Event information
Building on the huge success of the 2023 and 2024 editions, Legal 500’s 2025 GC Summit Taiwan is designed to reflect the distinct legal and business challenges facing general counsel in one of Asia’s most strategically important economies. As Taiwan continues to deepen its role in global supply chains and financial innovation, the summit will provide an essential platform for legal leaders to engage with the emerging issues that will define the next chapter of in-house legal leadership in the region.
The agenda will feature a full day of forward-looking panel discussions and presentations delivered by a diverse range of expert speakers, including senior in-house counsel, private practice thought leaders, regulators, and business executives. Sessions will tackle timely topics such as:
- The Implications of Evolving US Tariff Policy
- The Latest Legislative Developments Affecting Fintech, Crypto, and Payment Platforms
- Opportunities and Risks: AI and Legal Tech
- Data Protection and Privacy in 2025: Compliance, Enforcement Trends, and What GCs Need to Know
- Opportunity in Complexity and Volatility: Getting Deals Done in Uncertain Times
- Building an Effective Governance Programme
- Legal Operations: Doing More with Less
Attendees will also benefit from expert insights into managing cross-border compliance risks, navigating regulatory uncertainty, and optimising legal operations in increasingly lean environments.
In collaboration with our valued event partners, the GC Summit Taiwan will bring together the legal community for a day of shared learning, strategic discussion, and peer-to-peer connection. With ample time for networking and knowledge exchange, the event is a unique opportunity for legal leaders to explore how their roles are evolving in response to economic pressure, regulatory disruption, and rapid technological transformation.
This is a must-attend gathering for all in-house counsel looking to stay ahead of legal developments in Taiwan and beyond, enhance their leadership capabilities, and contribute more strategically to the organisations they serve.
Agenda
12.30pm – 1.00pm Registration
1.00pm – 1.10pm Opening Remarks
1.10pm – 2.00pm To be confirmed
2.00pm – 2.50pm U.S. Tariffs, Export Controls, and Sanctions Under the New Administration: Implications for Taiwan’s Exporters
The U.S. enforcement environment governing international trade has intensified significantly in 2025. Since the start of the Trump Administration’s second term, U.S. trade policy has seen a sharp resurgence in unilateral tariffs alongside an emphasis on increased sanctions and export controls under the administration’s America First Trade Policy. Enforcement activity has ramped up, with sustained attention on tariffs, sanctions and export controls violations by the U.S. Departments of Justice, Treasury, and Commerce. As a result, understanding the evolving compliance expectations of U.S. enforcement agencies is more critical than ever. In this fireside chat, Matt Axelrod and Winston Chan, two former U.S. government enforcement officials who are now partners at Gibson Dunn, will examine the key enforcement trends, policy shifts, and practical compliance strategies shaping today’s global trade landscape.
- Winston Y. Chan, partner, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
- Matthew S. Axelrod, partner, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
2.50pm – 3.40pm Taiwan’s New Fintech Horizon
Taiwan’s upcoming cryptocurrency regulation could transform the business landscape. This will open the door to faster payments, smarter supply chains, and new cross-border opportunities in the process. Whether your role involves navigating regulatory compliance, enabling business innovation, or advising on strategic investments, this discussion will equip you with the foresight and tools to position your organisation at the forefront of Taiwan’s new fintech horizon.
3.40pm – 3.55pm Coffee Break
3.55pm – 4.45pm AI for in-house Legal Teams: Evolution or Revolution?
Artificial intelligence is making waves across industries — but has it truly transformed the way in-house legal teams in Taiwan operate, or is the real disruption still ahead? This panel will explore the practical realities of AI adoption in corporate legal departments over the past three years, assessing what has changed, what hasn’t, and why.
4.45pm – 5.35pm Doing More With Less: The GC’s Constant Challenge
For general counsel and senior in-house lawyers, the mandate to deliver high-quality legal support while managing tighter budgets is nothing new. But the pressures of the modern business landscape mean that the pressure is intensifying. To help take the weight off, this panel will see a very experienced panel of legal leaders talk you through strategies for maximizing team effectiveness, streamlining processes, and aligning legal priorities with business goals.
5.35pm – 6.05pm To be confirmed
6.05pm – 6.10pm Closing Remarks
6.10pm – 7.00pm Drinks and Canapes
Speakers
Winston Y. Chan, partner, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Winston Chan is a former federal prosecutor and a nationally recognized investigations and white-collar defense lawyer. A partner in Gibson Dunn’s San Francisco office, Winston serves as Co-Chair of the firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations practice group. He represents multinational companies, boards, and executives in high-stakes government and internal investigations involving the DOJ, SEC, and global regulators. His practice spans False Claims Act, anti-corruption, export controls, cybersecurity, and national security issues. A Mandarin Chinese and Taiwanese speaker, Winston frequently handles cross-border matters throughout Asia. He is recognized by Chambers USA, The Legal 500 United States, and Global Investigations Review for his work in white-collar defense and compliance.
Matthew S. Axelrod, partner, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Matt Axelrod is a nationally recognized white-collar defense lawyer with deep experience in criminal, national security, and export enforcement matters. He is the only person to have served as both Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) and as Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General at the U.S. Department of Justice – a role described by The New York Times as “the most demanding job in all of DOJ.” Matt’s practice focuses on internal investigations, crisis management, and white-collar criminal defense for U.S. and multinational companies. He co-chairs the firm’s Sanctions and Export Enforcement Practice Group, where he works closely with clients to conduct internal investigations, evaluate compliance programs, advise on voluntary self-disclosures, and defend against government-facing investigations.
