{"id":159282,"date":"2024-03-04T14:31:54","date_gmt":"2024-03-04T14:31:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.legal500.com\/events\/?page_id=159282"},"modified":"2026-03-08T22:15:23","modified_gmt":"2026-03-08T22:15:23","slug":"agenda-2026","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/events\/enterprise-gc\/agenda-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Agenda"},"content":{"rendered":"

Monday 9 March<\/strong><\/h3>\n

8.30am\u00a0 Registration<\/strong><\/p>\n

9.20am\u00a0 Opening remarks<\/strong><\/p>\n

Speaker
\nGeorgina Stanley, editorial director, Legal 500<\/em><\/p>\n

9.30am Keynote: view from the boardroom and C suite challenges<\/strong><\/p>\n

What do CEOs and boards really want from their GCs? And how can GCs best position themselves to be heard? In this session, experienced board chair Roger Flynn will set out what does and doesn’t work with the exec and offer insight into business transformation and the in-house legal team’s role in driving that. Roger is a Chairman and investor in media, travel and technology businesses. Over the last 13 years he has chaired many boards and delivered several successful exits, including the sale of Loveholidays to Livingbridge, the private equity firm. His executive career started at Virgin Group working directly for Sir Richard Branson on new ideas and deals, then Commercial Director of Virgin Communications, the media division. Roger was General Manager World Sales & Distribution at British Airways Plc, Managing Director of Prudential Retail, the UK retail arm of Prudential Plc, CEO BBC Ventures Group, the commercial B2B arm, and President International SDI Media Group, backed by Warburg Pincus.<\/p>\n

Speaker
\nRoger Flynn, business leader, public speaker
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

10.25am The expanding GC portfolio \u2013 from legal leader to business operator<\/strong><\/p>\n

Exploring the GC\u2019s evolving remit across everything from risk and compliance to ESG, AI and public affairs – how to position yourself for wider responsibilities and manage cross-functional teams effectively<\/p>\n

Speakers<\/em>
\nSimon Edwards, commercial partner, Trowers & Hamlins
\nLawrence Grabau, chief legal officer, Pizza Hut UK
\n<\/em>Craig Duff, GC, Keyloop<\/em>
\nKelly Young, interim head of legal and company secretary, MOO
\nAlison Beveridge, director of legal compliance & company secretary, Mulberry Group PLC<\/span>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

11.05am Coffee break<\/strong><\/p>\n

11.25am Roundtable breakout sessions
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ethics and AI: fairness, transparency, and bias in decision-making<\/strong><\/p>\n

A practical discussion on fairness, transparency, and bias in AI-driven HR, legal tech, and corporate governance. Ethics and AI – From Recruitment to Decision-Making A practical discussion on fairness, transparency, and bias in AI-driven HR, legal tech, and corporate governance.<\/p>\n

Speakers<\/em>
\nVictoria Robertson, commercial partner, Trowers & Hamlins
\nNicola Ihnatowicz, employment partner, Trowers & Hamlins
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

ESG enforcement: the GC\u2019s role in driving integrity and accountability<\/strong><\/p>\n

Speakers<\/em>
\nBen Stansfield, sustainability partner, Gowling WLG<\/em>
\nSean Adams, commercial disputes partner, Gowling WLG<\/em><\/p>\n

Empowering exceptional GCs<\/strong><\/p>\n

Enterprise legal teams are expected to move faster, manage risk proactively, and operate as strategic partners to the business. In this live product showcase, we\u2019ll demonstrate how\u00a0Legora\u00a0equips in-house lawyers with AI built for enterprise environments \u2014 helping them review contracts faster, surface institutional knowledge instantly, and deliver consistent, high-quality work at scale. Trusted by teams at Strabag, Desigual, Erste Bank, and Deloitte,\u00a0Legora\u00a0powers exceptional lawyers. Join us to see the product in action.<\/p>\n

Speakers
\nEmanuel Bj\u00f6rn Bergqvist, deputy GC. Legora<\/em>
\nIshmeet Kaur, legal engineer, Legora<\/em>
\nBen Rush, GTM manager, Legora<\/em><\/p>\n

12.15pm Leading the legal team through business transformation<\/strong><\/p>\n

Managing your legal team through transformational businesss events like turnarounds, mergers or leadership changes. Lessons on maintaining morale, performance and credibility through difficult times.<\/p>\n

Speakers<\/em>
\nIan Lopez, M&A partner, Fried Frank
\nHarpreet Sagoo, GC and cosec, Ricardo Plc
\nHuma Allana van Reesch, EMEA GC, Starbucks
\nMatt Wilson, chief legal officer, Fremantle
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

1.00pm Lunch<\/strong><\/p>\n

1.50pm So you’re GC – now what? How to lead effectively, influence with impact and keep calm<\/strong><\/p>\n

