Agenda

12.30pm-1.30pm Arrival and registration 

1.30pm-1.40pm Opening remarks 

    • Francisco Castro, research editor, Legal 500

1.40pm-2.30pm Typical pitfalls in post-M&A disputes, in association with Baker McKenzie

How do post-M&A cases actually end, and what lessons should those responsible for transactions learn from them? We have evaluated over 120 arbitration awards on post-M&A disputes and identified insights regarding the most common points of contention, chances of success, costs, and duration of proceedings. Our quiz tests and expands your knowledge in a very entertaining way. The format is suitable for in-house counsel with regular M&A practice as well as colleagues who rarely (or less frequently) encounter post-closing disputes.

    • Claudia Fochtmann-Tischler, partner, M&A, Baker McKenzie
    • Desiree Prantl, partner, arbitration, Baker McKenzie
    • Heiko Haller, partner, dispute resolution, Baker McKenzie
    • Markus Altenkirch, partner, dispute resolution, Baker McKenzie

2.30pm-3.20pm IP in the age of AI: challenges and opportunities, in association with Anwälte Burger und Partner

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming how intellectual property is created, protected, and enforced. This panel examines the impact of AI across patents, trademarks, copyright, and designs, and the legal and strategic challenges emerging as technology outpaces regulation.

Patent activity in AI is accelerating, while European frameworks struggle to keep up. As AI begins to assist in drafting and generating inventions, questions around inventorship, disclosure, and professional responsibility are becoming more urgent. The discussion will look at how patent offices are responding and what safe, compliant use of AI tools means for practitioners.

In trademarks, automated generation of names and figurative elements has contributed to a surge in filings, creating crowded registers and complicating brand clearance. The panel will explore whether there is still space for new marks and which strategies can help brand owners navigate an increasingly saturated landscape.

Copyright and design law face similar pressures. AI‑generated content raises unresolved issues around authorship, ownership, and the legality of training data. Rights holders must also contend with new enforcement challenges, from online counterfeiting to fast‑moving players reshaping infringement patterns. The session will consider the implications of large‑scale training practices and how creators and companies can protect their assets in this evolving environment.

    • Hannes Burger, managing partner, Anwälte Burger und Partner
    • Clemens Ofner, partner, Anwälte Burger und Partner
    • Dr. Christian W. Schaumann, general counsel, Teufelberger
    • Manuela Weixlbaumer, head of intellectual property, KEBA Group

3.20pm-3.40pm Coffee break

3.40pm-4.10pm Lost in regulation: executive liability in a maze of AI, data & cyber Rules, in association with Fieldfisher

EU digital regulation is moving fast – and enforcement is catching up. This panel focuses less on “what the rules say” and more on how organisations can implement them in practice across privacy (GDPR), cybersecurity (incl. readiness and reporting), and AI governance. We discuss where theory often breaks down: fragmented controls, supplier dependencies and the “grey zone” where sanctions may look administrative on paper but feel quasi-criminal in substance – driving higher expectations for board oversight and defensible decision-making. The discussion is pragmatic and implementation-driven: how to set up a workable governance and control framework (roles & accountability, risk-based policies, training, incident playbooks, audit trails, and evidence of continuous improvement) that stands up to regulatory scrutiny.

    • Philipp Reinisch, partner, Fieldfisher
    • Thomas Ruhm, managing partner, Austria, Fieldfisher
    • Philipp Egger, head of legal, Austria, CRIF

4.10pm-4.40pm Beyond search: AI and the transformation of the legal workflow, in association with LexisNexis

Generative AI is moving beyond legal research and beginning to reshape entire legal workflows. What started as search and analysis support is evolving into embedded, workflow-centric AI that structures and supports complex, multi-step legal work — grounded in trusted sources, aligned with internal knowledge, and deployed within secure enterprise environments. As proprietary content, domain expertise, and AI infrastructure increasingly converge, the strategic question for legal departments is no longer access to information, but how AI can enhance speed, consistency, and value creation across the legal function. This session explores how AI is transforming legal workflows, what this means for operating models and vendor ecosystems, and how General Counsel can position their teams to lead in this next phase of legal innovation.

    • Markus Scheffler, head of product management, LexisNexis
    • Patrick Winkler, paralegal, Kwizda Holding
    • Nicole Christ, Senior legal expert, Constantia Flexibles

4.40pm-4.50pm Closing remarks

    • Francisco Castro, research editor, Legal 500

4.50pm-5.50pm Networking session