Monday 28 April
8.15am Registration
9.10am Opening remarks
Speaker
Georgina Stanley, editorial director, Legal 500
9.20am Mental Toughness and Resilience
Speaker
Penny Mallory
10.10am
Cyber war room strategy: tackling complex cyber threats and preparing for breaches
Join Trowers & Hamlins for a panel discussion on Cyber Attacks. The session will consider emerging threats, the role and challenges for GCs, and practical tips for dealing with an attack. Panellists will explore the dynamic and increasingly complex realm of cyber threats focussing on the pivotal role that GCs play in managing these risks. As cyber-attacks grow more sophisticated, GCs must balance implementing effective cybersecurity measures with preparing for potential breaches. The panel will highlight the need for comprehensive incident response plans, addressing legal and regulatory aspects to minimise impact. The discussion aims to equip GCs with knowledge to enhance cybersecurity awareness within their organisations.
Speakers
Jamie De Souza, partner, Trowers & Hamlins
Helen Briant, partner, Trowers & Hamlins
Gary Kinsley, director, CyberQ Group
Chris O’Connell, head of EMEA, commercial legal, Zscaler
10.55am Coffee Break
11.20am Roundtable Breakout Sessions
Beyond the Buzzword: Practical Lessons in Delivering Value from AI
Struggling to cut through the AI noise? Join Luminance for an exploration of the real-life applications of AI within legal and beyond. Against a backdrop of regulatory change and pressures on efficiency, hear practical lessons on how to implement and maximise value from AI to drive business growth. This roundtable will explore: Distinguishing AI Hype from Reality: How to cut through the noise and decide which technology to use, when and how.
The ROI of AI for Legal: Ensuring compliance, saving time, reducing cost, and redeploying staff to higher value tasks.
AI Beyond Legal: How specialist technologies are driving productivity business-wide, whilst reducing Legal’s workload.
Navigating the new employment law landscape – Proactive strategies for General Counsel
Major changes to the employment law landscape, spearheaded by the new government, are pushing people issues firmly onto the GC radar. Careful review of your organisation’s operational, risk management and legal processes will be needed to navigate the changes with confidence. With most GCs asking themselves the same question – what are our key risks? – this practical workshop will explore how to identify your organisation’s priorities, implement an effective action plan and collaborate effectively with your stakeholders and HR colleagues.
Speakers
Moderator: Danielle Ingham, partner, employment & pensions, Trowers & Hamlins
Class Actions – why to be concerned and what to do about them?
One of the recurring items noted by GCs of most concern is the increasing risk of facing a class or group action. But what are they and who should be concerned about them? Discussion of the various categories of class / group actions and their rise in the UK, along with an explanation of what to look out for and who should be concerned about them (and what types). Learn about the very different strategies to consider when facing such claims (or having them in prospect) bearing in mind the significant differences from “usual” litigation.
Speakers
Oliver Middleton, chair, Latham & Watkins’ London Litigation & Trial Department
James Lloyd, partner, Latham & Watkins’ London Litigation & Trial Department
Andrea Monks, deputy managing partner, Latham, London
Nell Perks, financial services litigation and investigations partner, Latham, London
Beyond the pay cheque: how can in-house legal stay competitive
12.20pm Navigating sustainability and compliance: the GC role in a changing supply chain sustainability landscape
As corporate sustainability and supply chain due diligence become key focus areas for many businesses, GCs must navigate the evolving legal landscapes in the EU and the UK. This session explores the practical implications of compliance with the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) in the EU, alongside the UK’s current regulatory framework. Our expert panel will discuss the challenges businesses face when embedding these requirements into their operations—ranging from supplier risk assessments, policies, procedures, and training, to contractual clauses and supplier codes of conduct. A key focus will be the impact on supplier contracts, highlighting issues like information rights and the complexities of engaging smaller suppliers who may not have the capacity to meet large-scale compliance demands.
Speakers
Andrew Northage, regulatory & compliance partner, Walker Morris
James Crayton, partner & head of commercial, Walker Morris
Steven Webb, chair and ESG consultant, Ahead Partnership
Shiv Sibal, general counsel & company secretary, Marshalls Plc
1.10pm Lunch
2.10pm Burnt out – how to tackle wellbeing in the legal team
What are General Counsel doing to tackle burnout and what are should they be obliged to do? In this panel SSQ will explore how GCs are staying on top of their own staff-wellbeing. Find out how to manage your team effectively during times of stress.
Speakers
Laura Field (moderator), managing director and in-house team lead, SSQ
Nicki Schroeder, group general counsel, Reach
Stephanie Lopes, chief legal officer, Volt
Nell Perks, partner, Latham & Watkins
3.10pm Roundtable Breakout Sessions
Should GCs Care About Law Firm Burnout?
Private practice lawyers are under immense pressure—but do GCs have an obligation to ease the burden? This lively discussion will explore whether in-house teams should rethink deadlines and working dynamics to help support law firm well-being. Is it just good business, or is there a moral duty at play? Join us for a candid conversation on whether GCs have a responsibility to help balance demands for human excellence with humanity.
