Conference programme

With arbitration practitioners becoming increasingly more multi-jurisdictional in qualifications and residency, this panel session will review the relevance of nationality as a preclusive indicator of an arbitrator's independence and impartiality.

This panel will examine the evolving landscape of corporate accountability, focusing on the personal liability of officers and directors for human rights violations committed by corporations. With rising expectations on companies to uphold human rights standards across global supply chains, executives face increasing scrutiny over their roles and responsibilities. The discussion will address recent legal developments, key cases, and the frameworks that are shaping accountability, from national regulations to international guidelines such as the 'United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights'. Esteemed experts in corporate law, human rights, and governance will analyse the risks and implications for leadership in an era where corporate responsibility extends beyond financial performance.

This panel will discuss the ongoing issues around illegal immigtration across the global, including current migration pathways, temporary protection schemes and bilateral agreements with safe third countries.

In recent years, there has been a growing discussion surrounding the role and responsibilities of sports governing bodies. This panel discussion aims to delve into the complexities of their regulatory functions versus their commercial interests. As these bodies navigate their dual roles, critical questions arise: should there be a clear separation between regulatory duties and commercial activities? If so, how can these roles be effectively delineated?

Furthermore, we will explore the increasing tensions between sports governing bodies and legislative frameworks, for example in areas such as employment law. These issues are becoming increasingly pertinent as sports organisations grapple with their influence over matters that are typically reserved for lawmakers.

Objectives:

• To examine the current regulatory landscape of sports bodies and the challenges they face;
• To discuss the potential need for a separation of powers within these organisations;
• To highlight recent cases that illustrate these tensions, providing practical insights and legal implications;
• And to foster a dialogue among legal experts, sports industry leaders, and policymakers on best practices moving forward.

What are the consequences of climate change for risk allocation in construction contracts? Is it more common to encounter clauses that define force majeure through qualifying circumstances such is severity, periodicity, etc. Who should bear the risk for abnormal weather that does not qualify as force majeure? Which party is better equipped to manage that risk? What is the availability of insurance against abnormal weather? What are the impacts over the supply chain? This session will cover all of this and more.

The recent spate of large state litigation has had the complication of immunity issues. How has it been resolved? What were the hurdles? We will discuss these issues and more in this session.

Most laws regarding how the succession and taxation of estates are designed with a traditional nuclear family in mind. But the definition of marriage and issue is not as clear cut as the law may allow. This session will explore how as families evolve and reproductive technology advances, how should modern families plan for their future.

International trade faces many challenges, among them the sudden changes in the global market due to new crises, sanctions, conditions. The supply chain and the performance of the contracts are affected by new laws introducing mandatory provisions (example, the so called “no re-export to” clause and alike). Drafting and interpreting such clauses are key factors for lawyers and arbitrators worldwide. This will be discussed during this session. 

The Canadian pension funds are large, diversified and impactful, and Latin America’s needs and potential provide plenty of investment opportunities across industries. No wonder why this pair are attracted to each other! This panel will explore the growing presence of Canadian pension funds in Latin America's infrastructure, energy, real estate and other sectors, the hot topics that are top-of-mind in their capital deployment and the drivers of their interest in the region going forward.

This session will be a discussion on debtor-in-possession (DIP) lenders in insolvency proceedings, and when is their level of control considered too far.

The panel will discuss:

• Extraterritoriality of IP rights extending outside the issuing country;
• Permanent injunctions after trial are virtually guaranteed in some jurisdictions and a pipe dream in others;
• Diverging technology subject to protections on one jurisdiction and not in another such as artificial neural networks;
• And contributory infringement, i.e. the grey zone between IP protection and free competition.

This roundtable session will focus on five distinct emerging topics of interest in an audience. The session will feature an interactive, roundtable format led by moderators and contributions from our national reporters.

An open committee business meeting where all members and Officers are invited to learn more about the current and upcoming activities and developments of the Committee.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is having a substantial impact also for transport industry, but what can and should be taken into account?

Looking at summary returns and refusals under the 1980 and 1996 Hague conventions, where there are allegations of domestic abuse and/or where there is a return to a state of war or conflict, also looking at the position where states are not signatories to the conventions.

This panel will explore the intersection between class actions and Artificial Intelligence (AI), a rapidly expanding field. Experts will discuss the legal implications of AI's increasing use, particularly regarding data protection, anti-trust, copyright and securities class actions. 

During the last two decades the banking and financial industry started thorough processes to terminate risky clients' relationships. The panel will analyse the latest trends and tools to reverse these decisions. 

A compare and contrast of global trends in fund formation and the asset management industry. 

Women law firm leaders from around the globe will discuss their road to leadership, successes, failures and effective ways that lawyers and law firms can create pathways to management and rainmaking. 

The panel will examine the impact of recent legislative and regulatory reforms across the Arab world and Europe on Arab migration to North America.