On 23 March, Legal 500 returned to Frankfurt to host the GC Summit: Germany 2026, bringing together senior in-house counsel and leading practitioners for an afternoon of high-level discussion at The Westin Grand Frankfurt. The event convened an invitation-only audience of general counsel and legal leaders, reflecting the increasing importance of peer exchange as legal functions navigate regulatory intensity, technological change and economic uncertainty.<\/p>\n
The summit was hosted by Carmen Godoy Mart\u00edn, events content editor at Legal 500, who opened the afternoon by welcoming attendees and introducing the themes shaping the day\u2019s discussions. She emphasised the role of the GC Summit series as a platform for practical insight, collaboration and connection within Germany\u2019s in-house legal community.<\/p>\n
The opening keynote was delivered by Timo Matthias Spitzer, executive director and head of legal at Banco Santander. Drawing on his work on human leadership in highly regulated and technology-reliant environments, he set the direction for the day by exploring how general counsel are responding to increasing regulatory complexity while embedding responsible AI into their organisations. His remarks focused on the practical decisions facing legal teams, arguing that innovation, governance and leadership must be closely aligned. He positioned the modern GC not only as a legal advisor, but as a strategic partner responsible for shaping how businesses adapt to technological and regulatory change.<\/p>\n
The first panel, delivered in association with Legalfly, examined how legal teams are building responsible AI frameworks in practice. Featuring Timo Matthias Spitzer, Mirko Tegeler and Vera Luetzelschwab, the discussion focused on the shift from experimentation to enterprise deployment. With the EU AI Act taking effect alongside ongoing GDPR enforcement, speakers explored how organisations are classifying AI risk, establishing internal guardrails and managing cross-border compliance obligations. The panel also addressed practical challenges including vendor oversight, internal resistance to adoption and the increasing expectation of board-level accountability. A central theme was the evolving mandate of the general counsel as AI becomes embedded across business functions, requiring legal teams to balance innovation with defensible governance.<\/p>\n
The conversation then moved to energy sourcing in a session hosted with FPS, where Leonard Szab\u00f3, Katharina Imfeld, Dr. Carmen Schneider and Dr. Arne M. Weber explored the legal and strategic implications of global energy volatility. Against the backdrop of geopolitical conflicts and fluctuating market conditions, the panel discussed how companies are rethinking procurement strategies, balancing security of supply with cost pressures and sustainability goals. The speakers highlighted the increasing complexity of structuring energy arrangements, from wholesale market procurement to bilateral agreements and hybrid models, and the expanding role of legal teams in ensuring that these frameworks remain compliant, resilient and aligned with regulatory requirements.<\/p>\n
After a short break, the programme resumed with a session on deal value protection in association with POELLATH. Dr. Eva Nase, Michael Andreas Haase and Dr. Frederik Ruthardt examined the challenges posed by economic uncertainty to enterprise valuations and transactional activity. The discussion brought together M&A, litigation and valuation perspectives, focusing on how legal teams can mitigate exposure to disputes arising from shifting valuations. Speakers shared practical approaches to contract drafting and management, emphasising the importance of anticipating volatility and embedding protections that can withstand changing market conditions.<\/p>\n
The agenda then turned to intellectual property in the AI era, in a focused discussion led by Dr. Sebastian Petrack, Paul Basse and Dirk von Diringshofen. The session explored how AI is reshaping both the creation and risk profile of IP, making portfolio management more complex while increasing the risk of inadvertent infringement. The panel also addressed the growing importance of cost management and pricing in IP-related legal services, alongside the role of AI in supporting prosecution, litigation and enforcement. The discussion reinforced IP\u2019s central role in long-term business value, particularly as technology accelerates the pace of innovation.<\/p>\n
The final panel of the day, delivered with Linklaters, focused on ESG and competition law, bringing together Kaan G\u00fcrer, S\u00f6ren Bezzegh and Daniel van Geerenstein. The discussion addressed the growing tension between sustainability collaboration and antitrust risk, as companies increasingly pursue joint ESG initiatives while regulators intensify scrutiny. Speakers explored how legal teams can structure \u201cgreen\u201d cooperation in a way that delivers measurable sustainability benefits while remaining compliant with competition law. The panel also considered how geopolitical shifts and evolving political priorities are reshaping ESG expectations across jurisdictions, requiring legal teams to navigate divergent regulatory and stakeholder landscapes.<\/p>\n
Legal 500\u2019s Carmen Godoy Mart\u00edn closed the summit by thanking speakers and attendees, reflecting on the breadth and practicality of the discussions. The event concluded with a drinks and canap\u00e9s reception, providing attendees with the opportunity to continue conversations, exchange perspectives and strengthen connections across Germany\u2019s in-house legal community.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
On 23 March, Legal 500 returned to Frankfurt to host the GC Summit: Germany 2026, bringing together senior in-house counsel and leading practitioners for an afternoon of high-level discussion at The Westin Grand Frankfurt. The event convened an invitation-only audience of general counsel and legal leaders, reflecting the increasing importance of peer exchange as legal … <\/p>\n