Event information
Legal 500 is proud to present the Diversity & Inclusion Forum Switzerland 2025, in partnership with Schellenberg Wittmer AG. This event, tailored specifically for in-house counsel, will take place on 16 September 2025 in Zurich.
Through topical panels and insightful discussions, the forum will explore the themes of diversity and inclusion from a legal perspective. Attendees will gain practical insights into how legal departments can lead, implement and benefit from effective diversity and inclusion initiatives.
At a time when diversity and inclusion efforts are facing political and regulatory scrutiny on a global scale, it is more important than ever for in-house teams to remain informed and equip themselves with the necessary tools to adapt to these challenges.
Expert panellists will discuss practical strategies and real-world solutions for fostering an inclusive culture in today’s fast-changing market, and how to balance company ethics and values with compliance and business strategy.
In addition to sharing knowledge, the event offers valuable opportunities to network with peers in the legal and the diversity and inclusion spaces.
Agenda
5.00pm Registration
5.30pm Opening remarks
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- Isabel Caine, event content editor, Legal 500
5.35pm AI in hiring: reducing or reinforcing bias?
Many HR departments are turning to AI to support recruitment. But the increased use of these tools presents challenges around bias and compliance, from data protection laws to ethical implementation. This panel will explore the legal implications of using AI in hiring and discuss potential frameworks that in-house departments can use to assess and mitigate risk.
- Nora Rümbeli, group head legal & compliance tech, data & AI and group DPO, VONTOBEL
6.25pm Growing pressure on diversity and inclusion programs: balancing company values with compliance
With increasing challenges to diversity and inclusion programs worldwide, both national and international companies are left with various questions in the face of these political and regulatory shifts. In-house counsel are being called upon to advise organisations on how to balance company values with compliance and risk management. This panel will discuss how to navigate this changing landscape: should companies revise or reinforce their original diversity and inclusion position and strategies? And, with external stakeholders, consumers and employees in mind, what are the best long-term approaches to consider from both a legal and business perspective?
7.15pm Closing remarks
7.20pm Drinks and canapes
9.00pm Event concludes
Speakers
Nora Rümbeli, group head legal & compliance tech, data & AI and group DPO, VONTOBEL
As Group Head Legal and Compliance Tech, Data and AI as well as a Group DPO – with a robust background in law, technology, digitalisation, data & AI, outsourcing, sustainability, negotiation, project management, and regulatory framework, I bring a unique blend of expertise to the table. My journey, enriched by the discipline of a former professional boxer, shapes my dynamic, precise and open-minded leadership style, driving me to advise, motivate, and support international companies, financial institutions, and startups to compliantly reach their goals/visions.
With a strategic mindset, I adeptly merge extensive legal and compliance knowledge with practical application, ensuring regulatory requirements are seamlessly translated into actionable terms for diverse audiences. In an era of rapid technological advancements and shifting regulatory landscapes, I envision a future where legal frameworks not only adapt but also proactively foster innovation and sustainability.
Caroline Clemetson, partner, Schellenberg Wittmer
Caroline Clemetson is a Partner in Schellenberg Wittmer’s Banking & Finance group in Geneva and in Zurich. She heads the Investment Management Practice of the firm and her focus is on banking and finance law, in particular financial services and financial regulation, asset management, collective investment schemes and other investment products, distribution of financial products, derivatives, trade finance, pension funds, as well as insurance and insurance brokerage regulation. Caroline was the first woman to be elected to the Management Committee of a larger Swiss law firm. She has played a key role in promoting gender diversity within the firm and introduced diversity initiatives and targets to foster a strong commitment to increasing female representation in leadership and strategic positions.
George Ayoub, partner, Schellenberg Wittmer
George Ayoub is a partner in Schellenberg Wittmer’s Dispute Resolution, White-Collar Crime and Compliance, and Internal Corporate Investigations groups in Geneva. His key areas of expertise and practice focus on white-collar crime, international mutual legal assistance, extradition, asset tracing and recovery, and internal corporate investigations. George is also specialised in regulatory and compliance issues as well as in matters of trade sanctions, embargoes and export controls.
As one of the firm’s four Diversity Officers, George coordinates various initiatives to promote diversity, inclusion, equity and awareness within the firm and across its activities.
In association with...
Schellenberg Wittmer is a leading Swiss Business Law firm with offices in Geneva, Zurich, and Singapore. The firm has been practicing in its current form for 20 years. Schellenberg Wittmer is recognized and respected internationally for its legal excellence and its progressive stance in an otherwise conservative market.
Schellenberg Wittmer is the leading firm in Switzerland for diversity and inclusion, having one of the highest numbers of women in management positions, and in 2019 Caroline Clementson was elected to the Management Committee as the first female partner in Switzerland. Moreover, the firm is the first to promote specialized LGBTQI+ initiatives and has diverse representation at all levels, including within the firm’s Management Committee.
The SW IDEA task force – Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Awareness – aims to support the firm’s values that all LGBTQI+ individuals should feel accepted and valued, and grow within the Schellenberg Wittmer family and beyond, independently from their sexual orientation and gender identity; and translate those values into actions.
Schellenberg Wittmer has in recent years partnered with multiple organizations that promote diversity and inclusion, including non-profit associations: The Women in Business Society, Frauenarbeit, Le Refuge, and Regenbogen Familien.