8.15 – 9.00 – Registration and welcome coffee

9.00 – 9.15 – Welcome remarks from International Employment Lawyer 

9.15 – 10.30 – Plenary Session 1: The corporate sustainability era

As the European Union advances its ambitious sustainability agenda, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) are poised to reshape the corporate landscape. Beyond environmental and governance concerns, these directives introduce critical obligations impacting labour rights, workforce management, and employment law. 

An expert panel will examine these transformative directives, with a particular focus on their implications for corporate accountability, human rights in supply chains, and employee engagement in sustainability strategies. Panellists will provide insight into the legal and practical challenges companies face in aligning their business practices with these new rules, as well as offer advice on proactive compliance in sustainable practices.

Moderator: Jean-Marc Albiol, Partner, Ogletree Deakins (France) 

Panellists: 
Anne-Charlotte Cazalet, Senior Counsel, Labour & Employment EMEA, GE Healthcare (France)
Donal Hamilton, Partner, McCann FitzGerald (Ireland)
Jemima Coleman, Consultant, Simmons & Simmons (United Kingdom)
Katell Berthou, EMEA Senior Counsel, Employment Law, Google (France) 
Stephan Pötters, Partner, Seitz (Germany) 

10.30 – 11.00 – Coffee break 

11.00 – 12.00 – Breakout Session 1: Managing a multi-generational workforce

The modern workplace is more generationally diverse than ever, with employees spanning Gen Z to Baby Boomers working side by side. This diversity presents unique challenges and opportunities for employers. Adding complexity to this dynamic, fears over the long-term sustainability of social security systems is causing retirement ages to rise, extending workers’ careers for much longer than previously anticipated. With workplaces now more age diverse than ever before, employers must give careful thought to balancing the varying needs and motivations of different age groups. 

This expert panel session will explore the legal and practical implications of managing a multi-generational workforce, focusing on equitable workplace policies, talent retention, and fostering an inclusive culture that respects generational differences.

Moderator: Sophie Pélicier-Loevenbruck, Partner, Fromont Briens (France) 

Panellists: 
Aušra Vainorienė, Senior Legal Counsel, Vinted (Lithuania) 
Isabel Hexel, Partner, Oppenhoff (Germany) 
Luca de Vecchi, Global Employment Senior Counsel, Bain & Company (Netherlands) 

11.00 – 12.00 – Breakout Session 2: Secret agent menace

European businesses are all too familiar with the dangers of outgoing employees and teams leaving with market sensitive or confidential information. But in an increasingly competitive global business environment, employers should fear the rising threat of corporate espionage, with malicious insiders targeting their intellectual property, trade secrets, and sensitive operational data.

This expert panel will examine the evolving espionage landscape, providing insights into identifying potential threats, building safeguards to mitigate risks, and exploring legal recourse when espionage is discovered. 

Moderator: Marine Harmon, Counsel, Mayer Brown (France) 

Panellists: 
Delphine Le Luhandre-Telega, Global Employment & Litigation Counsel, Red Hat (France) 
Michael Doyle, Partner, A&L Goodbody (Ireland) 
Robbie Sinclair, Partner, A&O Shearman (United Kingdom)

12:00 – 13.30 – Networking lunch 

13:30 – 14.30 – Breakout Session 3: Are you a great investigator?

Navigating the legal, cultural, and procedural challenges of conducting internal investigations across multiple European jurisdictions is no small feat. As a result, businesses cannot afford to bumble around in the dark trying to reach the truth with such investigations; instead, they require careful planning and willingness to try new innovative methods of deduction.

This expert panel will provide a comprehensive roadmap for handling cross-border investigations, focusing on balancing legal compliance, operational efficiency, and sensitivity to diverse cultural and regulatory landscapes. From data privacy rules to employee rights and reporting obligations, attendees will learn best practices for ensuring effective and lawful investigations to ensure you’re more Hercule Poirot than Inspector Clouseau.

Moderator: Nadège Owen, Partner, Orrick (France) 

Panellists: 

Barbara Grasselli, Partner, Zambelli & Partners (Italy) 
Suzanne Staunton, International Employment Law Counsel, Electronic Arts (United Kingdom)
Chantelle Nicholas, Senior Associate, Freshfields (United Kingdom) 
Ronan Nguyen-Van, Global HR General Counsel, L'Oréal (France)

13:30 – 14.30 – Breakout Session 4: Restructuring in 2025

As European businesses face economic and technological shifts, large-scale restructurings have become critical tools for ensuring organisational resilience and competitiveness. However, these transformations often involve intricate legal and practical challenges, especially in the context of Europe’s regulatory frameworks.

This expert panel will explore employment and labour law compliance in large-scale reorganisations of cross-border workforces and address the social and ethical dimensions of business transformation.

Moderator: Phil Linnard, Partner, Slaughter and May (United Kingdom)

Panellists: 
Aurelie Bernard, Lead Employment Counsel - EMEA, Qlik (France) 
Eléonore D'Anthonay, Partner, Baker McKenzie (France) 
Manuela Rauch, Partner, Eversheds Sutherland (Germany) 
Paloma Garcia, Director EMEA - Global Employment Law and Compliance, Celonis (Spain) 

14:30 – 15.00 – Coffee break

15.00 – 16.00 – Plenary Session 2: Question Time

With European employment law evolving at a rapid pace, keeping up with the latest trends and developments is a challenge for businesses, HR professionals, and legal practitioners alike. This interactive Question Time panel provides a unique opportunity for attendees to directly engage with leading experts in employment and labour law, gaining real-time insights into pressing issues, future trends, and best practices.

From navigating specific new regulations and workplace challenges to exploring broader trends like remote work, DEI, benefits and incentives, and cross-border compliance, no topic is off-limits. Whether you’re looking for practical advice or expert perspectives, this is your chance to steer the conversation and get the answers you need.

Moderator: Karen Killalea, Partner, Maples Group (Ireland)

Panellists: 
Anu Waaralinna, Partner, Roschier (Finland)
Mathilde Houet-Weil, Partner, Weil & Associés (France)
Pierre Nilles, Partner, Fidal (Belgium) 
Rubén Agote, Partner, Cuatrecasas (Spain) 
Vanessa Markham, Assistant General Counsel – Employment, Oracle (United Kingdom)

16.00 – 17.15 – Plenary Session 3:  DEI vs Populism

The push for greater diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in European workplaces is facing new challenges as right-wing populism and “anti-woke” sentiments gain traction across Europe and the United States. These ideological shifts have fuelled scepticism, and sometimes hostility, towards DEI programmes, posing potential risks to their effectiveness. Employers now face the dual challenge of maintaining DEI initiatives amid a polarised societal landscape while educating workers on their importance and value.

This expert panel will explore the future of DEI in European workplaces, considering the social and political factors influencing its trajectory. Discussions will focus on strategies for overcoming resistance, fostering inclusivity, and effectively communicating the business and ethical case for DEI.

Moderator: Caroline Scherrmann, Partner, Flichy Grangé (France)

Panellists: 
Alba Llado, Europe HR Compliance & Labour Relations, Agilent Technologies (Spain)
Louisa Deboer, Senior Employment Counsel (EMEA), WeWork (United Kingdom) 
Natalie Bellwood, Global Head of Employment Law and Senior Director, Legal, DXC Technology (United Kingdom)  
Merrill April, Partner, CM Murray (United Kingdom) 
Stephan Swinkels, Shareholder, Littler (Netherlands)

17.15 – 17.30 – Closing remarks from International Employment Lawyer

17:30 onwards – Close and networking drinks reception