Monday 28 April
8.15am Registration
9.10am Welcome
9.20am Mental Toughness and Resilience
Speakers
Penny Mallory
10.10am An interactive walk through of a cyber war room scenario
Join Trowers & Hamlins to discuss what the role of the GC is during a breach / when faced with ransomware And how can strong cyber protocols be a competitive advantage?
10.55am Break
11.20am Roundtable Breakout Sessions
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.
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.
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.
12.15pm 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.
1.05pm Lunch
2.05pm 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.
3.05pm 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.
AI Breakout Session
3.55pm Coffee Break
4.15pm The Budget Balancing Act: Getting More from Your Law Firms While Showcasing In-House Value
Juggling external legal spend while proving the worth of your in-house team is no easy feat. This session dives into practical strategies for tracking costs, optimizing relationships with outside counsel, and demonstrating the impact of in-house legal. Learn how to stretch your budget, drive efficiency, and make the case for your team’s strategic value
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
6.30pm Drinks reception
7.30pm Gala Dinner
9.30pm Networking drinks at Sky Bar 9
Tuesday 29 April
8.30am Registration
9.10am Welcome remarks
9.15am How to build high performance teams
Speakers
Jamil Qureshi
10.00am Beyond the pay cheque: How can in-house legal stay competitive
How do you nurture and retain your best talent in an environment where there is pressure to keep control of internal spend while salaries in private practice reach new heights? And how do you get the best out of your lawyers? Our panel of GCs will share advice and stories of success.
10.40am Coffee Break
11.00am GCs vs. AI: Mastering the Machines
AI is transforming the legal landscape—but where does that leave general counsel? This session, led by the GC of Luminance, demystifies AI, covering everything GCs need to know about its risks and opportunities. From regulatory compliance to ethical dilemmas, discover what your remit should be in order to ensure legal stays in the drivers seat.
11.50am 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.
12.30pm Lunch
1.35pm Panel 4
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.
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
3.30pm Closing Remarks