Conference programme

The US and China are the superpowers of our time. They are engaged in a struggle for global dominance that will shape the 21st century. The rivalry between the USA and China leads to increased geopolitical and military tension, new technological and economic developments, as well as a changed international order. How has China become so powerful that it can challenge USA? What consequences will the new superpower rivalry have for NATO, Europe and the Nordics?

National security concerns are becoming increasingly important across various sectors of society. What are the effects of today’s geopolitical landscape on businesses today? What key challenges and opportunities do they face in this context? And, at a time where national security is becoming increasingly important, what opportunities can businesses capitalise on to gain a competitive edge?

In 2021, Vestas Wind Systems was the victim of a ransomware attack. During the attack, data was illegally extracted from IT systems, and the attackers threatened to make the stolen data public. Thomas Arendt, General Counsel at Vestas Wind Systems, spearheaded the legal and risk management handling of the regulatory, contractual and communication aspects of the incident across multiple jurisdictions. In this session, Thomas Arendt will, in conversation with Tue Goldschmieding, explore the various legal challenges that companies face when a cyber-attack strikes and the demands it places on the legal function and the company’s external legal advisors.

This session will provide an overview on M&A and FDI and the need to balance commercial considerations with national security and geopolitical developments.

FDI & M&A: US considerations and panel discussion. This session will start with an overview of the US FDI regime and recent developments.