Agenda

8.30am-9.00am Arrival & registrations 

9.00am-9.05am Opening remarks

9.05am-9.10am Keynote speaker

    • Millicent Joie Desiderio-Dime, managing director, global counsel ethics and compliance, Accenture

9.10am-10.05am Intellectual property in the AI era, in association with SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan (SyCipLaw)

As artificial intelligence technologies rapidly transform business operations across sectors, intellectual property frameworks are being tested in unprecedented ways. This panel will examine how AI is reshaping the creation, ownership, protection, and enforcement of IP rights in the Philippines and beyond. From questions surrounding AI-generated works and patentability to data usage, trade secrets, and cross-border infringement risks, the discussion will address the practical and strategic implications for corporate legal teams. Panellists will also explore regulatory developments, contractual safeguards, and governance strategies that organisations can adopt to protect innovation while managing legal and reputational risk in the AI era.

10.05am-10.55am The intersection of labour and data privacy, in association with Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia

As employers increasingly rely on digital systems to manage performance, monitor productivity, and safeguard corporate assets, labour law and data privacy considerations are becoming deeply intertwined. This panel will explore how Philippine employers can balance workplace oversight with employee data protection obligations under evolving privacy regulations. Panellists will examine issues such as employee monitoring, investigations, cross-border data transfers, and disciplinary action involving personal data. The discussion will provide practical guidance for GCs navigating the legal and reputational risks that arise at the intersection of workforce management and data governance.

    • Jerome D. Canlas, partner, Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia
    • Rogelio D. Torres, Jr, partner, Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia
    • Ramon Manolo A. Alcasabas, partner, Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia
    • Francis Euston R. Acer, data protection officer, Meralco

10.55am-11.15am Coffee break

11.15am-12.05pm Adopting AI at scale: enterprise strategy, governance, and legal readiness, in association with Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra

This panel examines how Philippine businesses can explore AI and scale it into enterprise-level adoption while preparing for emerging governance and compliance expectations. It will cover factors unique to the Philippine narrative on AI adoption, including developing regulations, upgrading legacy systems, and upskilling the labor sector, and where legal and governance policies should step in to manage these factors and risks. The discussion will also focus on how companies evaluate AI solutions and use cases, assess data readiness and ownership, set procurement and vendor standards, and establish clear accountability in managing AI risks across the organization.

Framed against the trajectory of AI bills in Congress, including proposals for national AI councils, labor protections against automation, and ethical standards for AI systems, the panel will translate regulatory intent into actionable corporate policies such as AI use frameworks, procurement standards, and workforce transition programs. Drawing on ASEAN trends and the Philippine government’s broader digital strategy, the panel will share practical guidance for in-house lawyers and business leaders on advising boards and management on AI risk, data protection, and strategic compliance in a shifting legal frontier.

Prior to the panel session, there will be a ten-minute presentation which will cover Philippine Congress’ risk-based AI legislations, the core principles governing the legislation of AI – such as the need for safe and effective AI systems, strong privacy and human rights protections, transparency and explainability, fairness and accountability, and the right of citizens to contest automated decisions – and their implications for governance, labor practices, and corporate accountability.

    • Mark S. Gorriceta, chairman and managing partner, Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra
    • Kristine T. Torres, partner, Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra
    • Edsel F. Tupaz, senior partner, Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra

12.05pm-12.35pm Labour and employment law update: what every Philippine GC needs to know, in association with Villaraza & Angangco

Labour and employment issues remain among the most immediate and high-risk areas for in-house counsel. This panel will provide a practical update on recent jurisprudence, regulatory developments, and enforcement trends affecting employers in the Philippines. Senior practitioners will discuss how GCs can ensure compliance with evolving legal standards, manage workforce disputes, and mitigate reputational and operational risk. The session will focus on actionable insights to help legal leaders navigate complex employment challenges while supporting business continuity and organisational stability.

    • Rashel Ann C. Pomoy, senior partner, deputy co-managing partner, deputy head – labor and employment department, Villaraza & Angangco
    • Rhys Alexei Y. Murillo, CPA, JD, CCO, general manager and corporate secretary –compliance, legal, external and gov’t affairs division, Nissan Philippines
    • Thea Marie B. Jimenez, head, labor relations division–legal affairs and corporate secretariat group, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation
    • Cielo Marjorie A. Goño, senior legal counsel, Huawei Technologies Philippines

12.35pm-1.35pm Lunch

1.35pm-2.25pm Panel 4, in association with Tiaoqui Sese-Relucio & Mendoza

    • Mark Tiaoqui, partner, Tiaoqui Sese-Relucio & Mendoza

2.25pm-2.55pm Presentation 2, in association with Weave Solutions

2.55pm-3.45pm Panel 5

3.45pm-4.00pm Coffee break

4.00pm-4.30pm Presentation 3

4.30pm-5.20pm Panel 6

5.20pm-5.25pm Closing remarks

5.25pm-7.00pm Drinks and canapes