Conference programme

Mining is one of the most relevant industries in several Latin American countries. Over the recent years, regulations have increased and deals have become more sophisticated. Investments in the region need to deal with heavier regulatory requirements and increased competition. This panel will address some of the legal trends of the mining industry in the region considering energy transition aspects, the need of rare minerals, artificial intelligence, global climate effects and geopolitical concerns.

In this panel discussion we look at the growing role in non-bank financial institutions such as tech companies, credit funds, asset managers and insurers are playing in providing credit to the real economy and the financial sector. The panel will consider both opportunities and challenges this poses for the financial markets, including the impact it has on traditional players, how it might change both the mix of debt and the attractiveness of debt that is available (both private debt and public capital markets), and whether the rise of these alternative financiers poses a threat to financial stability. 

The international trade community is scrambling to recover and re-orient itself from the second Trump Administration's chaotic trade policy. It's January 2025 Inauguration Day "America First" Trade Policy, followed by multiple new tariff regimes, including the 2 April 2025 Liberation Day Reciprocity Tariffs, have altered unimaginably long-established multilateral and regional trade laws and norms. No country on earth is untouched by what has happened. 

Our expert panel will critically analyse (in a non-partisan, non-ad hominem manner) the implications of this policy for producer-exporters, buyer-importers, end-consumers, and governments. Does this policy spell the end of the GATT-WTO regime and major FTA relationships, such as USMCA (NAFTA 2.0)? Or, is it an opportunity to re-invigorate both, perhaps sans-America?
 
Our panel will focus on whether, how, and why (1) the blatant use of wholesale remedial tariffs that breach fundamental WTO principles and bound tariff obligations pose an existential threat to the rules based trading system, and (2) such tariffs may, paradoxically, catalyse a renewed interest around the world among governments and industry to re-dedicate themselves to GATT-WTO sanctioned trade remedies.
 
Our panel will address the perception that several high profile WTO disputes about the interpretation of trade remedy rules, especially those concerning AD, CVD, and safeguards, are insufficiently effective to deal with the trade practices of some WTO Members — such as industrial policy in China. Is that rationale, twinned with national security concerns, a justification for Trumpian tariff levies via unilateral trade remedies?
 
Our panel also will concentrate on how the lack of reforms for WTO rules (manifest in the failed Doha Round) has catalysed the evolution and mutation of trade remedies, and intensified their deployment, by key users. Whilst the WTO Dispute Settlement Body continues to generate important jurisprudence in defining and clarifying key concepts and parameters, there has been a surge of new forms of trade remedy tools – countervailing measures on cross-border subsidies, proliferation of “anti-circumvention” investigations, “particular market situation" inquiries, and — of course, America's use of its 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, and Section 30 of the Trade Act of 1974.
 
Are these legitimate responses to a vastly different trade world shaped by ever more powerful multinational corporations and state-backed industrial policies? Or are they regressive reactions that doom the liberalisation and development objectives of the founders of the 1947 GATT and 1995 WTO? Simply put, are trade remedies in a post-Liberation Day world a harbinger of a post-WTO world, a death knell for the multilateral trading system, or a welcome fillip for its reform?

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.

An open meeting of the Professional Ethics Committee where committee members and those interested in joining the committee, are invited to learn more about the extensive activities of the committee, provide feedback and collaborate about new ideas and initiatives

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.

Can restructuring tools really save corporate entities, and if they can, at what price to the junior creditors? 
This panel will consider a number of different restructuring tools in a number of different jurisdictions and consider:

•    the use of reverse vesting orders;
•    how are assets transferred and liabilities compromised?;
•    the involvement of the courts;
•    the increasing use of cross cram down powers in restructuring plans;
•    how courts approach the sharing of the restructuring surplus;
•    treatment of “ out of the money” creditors;
•    treatment of junior creditors who object to restructuring proposals.

The panel will have speakers from a number of jurisdictions including Canada, South Korea, England, and the Netherlands who will comment on the restructuring tools in their jurisdictions.

It is believed that around 10% of practicing lawyers globally are also involved in academia – whether as part-time lecturers or active researchers. This dual role brings unique challenges and opportunities. It is of particular interest to the Canadian market. This session will explore how legal professionals can balance their practice with teaching and academic work, highlighting the mutual benefits between academic insights and legal practice.

General counsel from some of Canada’s largest pension funds and their advisors will discuss the “Canadian Model” to investing and managing pension assets and what has made this distinct approach to pension fund management so successful.

Panellists will share their insights on the critical legal, risk management, and investment governance roles their teams play in their organisations’ direct global merger & acquisition, private equity, infrastructure, capital markets and real estate investing, as well as their perspectives on key market trends and developments.

With more vigorous enforcement at least in some parts of the world, what are the considerations for disclosing cartel conduct to regulators and filing for leniency? Are the increase of leniency programmes across the world and the proliferation of private damages actions in many jurisdictions affecting the cost-benefit analysis when deciding to file for leniency? What are regulators doing to uncover cartels ex officio (whistleblowing, active monitoring including using software tools) and are they pushing the boundaries of what constitutes cartel conduct such as indirect information exchange? 

This panel will explore artificial intelligence, and the impact it has on production and sale of hydrocarbons.

Climate change agenda and the increasing risk of natural disasters are becoming a relevant driver of infrastructure development public policies. In some jurisdictions, regulatory reforms are aiming at fostering higher climate resilience and adaptability in infrastructure projects and, on the preventive side, establishing decarbonisation goals. What are the different angles and approaches? How will these changes affect how projects are designed, built and operated? This session will discuss this. 

Artificial Intelligence offers massive potential as well as significant implications for increasing inequality. As a result, issues such as inclusivity and equitable access must be on the AI agenda. This session will review latest trends and developments in AI from a diversity and inclusion perspective, as well as relevant case law.

This session will discuss: are foreign workers sufficiently protected against dismissal in relation to national workers?  What about social rights, if they are taking leave or fall ill, or a salary cut for unpaid leave, will that impact on their visa? If so, does that constitute discrimination? Is it compliant with worker’s protection laws? This on all levels, i.e. blue collar workers and HSM’s alike.

This session will be a global update on gender quotas, and specically, do we need them to adjust gender imbalance in leadership?

This session will explore and discuss the latests trends and developments in hotel investments.

This panel will explore effective strategies for structuring family ownership to ensure long-term success across generations. We will discuss corporate structures, governance frameworks, succession planning, and best practices for preserving family values while adapting to evolving business landscapes. 

Topics will include:

• Developing Governance & Succession planning;
• defining ownership structure & strategy;
• leadership development & professional management involvement;
• resolution of family conflicts;
• financial planning & distribution policy, and;
• exits & transitions.