Lawyer Leaders from U.K., U.S., Germany, France, Spain, and Ireland
Uncertainty is the Only Certainty!
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Leadership and Strategy: 2025-2026
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Geo-Political and Economic Headwinds in U.K., U.S., Europe
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Will inflation Continue to Rise? Will Rates Come Down?
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Will Clients Use AI to Push Firms to Change?
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How Will AI Transform the Law Firm Business Model?
ORGANISED BY
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Pickup in Inflation…Stagnant Economy in UK
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Lower Interest Rates…Receding Recession Fears in U.S.
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EU Continues to Fall Behind
Uncertainty and Volatility Require Successful Leadership
The geo-political landscape in U.S., U.K. and EU is uncertain with wars continuing in Ukraine and Isreal, and disruption in the U.S. Companies and law firms are unwilling to increase their labor force, or make large capital expenditures in this time of uncertainty.
This year’s faculty of senior partners, managing partners, lawyer leaders of practice groups, and technologists plus corporate counsel is the best group of speakers ever. Please see the complete list below.
Special Feature at Lunch:
Panel on Private Equity Investment in Law Firms
Private equity investment has become a vital strategic consideration for law firm leaders around the world. The drivers include the need to invest in AI and to grow not least so as to be able to access data to support the AI tools that clients are beginning to demand. Consolidation in the legal industry will require capital too. Some are looking beyond the partnership model for the right business structure for the future.
All Star Faculty of Managing Partners, Practice Heads,
Corporate Counsel and Advisors
Victoria C. Albrecht, Director of AI Acceleration, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, London
Sharon Blackman, Managing Director, Head of Services Legal, Citi, London
Roger Bull, Managing Partner, Burges Salmon, London
Jackie Karmel Collins, Head of EMEA, HARVEY, London
Justin D'Agostino, Global CEO, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, Hong Kong
Craig Earnshaw, Senior Managing Director, FTI Consulting, London
Inigo Esteve, Partner, White & Case LLP, London
Matt Fairclough, Partner, Co-Regional Practice Area Leader, Global Financial Markets for One Europe, Clifford Chance LLP, London
Denise Gibson, Managing Partner, A&O Shearman, London
Lizzie Goodburn, Regional Chief Operating Officer for One Europe, Clifford Chance LLP, London
Tom Green, Partner, Inflexion, London
Jon Hayes, Global Co-Chair, Senior Partner, DLA Piper, London
Portia Hickey, Co Founder, Communication Labs, London
Rhys Hodkinson, Chief Revenue Officer, Definely, London
Prakash Kakkad, General Counsel Corporate and Deputy Company Secretary, Unilever Plc, London
Dan Kayne, Founder, O Shaped, London
Matthew Layton, Senior Adviser, FTI Consulting, London
Martin Lebeuf, Managing Partner, Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier, Paris
Darren Maher, Managing Partner-Elect, Matheson, Dublin
Susan Manik, Global Head of Supplier Management & Engagement, Standard Chartered Bank, London
Charles Martin, Senior Advisor, Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier, Paris
Tom McGuffie, Partner, A&O Shearman, London
Moray McLaren, Professor of Law, LawAhead Centre, IE University, Madrid; Partner, Co-founder, Lexington Consultants, Madrid (Moderator)
Caroline Miller Smith, Partner, White & Case LLP, London
Geoff Moore, Managing Partner, Arthur Cox, Dublin
David Morley, Principal, Dejonghe & Morley LLP, London
David Morrison, Director, Rothschild & Co, London
Pedro Pérez-Llorca, Managing Partner, Pérez-Llorca, Spain
Martin Reufels, Managing Partner, Heuking, Germany
Jack Tomlin, Executive Director, Head of City Occupier Transactions, CBRE, London
Kerry Westland, Partner, Head of the Innovation Group, Addleshaw Goddard, London
Joel A. Wirchin, Senior Director, Sales Strategy, Williams Lea by RRD Global Outsourcing, New York
Programme Highlights:
09.00 – 14.00 including continental breakfast and lunch
Panel 1: What Clients Want
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Collaborating with law firms
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ROI and cost control as key elements in the firm/client relationship
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AI projects; what are clients doing to implement AI solutions
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What do clients expect from their law firms on AI in terms of collaboration and deployment
Panel 2: Leadership and Strategy
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Leading the global law firm business
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Growth and expansion
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Economic and political headwinds in U.S., U.K. and Europe
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Strategic priorities
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Change management
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The impact of technology and other forces on the shape of the law firm of today and tomorrow
Panel 3: Defining a Global Law Firm: Spain, Germany, France, Ireland, U.K., U.S.
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Management styles and approaches to the practice of law between Europe, U.K. and U.S.
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Growth and expansion including where to expand
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What is the place of the Global Law firm in the future with the increasingly complex geopolitical landscape
Panel 4: The Competitive War for Talent, Lateral Hiring, Professional Development, and Real Estate
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Lateral hiring in the competitive war for talent
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Recruiting and retention: pursuing top talent
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Generational change – how must firms adapt to the changing ways of working, learning and development for Gen Z
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Designing the work environment and practices for 2026 and beyond
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Real estate moves 2025, 2026
Panel 5: AI and the Practice of Law: Innovation and AI Examples
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Risks to the firm from AI initiatives
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Budget for expanding AI use
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Working with clients on AI
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Changing shape and needs for the law firm of the future
Panel 6: Update on Private Equity Investment in Law Firms-Luncheon Panel
CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT: CPE, CPD, US CLE have been applied for.
About Sandpiper Partners, the Organiser
Lynn Glasser, the President, has organised the last 16 Annual Global Law Firm Leaders Conferences and has planned more than 1,500 events for legal and business leaders of law firms and companies. Sandpiper Partners is an educational and consulting firm with deep experience producing “business of law” and substantive law educational events, surveys, publications and solutions for law firms. www.sandpiperpartners.com.