Conference Programme Day One: Tuesday 13 September

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09.00 Registration and coffee

09.30 Opening remarks from the chairman Lord David Gold

09.40 Panel Discussion: Risk - Where does corporate counsel fit in?
Do general counsel ‘get' risk and if not what do they need to know? With responsibilities extending far beyond the narrow scope of ‘legal risk' how should corporate counsel operate to best handle other risks which may be overlooked but can cause the most catastrophic results? Hear how counsel can, and should, operate in a way which allows you to be preventative, rather than reactionary in the face of a raft of serious risks.
Jeremy Barton, general counsel, Boston Consulting Group
Massimo Mantovani, general counsel, Eni Group
Richard Hennity, general counsel (group management office), HSBC
Edward Gretton, head of legal, Hanson


10.40 Case study & panel discussion: Competition - changes to the regime and why complacency is not an option (Sponsored by Squire Sanders Hammonds)
After hearing first hand how devastating non-compliance with competition regulation can be, delegates can be expect to gain practical insight into how legislative change and regulator developments require general counsel to be more wary than ever. With the OFT facing dramatic changes and issues such as personal director liability being mooted it is more important that ever for in-house legal teams to be ready to protect their organisation.
Diarmuid Ryan, partner, Squire Sanders Hammonds
Jackie Holland, director of competition, OFT
Steffano Fratta, director of competition, 02 Czech Republic
Paolo Palmigiano, head of competition law, Lloyds Banking Group
Keith Packer, former commercial manager, BA World Cargo

11.50 Morning coffee

12.10 Interactive focus groups: Sector-specific

A. Media
The collapse of the News of the World in light of recent scandals, gagging orders, ‘super' injunctions, the future of press self-regulation and defamation cases are providing plenty to think about for today's media lawyers. Further, the continuing evolution of the internet is providing exciting and potential lucrative opportunities for businesses but what risks are associated with these? Engage with your industry peers on such topics and source advice from our expert moderators in this sector specific focus group.
David Eveleigh, general counsel, BT Global Services
Sarah Davis, group commercial legal director, Guardian Media Group

B. Banking & Finance (Sponsored by Bond Pearce)
Tough times continue in the world of finance. Regulator pressure is unrelenting and institutions are turning evermore to their corporate counsel for guidance in the face of complicated compliance demands. ‘Living wills', Recovery and Resolution planning and a fresh wave global banking regulation all add up to create a rather hostile environment. Discuss responses to such issues and identify other problem areas in this interactive forum.
Graham Jeffries, partner, Bond Pearce
Richard Hennity, general counsel (group management office), HSBC
Liz Kelly, general counsel, Nationwide Building Society

 C. Commodity & Retail
With commodity prices in fluctuation, increased demand for legal advice in light of disputes is to be expected. Issues around commodity storage, ownership and insurance continue to cause problems. On the retail side of things supplier failure remains an obvious continuing burden along with contractual disputes and employment issues. So how does today's in house counsel best confront such problems and legal developments? Join our expert moderators and other corporate counsel to discuss these important topics.
Robert Ivens, general counsel, Marks & Spencer

13.10 Lunch      

14.10 Panel discussion: Protecting your market position (sponsored by Winston & Strawn)
Exclusivity rights now come in many different shapes and sizes and can give you an important edge in a market place.  However, such rights are only as valuable as the holder's willingness to enforce them where third parties encroach. So what can the prudent corporate counsel do to steer things on their favoured path well before there is a whiff of the courtroom? Our panel discusses what safety nets can be put in place along with how solid contracts, an insight into jurisdictional implications and a confident ‘first strike' can all help ensure that your organisation strongly and successfully defends its market position.
Gareth Morgan, partner, Winston & Strawn
Ben Goodman, company solicitor, Kellogg Europe
Richard Vary, head of European litigation, Nokia
Sarah Davis, group commercial legal director, Guardian Media Group

15.10 Panel discussion: Information management - avoiding risk and driving growth in a knowledge economy (sponsored by IBM)
Information is becoming more valuable, more regulated and more of a headache for in-house counsel then ever before. Younger staff are bringing with them new, more liberal, attitudes to information and privacy which may fall foul of current, outdated regulation. What proactive steps can corporate counsel take to control potential exposure from information mismanagement? How can effective information management best help you avoid spiralling litigation costs? What regulatory changes are in the pipe line and how will they impact the workings of in-house departments? Our expert interviewees seek to answer such pressing questions.
George Parapadakis, ECM Business Value Advocate, IBM
Chris Dale, e-Disclosure Information Project
Daragh Fagan, general counsel (markets), ThomsonReuters
Matt Ward, head of e-discovery, Barclays Capital

15.50 Afternoon tea

16.10 Should corporate counsel use social media? - Lessons learnt and opportunities found
Social media is the current buzz-word(s) in the media and even in business. But is it just another "latest thing" and a waste of corporate time? Or is it a serious business tool which presents real opportunities for business and for lawyers? Tim Bratton, general counsel of the Financial Times who tweets as @legalbrat, will argue why he believes that in-house counsel can gain a competitive advantage by making the most of the opportunities which social media provides. Tim will discuss his experiences using social media over the last 12 months, highlight a network of lawyers who blog and will conduct live twitterviews with some of the legal community's most prolific users of social media who will explain how they benefit from it. For social media cynics he will also explain the difference between a retweet and a hashtag! Live tweet, comment on and follow Tim's talk in real-time on Twitter at #ccfe
Tim Bratton, general counsel, Financial Times

16.55 Panel discussion: Post-crisis era: threats and opportunities
What storms on the horizon are going to cause the biggest waves? Our panel pulls their collective insight to offer opinion on what issues look to be the most threatening to business in the coming decade and offer opinion on what role corporate counsel will play in responding to such concerns. Further to such gloomy speculation our panel will offer opinion on what the brightest opportunities are likely to be and where these will present themselves in a post-crisis era.
Julia Chain, managing director, Huron Consulting
Lord David Gold, David Gold & Associates
Peter Kurer, former chairman, UBS
John Stewart, head of legal, Wellcome Trust

17.50 Chairman's closing remarks

18.00 End of day one

19.00 Drinks reception

20.00 Gala dinner (Sponsored by Winston& Strawn)

View preliminary conference programme day two: Wednesday 14 September