Navigating leadership and self-assurance when you\u2019re the most senior legal voice in the business: the management skills every GC needs to develop and how to build influence with the C-Suite<\/p>\n

Speakers
\nLaura Field, SSQ<\/em>
\nNicki Schroeder, group GC, Reach<\/em>
\nLesley Wan, founder & CEO, The Eagle Club<\/em>
\nMark Maurice-Jones, general counsel & compliance officer, Nestle<\/em><\/p>\n

2.30pm Fireside chat: how to get what you need from your law firm adviser… and how to talk about it when you\u2019re not<\/strong><\/p>\n

Join Smith & Nephew GC Helen Barraclough and Reed Smith partner Ben Koplin on stage as they discuss what works well in a US advisory relationship in today’s increasingly uncertain regulatory environment and what doesn’t, as well as how to broach and work through any challenges.<\/p>\n

Speakers
\nHelen Barraclough, group general counsel and general secretary, Smith & Nephew
\nBen Koplin, partner, Reed Smith
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

3.05pm Roundtable breakout sessions<\/strong><\/p>\n

Managing internal investigations and diverse stakeholder needs<\/strong><\/p>\n

Internal investigations can be painful, frustrating and resource-draining at the best of times. Ensuring that smart decisions are made around proportionality and pragmatism while balancing risk and simultaneously managing diverse stakeholders can be incredibly difficult, and the wrong step can create unnecessary exposure and force stakeholders to push for uncommercial outcomes. In this breakout session, experts from Grant Thornton provide guidance around these issues, highlighted by lessons learned from supporting GCs, wider boards\/risk committees and other participants in resolving challenging investigations.<\/p>\n

Speakers
\nSteve Holt, global forensic and investigation services lead. Grant Thornton
\nKathryn Karssiens, associate director, forensic and investigations, Grant Thornton
\nDaniel Lichtenstein, general counsel, Grant Thornton International
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

Trust, judgement and AI: what we\u2019re getting wrong<\/strong><\/p>\n

Trust sits at the centre of legal judgement, yet most discussions about AI treat it as a technical problem to be solved. Security, accuracy and explainability are important, but they rarely address how trust actually works in practice.<\/p>\n

Join Lexis Nexis for a session that takes a step back. It will look at how confidence is formed, how judgement is shaped and why some systems and people feel more reliable than they really are. Along the way, we’ll asks uncomfortable questions about where trust really lives when AI becomes part of everyday legal work.<\/p>\n

Thoughtful, interactive and deliberately challenging, this session is designed to provoke reflection rather than offer easy answers. You’ll leave thinking differently about trust in an AI-assisted world.<\/p>\n

Speaker<\/em>
\nMatthew Leopold, head of market insight, Lexis Nexis<\/em><\/p>\n

How to get global deals done: M&A trends and comparisons across Europe, the UK and the US<\/strong><\/p>\n

As dealmaking evolves on both sides of the Atlantic, GCs are increasingly required to navigate different M&A realities in the UK, Europe and the US. This roundtable with Fried Frank will explore how current market trends are shaping transaction activity including where deal momentum is building, where it has slowed, and what this means in practice for execution, risk, timing and certainty.<\/p>\n

Speakers
\nIan Lopez, M&A partner, Fried Frank
\nJean-Philippe Verdier,<\/em> investment banker, Verdier & Co<\/em>
\nPhilip Richter, M&A partner, Fried Frank<\/em>
\nNick Skill, M&A, special counsel, Fried Frank<\/em><\/p>\n

3.50pm Coffee break<\/strong><\/p>\n

4.10pm Litigation without borders: a GC\u2019s playbook for global disputes\/issues<\/strong><\/p>\n

Company legal issues are no longer confined by borders. \u00a0This panel will see GCs discuss how to best deal with multi-jurisdictional litigation and international disputes, where companies face claims in more than one country or the impact is global. Topics addressed will include\u00a0how to identify whether a claim will become an international issue; how to put together the best defense team, how to handle multiple outside counsel, the potential threat of deposition for senior executives and when to consider settling.<\/p>\n

Speakers
\nSylvie Gallage-Alwis, partner, Signature Litigation
\nElisabeth Iung, global head of litigation, risks – insurance, L’Oreal
\nHicham Khellafi, general counsel EMEA, Honeywell Industrial Automation<\/em><\/p>\n

4.50pm Closing remarks\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Speaker
\nGeorgina Stanley, editorial director, Legal 500<\/em><\/p>\n

5.00pm Networking sessions<\/strong><\/p>\n

7.00pm Drinks reception<\/strong><\/p>\n

8.00pm Gala dinner<\/strong><\/p>\n

10.00pm Networking drinks<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tuesday 10 March<\/strong><\/h3>\n