Speakers
Isobel Terry, director, SSQ
Laura Field, managing director and in-house team lead, SSQ
Failure to prevent fraud – taking a practical approach to the new offence
On 1 September 2025, the “Failure to Prevent Fraud” offence of the UK Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA) comes into force. This offence theoretically impacts every large business in the UK, and the UK government has issued guidance around what it considers “reasonable procedures” to prevent and detect fraud (and hence use as a defence in the event fraud does occur) look like. In this breakout session join experts from Grant Thornton to discuss the practical impact of the new legislation, what steps can be taken to get to “reasonable procedures” without major overhaul or disruption to the business and how to upskill the Board on this issue.
Understanding Sustainability and Compliance: A Practical Approach to Adapting to Change
Join Walker Morris for a roundtable discussion on the challenges and opportunities of navigating sustainability and compliance in today’s evolving landscape. This session will discuss practical experience and insights from participants across various industries and regions. We’ll dive into how different business scales and geographical footprints impact sustainability priorities, allowing for a diverse exchange of ideas and real-world solutions. Additionally, we’ll explore how shifts in politics and society more widely – including the Trump administration’s shift on ESG – may affect your strategy moving forward. Join us to share actionable insights that can shape your sustainability efforts in the future.
Speakers
Andrew Northage, regulatory & compliance partner, Walker Morris
James Crayton, partner & head of commercial, Walker Morris
Steven Webb, chair and ESG consultant, Ahead Partnership
Shiv Sibal, general counsel & company secretary, Marshalls Plc
Turning values into action: how legal departments can champion social responsibility
With more legal teams committing to increase the amount of pro bono work they do, and junior lawyers calling on their employers to demonstrate their progressive credentials, this session will look at how legal departments can get involved in socially responsible projects, the opportunities that are out there for in-house counsel, and how GCs and legal leaders can embed pro bono into their company culture.
4.00pm Coffee Break
4.20pm TBC
5.00pm In the Hot Seat: Leading a legal team through corporate change
Join Legal Business for a fireside chat with a GC who’s led a legal team through a corporate shake up. Learn some lessons and hear some war stories on navigating transformation.
5.35pm Closing remarks
Speaker
Georgina Stanley, editorial director, Legal 500
6.30pm Drinks reception sponsored by Mishcon
7.30pm Gala Dinner
9.30pm Networking drinks at Sky Bar 9
Tuesday 29 April
8.30am Registration
9.10am Welcome remarks
Speaker
Georgina Stanley, editorial director, Legal 500
9.15am How to build high performance teams
Speaker
Jamil Qureshi
10.00am Culture crisis – how to deal with internal issues effectively in the face of external scrutiny: regulators, press, police, litigation
This session will focus on how to navigate internal issues within your company in high-stakes scenarios. Panelists will share practical insights on managing reputational risk, ensuring legal and ethical compliance, and maintaining corporate resilience. Attendees will gain valuable strategies for handling complex internal matters while responding effectively to increasing external scrutiny in today’s pressurised business landscape.
Speaker
David Speakman, partner – investigations: employment, DAC Beachcroft
Angela Hayes, partner – commercial, technology & regulatory, DAC Beachcroft
10.40am Coffee Break
11.10am Streamlining Legal Processes and Driving Commercial Value with AI
This session will take a practical look at how companies are using AI to transform document management and streamline commercial processes, with a focus on:
- The implementation journey – how technology is helping to improve contract management
- How AI is transforming the way complex compliance reviews are handled
- What the future holds for this next-generation tech in law.
11.55am Legal 500 uncovered: what clients really think of their law firms
GCs are under constant pressure to do more with less but what does that mean in terms of the service received from law firms. Every year the Legal 500 canvasses the opinions of hundreds of thousands of in-house lawyers about the service they receive from firms; here we discuss some of the key findings and what they mean in practice with GCs.
Speakers
Alex Ryan (moderator), data and US markets correspondent, Legal Business
Ben Wheway (panellist), data editor, Legal Business
12.35pm Lunch
1.35pm GCs on the Frontlines: Navigating Geopolitical Uncertainty and Regulatory Change
In a world of shifting geopolitics and rapidly evolving regulations, GCs must stay agile to protect their companies from emerging risks. This session unpacks the key regulatory changes coming next year, their industry impact, and how legal teams can proactively manage uncertainty. Gain insights to future-proof your strategy in an unpredictable global landscape.
Speakers
Steve Holt, partner, Grant Thornton
2.15pm Managing relations with the Board
The relationship between General Counsel (GC) and the Board is pivotal for effective corporate governance. GCs must ensure their insights and legal expertise are not only heard but sought after in strategic discussions. Learn what the Board want and how GCs can make themselves heard, or indeed win a place on the Board.
Speakers
Lesley Wan, founder & CEO, The Eagle Club
2.50pm Diversity in the balance: Navigating the post-Trump landscape for in-house legal teams
The conversation around diversity is shifting, especially in the US, where legal and political changes are reshaping corporate DEI strategies. For in-house legal teams—particularly in transatlantic companies—this means navigating evolving expectations, compliance risks, and cultural differences. This panel will explore the impact of the post-Trump era on diversity initiatives, the legal challenges.
Speakers
Daniel Winterfeldt, managing director and general counsel EMEA & Asia, Jefferies
Dana Denis-Smith, founder, Obelisk Support
3.30pm Closing Remarks
Speaker
Georgina Stanley, editorial director, Legal 500