Wednesday 17 September

18.00 – 20.00 – Pre-conference networking reception (booking required - limited places available)

Delegates are invited to a reception at The Drift, 110 Bishopsgate. Drinks and food will be provided.

Thursday 18 September

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: Futurism: Europe at work in the 2030s

What will the workplace look like ten years from now? From AI co-workers and four-day workweeks to decentralised teams and digitally augmented employees, the next decade promises a fundamental reimagining of how, when, and where Europeans work. This forward-thinking session brings together leading experts to forecast the biggest changes coming to the workplace and explore the risks and opportunities that lie ahead. What legal frameworks will need to evolve? Where will new tensions arise? And how can organisations prepare now for the dramatic shifts on the horizon?

10.30 – 11.00 – Coffee break 

11.00 – 12.00 – Breakout Session 1: EWC reforms: A new era for transnational engagement?

The long-awaited European Works Councils Recast Directive marks a pivotal shift in EU law. Introducing refined definitions of information, consultation, and transnational issues, as well as removing certain exemptions from its scope, the Recast Directive seeks to address longstanding gaps in the current EWC framework. To understand its biggest changes, this session will see subject-matter experts unpack the directive’s impact on existing agreements, strategic considerations for compliance, the legal and operational challenges that lie ahead, and how the proposed EWC changes relate to managing local labour relations obligations.

11.00 – 12.00 – Breakout Session 2: Under pressure: limiting psychosocial risks at work

Work-related stress, burnout, bullying, harassment, and poor organisational culture pose a growing risk to employee mental health – and a failure to address these risks can result in serious legal, reputational, and performance-related consequences for employers. To mitigate the risk of psychological harms, businesses must take a more proactive and systematic approach to staff wellbeing. This session will explore how employers can meet their legal obligations while building a healthier, more resilient workplace. 

12.00 – 13.30 – Networking lunch 

13.30 – 14.30 – Breakout Session 3: Litigation management: why modern claims need modern strategies

From leveraging social media content to weaponising data protection and protected disclosure rules, employees and their legal counsel are adopting more tactical and aggressive litigation strategies. Meanwhile, litigants in person create unique procedural and strategic challenges for employers. This session will explore how to proactively manage litigation risks, respond to evolving tactics from the claimant bar, and engage effectively with unrepresented claimants. The panel will provide insights into managing complex litigation, from early dispute resolution to trial, and offer practical strategies to ensure fairness, efficiency, and compliance throughout the process.

13.30 – 14.30 – Breakout Session 4: Navigating conflicts of belief in a polarised world

Whether religious, political, ethical, or ideological, conflicts of belief are becoming more frequent and complex – pitting employees against their co-workers and their employer. Adding to the complexity, public and shareholder expectations are pushing businesses to either take a stand on social issues or to stay out of politics altogether. This panel will explore how to lawfully and practically manage belief-related conflicts and balance competing rights with external pressures. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of their legal obligations, the reputational risks, and the practical realities of fostering an inclusive yet respectful working environment.

14.30 – 15.00 – Coffee break

15.00 – 16.00 – Plenary Session 2: Question Time 

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

16.00 – 17.15 – Plenary Session 3:  Will the US DEI backlash shape Europe’s workforce strategies?

As the United States enters a new political era, the federal approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives has shifted dramatically. Executive actions, policy reversals, and high-profile political rhetoric have already triggered a backlash against corporate DEI programmes, raising questions about the role of business in addressing social inequality and identity-based issues at work. But what does this shift mean for Europe’s employers? Examining the interplay between local policies and cross-border operations, this panel will explore how developments stateside might impact Europe’s approach to workforce management, corporate values, and compliance. 

17.15 – 17.30 – Closing remarks from International Employment Lawyer

17.30 onwards – Close and networking drinks reception