Conference programme

With the significant advancements in renewable energy and other new energy, disputes are inevitable. Such disputes are generally complex and large in value. This session will review how we resolve such disputes in a way that minimises disruption to the generation of power and global development.

In this session we will debate the topic of platform v sovereign states, and dissecting who is in control in relation to communications infrastructure.

Legal tips and advice for running auctions or strategic review processes.

In May 2024, social media around the world lit up with the man vs bear debate, a viral trend where women were asked if they would rather be stuck in the forest with a man or a bear. While the debate angered many men, it also resonated with many women. The analogy brought gendered violence to the fore at a time when 30% of women worldwide have been subject to either physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime. Violence against women is preventable, and employers have an important role to play as agents for change. This session reviews the role employers can play in driving powerful societal change in relation to gendered violence and harassment.

Since the legalisation of adult-use cannabis, Canada has set a successful example of legal framework, including improvements on federal and provincial regulations for the coordination of production, warehousing, transportation and retail. Effective supply chain management is a key market differentiator in this industry. We aim to compare what Canada achieved so far with other jurisdictions that recently legalised adult-use of cannabis in this session. 

Acquiring a gambling business involves unique legal, regulatory, and compliance challenges that require specialised knowledge. This panel will explore the critical issues we face when advising clients on the acquisition of gambling operators or that of suppliers of key gambling products. Panelists will provide insights on due diligence, with a particular focus on navigating complex licensing requirements, anti-money laundering (AML) obligations, understanding jurisdictional variations in gambling laws, and assessing regulatory compliance risks.

The session will also examine the structuring of transactions, the impact of the acquiring entity’s group structure on regulatory change of control approval, and the negotiation or re-negotiation of key contracts in the context of a highly regulated industry. Special attention will be given to how changes in local and international gambling regulations may impact acquisition strategies. The session will offer a roadmap for those involved in the acquisition of gambling businesses to ensuring that deals are not only contractually sound but also compliant with the ever-evolving regulatory landscape.

The rapid emergence of a multipolar world and surging geopolitical conflict are challenging established international laws, norms, and principles; entrenching global impunity; and raising existential questions about the future of international law and multilateral institution in world affairs. As 19th century-style great power competition makes a comeback, and the United States retreats from historic commitments to alliances and multilateralism, tensions escalate in Europe, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific. Meanwhile, as frustration grows globally with perceived double standards and hypocrisy in foreign policy decisions, some actors engage in “whataboutism” tactics and weaponize such debates for geopolitical and ideological purposes. In combination, such trends threaten to undermine the validity and universality of established laws, norms, and principles that have anchored the global order and guided multilateral cooperation for decades. Against this background, our expert panel will discuss what the future might yield for international law, international institutions, and multilateral cooperation.

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?

This session will explore how we can use artificial intelligence in our practice to become better lawyers, as well as how this technology is reshaping the profession.

In this session we will explore activism in Canada and beyond.

This session talks about lawyer issues that are less frequently touched upon. 

This session will be about issues around sanctions.