8.15am Registration<\/strong><\/p>\n

8.40am Opening remarks
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Speaker
\nGeorgina Stanley, editorial director, Legal 500<\/em><\/p>\n

8.50am Breakfast fireside chat: taking the bull by the horns: the proactive approach to mitigating UK compliance risk<\/strong><\/p>\n

As the UK regulatory landscape grows ever more complex and burdensome, the risks for businesses of sitting back and waiting for an issue to arise have increased. Penalties can be severe, and the reputational damage could prove even more costly. Breaches cause challenges for GCs at all levels of experience, and even a ‘near miss’ can take up a lot of time, energy and resource to resolve.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Learn first-hand from two GCs the methods they’ve adopted to:<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
    \n
  • \n
      \n
    • identify and understand the biggest UK compliance risks their businesses face;<\/li>\n
    • stay ahead of the game as those risks evolve; and<\/li>\n
    • most effectively champion compliance within the company.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Speakers<\/em>
      \nSarah Ward, c<\/em>ompetition partner, Walker Morris LLP<\/em>
      \nDaniel Quy, general counsel and director of compliance and ethics, Royal Mail
      \nAlex Ohlson, general counsel, Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I
      \n<\/em><\/p>\n

      9.25am Geopolitics and business risk \u2013 Trump, tariffs, and trade<\/strong><\/p>\n

      Practical strategies for managing sanctions, tariffs and political shocks while safeguarding business continuity.<\/p>\n

      Speakers
      \nBernardine Adkins, of counsel, EU, trade and competition, Gowling WLG
      \nLisa Lischak, divisional general counsel, DCC Technology
      \nDara Fernandez, founder, Cina Fernandez
      \nMeghan Foreman-Purves, head of legal, Europe & Asia Pacific, CIBC
      \n<\/em><\/p>\n

      10.05am Supercharged counsel: AI’s impact on the in-house role<\/strong><\/p>\n

      AI is rapidly transforming how in-house legal teams are structured, how they work, and the value they deliver. This session explores what \u201cAI for legal\u201d means today\u2014where it\u2019s driving real impact, where it\u2019s falling short, and how leading teams are redesigning workflows with automation. Panelists will share concrete case studies, ROI metrics, and governance approaches to ensure responsible use without sacrificing accuracy or confidentiality. We\u2019ll also look ahead to how AI reshapes legal\u2019s identity: the evolving skills lawyers need, the human value that remains essential, and how GCs can shift from cost center to strategic architect.<\/p>\n

      Speakers
      \nAlex Ryan, content editor, Legal Business
      \nKirin Kalsi, general counsel, compliance officer and data protection officer, E.ON UK
      \nSimon White, GC EMEA APAC, senior vice president, IQVIA
      \nEmanuel Bj\u00f6rn Bergquist, deputy general counsel, Legora
      \nLaura Muir, managing director, Barclays
      \n<\/em><\/p>\n

      10.45am Coffee Break<\/strong><\/p>\n

      11.05am Roundtable breakout sessions<\/strong><\/p>\n

      Actionable steps to help your business manage CMA risk<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n

      A CMA investigation is one of the most significant challenges a GC can face. The authority’s powers of investigation are wide-ranging and can include dawn raids on business premises, or even on the homes of directors or staff. Should an infringement be found, the consequences can also be significant, including large fines and follow-on litigation.In this session, we’ll share effective strategies to help you protect your business from the risk of such an investigation. You’ll come away understanding: the CMA’s latest areas of focus,\u00a0its enhanced powers of investigation, and\u00a0the compliance measures it expects from businesses. This is an interactive session, and we’d welcome your questions at the end. We’ll leave you with practical tips to help you start the process of assessing and managing your biggest CMA exposures and risks.<\/p>\n

      Speakers<\/em>
      \nSarah Ward, competition partner, Walker Morris LLP<\/em>
      \nNick Lees, partner, Walker Morris LLP<\/em><\/p>\n

      From curiosity to capability: How GCs are navigating AI (Roundtable discussion)<\/strong><\/p>\n

      Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming part of the modern legal department, but for many GCs, the path forward is still uncertain. Between evaluating an increasingly crowded landscape of tools, identifying meaningful use cases, managing risk, and bringing teams along for the journey, legal leaders are navigating complex decisions about how to adopt and responsibly scale AI. This roundtable creates space for an honest, off-the-record conversation among peers about where they really are in their AI journeys\u2014whether just exploring or beginning to implement. Together, participants will share practical experiences, discuss how they approach tool selection and operational scaling, and exchange advice on how to move forward thoughtfully while maintaining the trust, rigor, and judgment that define the legal function.<\/p>\n

