updates on ChatGPT and similar, the way that law schools are embracing its positive and negative aspects and how to align legal education with practice. It will also consider the ethical dimension of AI and the impact on students’ wellbeing as they grapple with the moral dilemmas and lifetime impacts that AI will create.

The right of persons to seek asylum from persecution in other countries is grounded in Article 14 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (the ‘Convention), adopted in 1951, consolidated previous international instruments and provides a comprehensive codification of the rights of refugees at an international level. Non-discrimination, non-penalisation and non-refoulement (ie, the forced return of people to their places of origin) are three of the most important principles on which the Convention is based. 

However, the influx of migrants to many countries is causing economic problems and leading to divisive political responses. Many are asking whether these laws have had their day and need to adjust to a different world with a new set of challenges. 

Discussion global trends in activism since the pandemic and its impact on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), with a particular focus on:

•    Evolving strategies and tactics by activists (including, among other things, environmental campaigns, activist ‘wolfpacks’ and the increase and different profiles of non-traditional activists) and company responses;
•    notable changes in major regulatory regimes;
•    an exploration of recent prominent case studies; and
•    tips on preparing boards and management teams for the coming year.

Join us for a thought-provoking session that delves into the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and its implications for humanity. In the midst of this AI revolution we’ll explore the questions and challenges it poses. Are we ready for the changes AI is bringing to our lives, industries and society, or are we too young to understand the full extent of its potential consequences?