Conference programme

This session will feature an interactive discussion exploring the intersection of Generative AI and legal banking, financial, securities and capital markets practice, highlighting practical implications and advantages as well as available tools. The panel, also featuring representatives of two AI providers, will offer diverse perspectives on current use cases, adoption strategies in corporate and regulated environments, recent AI tool developments, and evolving client expectations. Participants are encouraged to engage in discussions about critical topics such as ethical considerations, confidentiality, and the shifting responsibilities of lawyers in an AI-enhanced legal landscape. This session is essential for experienced practitioners and younger lawyers alike.

Soft law instruments, such as guidelines issued by regulators, are a helpful means to guide financial institutions in the application of the law and to ensure its uniform application. However, the multiplication of sources and forms of soft law instruments can create confusion, legal uncertainty and can lead to high compliance costs for supervised entities. The democratic legitimacy of regulators to issue soft law instruments that they consider as binding is questioned by some. There is also an intense debate as to whether financial institutions can be sanctioned by regulators for failure to comply with soft law rules. The application or taking into account of soft law rules by Courts has led to divergent positions among jurisdictions. All the above issues will be analysed and debated by a panel of experts from the regulators, academia and private practice.

The panel will deal with the various criteria to determine the price per share to be offered at a voluntary tender offer aimed at the delisting of a public company. The discussions will focus on the most critical aspects of the relevant procedures, including the requirements to challenge the price proposed by the offeror in each jurisdiction, the possibility of competing offers with different prices in cash or securities and related securities laws’ implications. The speakers will discuss corporate and regulatory issues and market trends from different jurisdictions’ perspectives and provide insights on how to handle complex legal questions when acting as counsel to the offeror and/or to the target’s board of directors and/or the minority shareholders.

On 8 October 2024, the EU adopted the EU Listing Act which is aimed at making European capital markets more attractive and facilitate listings on European stock exchanges. Key amendments affect the European regulations on prospectuses, market abuse and investment services.  This panel looks at the main changes in the reform package that market players are facing as well as shortcomings in the new rules and challenges that the EU and other markets globally will need to deal with.

Dramatically changing geopolitical environment fuels rapidly increasing military spendings in many countries. In addition to increasing their budgetary spendings, states are looking for additional sources of financing military equipment and boosting their defence industries, including the use of commercial debt financing, often backed by ECAs and IFIs, but also subsidies or grants from dedicated military financing programs.

The panellists will explore, among others, the interplay of public and private funding for military investments, the increasing role of financial institutions as well as specifics of such sovereign debt financing structures and ways to unlock private funding for defence industry players.

Our experts will delve into the latest global trends in securing Equity Capital Market (ECM) transactions before their launch. This session is designed for legal professionals who are keen to understand the intricacies of ECM transactions across different markets and jurisdictions. We will explore the types of deals being executed, the methodologies employed, and the unique transaction scenarios that arise in various jurisdictions. The discussion will also cover the array of tools available to secure ECM transactions, such as cornerstone and backstop investors, hard underwritings, sub-underwritings, and the strategic use of public and private transaction combinations. Transaction specific steps like "testing the waters" and "wall-crossing" and their implementation will also be explained.

Regulatory scrutiny on anti-money laundering (AML) compliance is intensifying, and the consequences of non-compliance can be severe. From substantial administrative fines to criminal sanctions and civil liability, banks, financial institutions, and their management face significant liability risk if they fail to meet AML obligations.
This panel will discuss the AML landscape, key risk areas, and real-world enforcement cases. It will explore the legal and practical implications of non-compliance, the potential liability risks, and the measures institutions can take to mitigate exposure.

As regulatory and policy developments signal a potential retreat from DEI initiatives, this panel will examine the evolving expectations set by regulators and how these may adapt to shifting political and economic landscapes. Our discussion will explore the current DEI regulatory landscape, the challenges regulators face in promoting DEI standards, and the broader implications of regulatory shifts for businesses. The discussion will focus on the mechanisms regulators use to drive accountability—whether through guidance, thematic reviews or enforcement—and how these approaches influence corporate culture and inclusion efforts. The panelists will share their insights on global case studies and industry-led initiatives and how businesses can navigate regulatory expectations while fostering meaningful DEI progress.