      Speakers
      \nEmanuel Bj\u00f6rn Bergqvist, deputy GC, Legora<\/em>
      \nIshmeet Kaur, legal engineer, Legora<\/em>
      \nMorgane Van Ermengem, legal engineer, Legora<\/em>
      \nCallum Corr, GTM manager, Legora<\/em><\/p>\n

      Group actions & mass litigation \u2013 how to prepare for the new era of massive exposure<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
      <\/div>\n
      \n

      Nuclear verdicts, simultaneous class actions, mass litigation in jurisdictions where \u201cclass action\u201d is not the rule, generalization of class actions in the EU: companies are increasingly exposed to litigation involving hundreds, thousands and even millions of plaintiffs. How should you manage this? Come and share your practical insights with in-house counsel and hear from Signature Litigation about how they develop defense strategies to lower the risks. This session is meant to be interactive and will cover topics including how to narrow the class of plaintiffs; how to use AI in these proceedings and the development of ‘mass arbitration’.<\/p>\n

      Speakers
      \nSylvie Gallage-Alwis, partner, Signature Litigation (Paris)
      \nElisabeth Lung, global head of litigation, risks \u2013 insurance, L’Oreal
      \nNatalia Chumak, partner, Signature Litigation (London)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

      11.55am Is the hourly rate obsolete? AI\u2019s role in the next legal evolution <\/strong><\/p>\n

      As AI accelerates legal productivity, long-standing billing models are being challenged. This session explores whether the hourly rate still has a place in an AI-enabled world, how much efficiency law firms should be passing on to clients, and what can GCs do to push for more transparent, outcome-focused value from their legal providers.<\/p>\n

      Speakers
      \nLewis Bowman, director, Axiom Law
      \nStephanie Hamon, global head of vendor management, PG&C and legal, HSBC
      \nKendall Langford, general counsel and senior partner, Patron Capital
      \nAilsa Longmuir, head of corporate and transformation, technology & operations, Vodafone
      \n<\/em><\/p>\n

      12.35pm Lunch<\/strong><\/p>\n

      1.20pm Keynote: The future of tech – Silicon Valley, AI and the fight for the future<\/strong><\/p>\n

      Sarah Wynn-Williams is the author of #1 New York Times bestseller Careless People<\/em>, the former Director of Global Public Policy at Meta, a former lawyer and a former diplomat. As AI has become the frontline of geopolitical rivalry, she takes us inside the boardrooms, private jets and meetings with Presidents and Prime Ministers to show how technological power is reshaping the world and the consequences this has for us all.<\/p>\n

      Speaker
      \nSarah Wynn-Williams
      \n<\/em><\/p>\n

      2.15pm Crisis leadership for GCs: what to do when it all goes wrong<\/strong><\/p>\n

      Legal\u2019s role in a reputational corporate crisis \u2014 real-world lessons from GCs who\u2019ve led through litigation, investigations, data breaches or ESG scandals.<\/p>\n

      Speakers
      \nVijay Rathour, partner – cyber & digital investigations; global co-lead on cyber security, Grant Thornton
      \nKate Southwell, SVP, group GC, Anglo American
      \nMark Gregory, general counsel, Rolls-Royce
      \nHannah Constantine, general counsel, Elementis Global
      \n<\/em><\/p>\n

      2.55pm Fireside chat: an in-house playbook on building an ESG strategy<\/strong><\/p>\n

      What does it really take to build a new ESG strategy inside a big corporate? This fireside chat with the head of legal at Hyundai explores how to build and roll out a company-wide ESG strategy\u2014balancing stakeholder expectations, regulatory pressure, and long-term value creation, with some candid discussion around challenges and missteps along the way.<\/p>\n

      Speakers
      \nBen Stansfield, sustainability partner, Gowling WLG
      \nShaun Goodman, head of legal, Hyundai
      \n<\/em><\/p>\n

      3.25pm Managing your in-house career: where next after GC?<\/strong><\/p>\n

      Considering a career after legal? What should you be thinking about and when if you want to take on a wider business role like COO, CEO or NED?<\/p>\n

      Speaker<\/em>
      \nChris Fowler, COO, legal, governance & corporate affairs, Rio Tinto<\/em><\/p>\n

      3.55pm Closing Remarks<\/strong><\/p>\n

      Speaker<\/em>
      \nGeorgina Stanley, editorial director, Legal 500<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Monday 9 March 8.30am\u00a0 Registration 9.20am\u00a0 Opening remarks Speaker Georgina Stanley, editorial director, Legal 500 9.30am Keynote: view from the boardroom and C suite challenges What do CEOs and boards really want from their GCs? And how can GCs best position themselves to be heard? In this session, experienced board chair Roger Flynn will set … <\/p>\n

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