Conference programme

This panel will discuss some of the challenges and opportunities for business leaders of asset management firms that span jurisdictions. Issues to be covered will include:

• Reading political tea leaves, managing geopolitical risks, and picking jurisdictions for expansion/consolidation;
• Integration of teams across geographies, and maintaining consistent corporate culture;
• M&A, GP stakes deals, capital transactions, trends, and challenges;
• Buy vs. build – considerations on outsourcing of product management and design;
• Trends in asset classes and “vehicle agnostic” product development; and
• Incorporation of A.I. into asset management businesses.

This panel will discuss the incidence and nature of cyber-attacks, and the particular challenges for asset management and other financial services businesses in preventing and responding to them.

Key topics:

• Ransomware and other current trends in cyber attacks
• Specific vulnerabilities for asset management and other financial services businesses
• The first 24 hours
• The role of inside and outside counsel
• Managing stakeholders: investors, investees, regulators and staff
• Reputational issues and recovery

This panel will discuss Current challenges for Custodians. Issues to be covered will include:

• Settlement acceleration (U.S., UK, EU, Asia)
• Alternative asset classes: ISSA/AGC will likely revise in Q1/Q2 2025 the (outdated) “Out-of-Network Assets” paper – intending to address custodial roles regarding non-custodied assets/alternatives. Changes under way in Europe following the ESMA peer review.
• Digital assets (of course!)
• Shareholders rights/identification related reform efforts (EU/U.S.)
• AML/Sanctions (beneficial owner transparency, Russia, etc.)
• U.S. SEC safeguarding rule: to my surprise I’m hearing they actually will re-propose the rule, which seems pointless in view of the Trump victory, but that’s what I’m hearing form well-placed sources.
• Withholding tax reforms (FASTER, etc.)

This panel will discuss key compliance, legal and operational complexities faced by international asset managers operating across multiple jurisdictions. Issues to be covered will include:

• Implementing a compliance and regulatory oversight framework across jurisdictions;
• Managing and monitoring cross-border risks;
• Establishing and managing regulatory relationships, and registrations; and
• Entering and exiting a market – some lessons learned.

The panel will discuss current developments in the use of artificial intelligence in the asset management industry. Key topics include:

• Legal challenges and concerns for asset managers using AI;
• Regulatory expectations for the use of AI by asset managers;
• Compliance and liability risks for asset managers; and

With multiple vehicles having been set up over the past few years, the trend known as “retailisation” is now well established and here to stay.  This panel will discuss recent developments and explore the opportunities and challenges managers face in structuring and distributing such products.

It will cover:

• Recent trends in retailisation of private assets
• Practical insights and structuring solutions
• Operational challenges such as valuation and liquidity
• Opportunities and challenges in the distribution

This panel will discuss the evolving equation between GPs and LPs in the context of current economic conditions, market trends, and regulatory changes, including how these factors are potentially reshaping the priorities and strategies of LPs and GPs. Issues to be covered will include:

• Evolving market and regulatory dynamics and their impact: are these factors aligning priorities and strategies of GPs and LPs?
• Transparency, reporting and ESG: is there a mismatch of expectations?
• Alignment of interests: myth or reality?
• Continuation vehicles: strengthening long-term partnerships and resolving conflicts of interest.
• Handling downturns: GP and LP perspectives – does it make or break relationships?
• Strengthening GP-LP relationships:  exploring new emerging themes that can help build a strong relationship.

This panel will discuss the latest innovation trends in private funds. Panellists will where the market is moving on economic, governance and other fund terms and the latest innovative structures.  

The following issues will be covered:

• Where do we stand on governance terms ?
• Rise of open end private funds
• Platform arrangements

As ESG and impact investing continue to evolve, the industry faces growing scrutiny and shifting perspectives. This panel will explore the current backlash, the continued relevance of ESG, and whether impact investing can be both financially viable and transformative.

• Backlash against ESG in the US
• Is ESG still relevant?
• The intersection of litigation and ESG
• Impact investing: real opportunities or idealistic pursuits?
• Market players and the money flow

This panel on ETFs will examine the latest trends and product innovations in the ETF space, combining expert perspectives to discuss developments in the US, Europe, Australia and other global markets. The panel will discuss:

• Global growth in active ETFs, and impact on demand for passive ETFs
• Challenges for active managers in launching ETFs and achieving market penetration
• Expansion of ETFs into more esoteric asset classes
• The potential for tokenisation of ETFs to increase investor access