Conference programme

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.

This panel of leading practitioners from multiple jurisdictions will examine the scope of state immunity, exceptions to immunity (such as commercial transactions), and the practical application of these concepts in the courts of various jurisdictions. The panel will also explore the challenges and controversies surrounding state immunity including by providing case examples and recent developments.  

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.

As companies undergo insolvency proceedings, DIP lenders often provide vital financing to ensure continuity. However, their influence—exercised through stringent terms and control rights—can significantly limit the debtor's autonomy and affect other stakeholders, sometimes leading to disputes or litigation. This panel will explore the evolving scope of DIP lender control, examining the legal boundaries and practical implications of when such influence crosses the line and will discuss recent case law in which these discussions have taken place.

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.

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. 

Civil society has long been a key actor in the pursuit of accountability. Moreover, civil society has often helped define what accountability is and how to achieve it. This panel will look at various contributions made by civil society to the international justice landscape. Both as pioneers in establishing international tribunals or justice mechanisms and intervening in cases before them, and, through contributing to emerging alternative processes. These processes include vetting, sanctions, cases focused on civil liability of alleged perpetrators, and the establishment of People’s Tribunals. These avenues are proving to be innovative ways to fulfil many important goals of accountability, in the face of a slower-moving criminal justice system.

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. 

Can new legislation around the globe assist to prevent the spread of information intended to deceive, or will traditional enforcement mechanisms hold sway in preventing dissemination of hate speech, fake news and propaganda, facilitation of counterfeit and stolen goods and objects of art, as well as infringement of Internet Protocol (IP) through the use of Artificial intelligence (AI).

This panel will look at the following issues:

• Does regulation combat misinformation, or encourage censorship; 
• What mechanisms are in place to prevent altered or falsified satellite images;
• How can actors and artists prevent infringement of their images and IP rights through the use of AI?
• And what can be done to prevent the infringement of trademark rights or unfair competition through false association between brands and entities?

Women 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.