Event Report

On 27 January, Legal 500 returned to vibrant Zurich to host the GC Summit: Switzerland 2026, bringing together senior in‑house leaders and industry experts for an afternoon of high‑level discussion at the Zurich Marriott Hotel. The event opened with remarks from Francisco Castro, research editor at Legal 500, who welcomed attendees and outlined the themes shaping the day’s conversations. He highlighted the value of the conference as a key forum for learning, exchange and connection within Switzerland’s corporate legal community, underscoring its role as one of the country’s most important hubs for professional insight and networking.

The first session, delivered in association with KPMG Law, explored why many legal transformation programmes fail to generate meaningful enterprise value despite substantial investment. Moderated by Adrian Tüscher and featuring insights from Edward Gill and Nina Cronstedt, the discussion highlighted the limitations of approaching transformation as a legal‑only initiative. The speakers argued that genuine impact can only be achieved when legal, procurement and the wider business operate as an integrated system rather than as isolated functions. Using contracts as a practical lens, the panel illustrated how value often remains trapped in silos when technology is implemented without aligned processes, shared incentives or end‑to‑end operating models. They emphasised that sustainable change depends less on tool selection and more on embedding new ways of working into day‑to‑day commercial decision‑making. The discussion challenged the assumption that digital transformation begins and ends with legal, instead positioning legal as a catalyst for broader enterprise‑wide improvement.

The conversation then shifted to geopolitics in a session hosted with Lindemann Law, where Dr. Alexander Lindemann, Philippe A. Huber, Dirk Kessler and Dr. Tatiana Zakharova unpacked the pressures created by escalating tariffs, expanding sanctions regimes and shifting global alliances. For Swiss multinationals deeply integrated into global markets, the panel noted that the pace of geopolitical realignment is forcing companies to reassess supply chains, contractual frameworks and risk models in real time. The speakers discussed how legal and compliance teams can help organisations anticipate shocks, navigate diverging regulatory regimes and maintain operational agility in an increasingly fragmented world. The session underscored the importance of scenario planning, cross‑border coordination and proactive engagement with evolving policy landscapes.

After a short networking break, the programme resumed with a focused discussion on AI governance in association with LEGALFLY. Francisco Castro and Gilles Debrock explored the challenges that arise after AI tools have been deployed, noting that implementation is only the starting point. They highlighted the hidden risks that emerge once systems are in active use, including oversight gaps, vendor‑management complexities and the difficulty of applying new regulatory requirements in practice. The session offered practical guidance on strengthening governance frameworks, monitoring real‑world usage, ensuring accuracy and responsibility in outputs, and measuring ROI as technologies evolve. The conversation provided GCs with a realistic view of what it takes to maintain control and extract value from AI investments over time.

The final panel of the day, delivered with Wenger Plattner, turned to the design and execution of M&A auctions and strategic review processes. Moderated by Dr. Oliver Künzler, and together with guest speakers Harry Leonhardt, Gaël Jacquemettaz and Laura Belardinelli, discussed how legal teams can play a decisive role in shaping competitive processes, managing risk and aligning legal strategy with commercial objectives. The speakers examined the mechanics of process letters, staged bidding, confidentiality management, diligence protocols and exclusivity arrangements, as well as the allocation of liability in preliminary documentation. They also addressed the heightened complexity of cross‑border transactions, where regulatory, antitrust and foreign‑investment considerations require careful coordination. The session offered a practical playbook for GCs seeking to increase their influence in high‑stakes strategic processes.

Legal 500’s Francisco Castro closed the session by thanking speakers and attendees, reflecting on the depth of insight shared throughout the afternoon and emphasising the importance of continued collaboration across the Swiss in‑house community. The event concluded with a networking session, giving participants the opportunity to exchange perspectives, build connections and continue the conversations sparked during the day.