Conference programme

Join a private walking tour through the historic heart of Vienna, offered in English and organised in small groups. Delegates and their accompanying guests are warmly invited to stroll through Vienna’s elegant streets and squares, discover its imperial landmarks and hidden courtyards, and gain insights into the city’s rich cultural and architectural heritage. A relaxed way to experience the city and connect with fellow participants ahead of the conference.

To attend the Walking Tour and Welcome reception, both events kindly offered by the local Host Committee, you will need to register for these socials using the following link: Click here

Join fellow delegates and accompanying guests for the Welcome Reception, kindly hosted by the local Host Committee, in the magnificent Kuppelhalle of the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Surrounded by one of the world’s great collections of art, guests will enjoy exclusive guided tours through the museum’s highlights before gathering for a flying dinner beneath the museum’s spectacular dome. This elegant evening offers a memorable start to the conference and a perfect blend of culture, conversation, and Viennese hospitality in an extraordinary setting.

To attend the Walking Tour and Welcome reception, both events kindly offered by the local Host Committee, you will need to register for these socials using the following link: Click here

The Welcome reception is open for all registered delegates and registered speakers to attend. However, since places are limited, please ensure you complete your registration to avoid disappointment.

Building on the themes of the keynote speech, this debate will address the structural characteristics and decision-making dynamics of owner-managed and family-influenced businesses from four complementary perspectives: the (entrepreneurial) owner, the CFO as internal financial steward and the advising investment banker with an external view providing academic context. The discussion highlights how succession, valuation expectations, control considerations and informal decision structures shape outcomes in owner-managed companies and why transactions in closely held businesses follow different dynamics than in widely held corporations.

Governance and owner disputes are among the most common and most disruptive challenges for closely held and family-owned businesses. Rooted in differing strategic visions, succession uncertainty, or conflicting liquidity needs, these conflicts can threaten both business stability and family relationships.

This session will explore practical strategies and legal instruments to anticipate and prevent such disputes. The discussion will cover how to structure shareholder agreements to balance rights, control, and flexibility; design governance frameworks that avoid deadlock and clarify decision-making; apply valuation methods and exit mechanisms to handle liquidity demands fairly; and use family charters, mediation, and arbitration to complement formal legal tools and preserve long-term harmony.

This session delves into the key valuation and pricing challenges in M&A deals involving closely held companies. Topics include valuation methodologies, purchase price adjustments, and the use of locked box versus closing accounts. The discussion will also cover mechanisms to bridge valuation gaps, such as earn-outs and vendor loans, and highlight, from a CFO’s perspective, what attorneys should focus on when negotiating purchase price provisions in SPAs.

Part 1: Simulation

Participants will be seated at round tables and divided into two negotiation teams. Each team will receive confidential briefing materials outlining their respective positions, interests, and potential solutions. After reviewing the instructions and preparing their strategy, teams will engage in live negotiations with their counterparts. The outcomes of each negotiation will be documented and submitted to the moderator.

The moderator will reveal the results of each table’s negotiation. Participants will then reflect on their experience, share insights, and discuss key takeaways about negotiation styles, tactics, and outcomes.

This session explores how medium-sized enterprises and growth companies can fast-track their digital transformation by acquiring technology or tech-driven companies rather than developing capabilities internally. It will examine the strategic, financial, and operational considerations behind the “buy vs. build” decision, particularly for traditional businesses under pressure to innovate quickly while lacking in-house digital expertise.

Join fellow attorneys for an interactive workshop exploring critical clauses in shareholders agreements. Working in small groups, participants will debate key drafting challenges including drag-along/tag-along rights, put/call options, valuation mechanisms, good leaver/bad leaver provisions, anti-dilution protections, and enforcement mechanisms. Each table will develop practical conclusions to share with all attendees. Bring your experience and leave with actionable insights.

This session focuses on the evolving landscape of venture capital, comparing traditional VC investments with corporate VC strategies, particularly those pursued by closely held companies investing in startups. The discussion will examine the balance between financial return and strategic value, the differences in decision-making flexibility, and how access to corporate resources can shape both investment outcomes and innovation potential.

This panel examines emerging trends in artificial intelligence and their concrete impact on legal work. It offers a comparative review of leading AI legal tech tools and discusses practical ways to integrate these technologies into daily practice to improve accuracy, efficiency, and strategic decision-making.