- Identify how leadership behaviour can influence willingness to speak up
Trade compliance is more than just a technical exercise in 2026 – it is a strategic risk area shaped by geopolitics, rapidly shifting enforcement priorities, and conflicting regulatory regimes.
Legal and compliance leaders must navigate overlapping sanctions, export controls, and restrictions while enabling the business to operate effectively. The challenge lies in making consistent, defensible decisions in an environment where the rules are not only complex but constantly evolving. This session examines how to manage these challenges in practice, understanding where the real risks lie, how enforcement is shifting, and how to apply consistent, defensible approaches without creating unnecessary friction for the business.
- Understand where enforcement risk is increasing and how priorities are shifting across key jurisdictions
- Navigate conflicting or overlapping regimes, including sanctions and export controls
- Apply risk-based decision-making in situations where rules are unclear or evolving
While much attention is given to what AI can enable, it can also be useful to look at its limitations and work your way backwards, particularly in high-stakes, judgement-driven legal and compliance departments. This session creates space for a candid discussion about where AI falls short, and where human authority might, in fact, be preferable. Understanding these boundaries is critical to using technology effectively without over-reliance or misplaced confidence.
- Examine the limitations of AI in areas requiring judgement, context, and ethical reasoning
- Discuss risks associated with over-reliance on automated systems in legal and compliance settings
- Weigh in on where human expertise remains essential and how to balance it with technological capability
As legal and compliance functions become increasingly dependent on technology and cybersecurity regulations multiply, the relationship with IT becomes critical. Nevertheless, it isn't always straightforward. This session explores how to build a more effective partnership between legal and IT, grounded in mutual understanding, shared priorities, and practical collaboration. Move beyond misalignment and friction toward a relationship that enables innovation and manages risk effectively, making for an overall more technical legal department with the skills to match it.
- Understand common sources of misalignment between legal and IT functions
- Weigh in on building a shared language, priorities, and accountability across teams
- Identify practical steps to enable more effective collaboration on technology, data, and risk