5th IFSEA International Conference on Executive & Founder Issues

5th IFSEA International Conference on Executive & Founder Issues

One-Day Conference: Tuesday, 25 June 2024, 8.00 am – 6.00 pm (closing reception at 6.00 pm)
(Welcome Evening Drinks Reception: Monday, 24 June 2024, 6.00 pm – 8.30 pm)
Venue: Saddlers’ Hall, 40 Gutter Lane, London EC2V 6BR

We are delighted to invite you to the 5th IFSEA International Conference on Risk, Reward and Reputation Management for Senior Executives & Founders.

The Conference Programme has been developed with the kind support of our wonderful IFSEA International Advisory Board Members. It promises to be another exciting IFSEA event, addressing some of the most cutting-edge issues affecting business leaders and founders – and their professional advisers.

See below for our full list of panel topics and speakers, or download the full programme here.

24 June: Welcome Evening Drinks Reception:

Boomer to Zoomer: Connecting Generations in the Workplace: Join us over drinks for this enlightening discussion with two award-winning authors. Discover your generation’s traits, how to connect with generations XYZ (and beyond) and learn how business leaders can successfully integrate 5 generations in the modern workplace.

• Esther Stanhope, The Impact Guru, Speaker, Author & Personal Impact Expert, UK
• Alisa Grafton, Networking and Generational Expert, UK

25 June: Keynote Plenary Sessions:

Managing Executive Health In Times Of Trauma: Business leaders and high-profile personalities are often pushed to the edge by the strain of dealing with business and political crises, combined with the public outcry and social media outrage that can often follow. Some often find themselves in a dark place and see no way out. What are the best strategies to protect executives in distress and how do we ensure that those on the front line of business crises are properly supported to avoid cataclysmic consequences?

• Lori Deem, Hughes Socol Piers Resnick & Dym, Ltd., USA (Chicago)
• Dr Philip Hopley, Cognacity, UK
• Joydeep Hor, People + Culture Strategies, Australia (Chair)
• Howard Hymanson, Harbottle and Lewis, UK

Strategies For Investigating And Defending Allegations Of Executive Wrongdoing: At the heart of any investigation is the desire to understand the truth and the need to avoid bias, evidence tampering or otherwise hampering of an investigation, as well as completing an investigation efficiently. These objectives often need to work in parallel with legal, regulatory and criminal matters and, for the executive and organisation alike, to be sensitive to considerable reputational issues at play. Our distinguished panel, variously experienced in high profile US, UK, and French employment, regulatory and criminal investigations, will provide valuable strategies for investigating and strategies for defending allegations of executive wrongdoing.

• Emma Bartlett, CM Murray LLP, UK (Chair)
• Lawrence Gresser, Cohen & Gresser, USA (New York)
• Camille A. Olson, Seyfarth Shaw LLP, USA (Chicago)
• Ellen Peart, BCL Solicitors, UK
• Mohinderpal Sethi KC, Littleton, UK
• Mathilde Houet Weil, Weil & Associés, France

Reputation Management For Executives And Founders: Themes and lessons from high-profile PR and crisis management issues of the last year.

• Simon Lewis, Lewis Advisors LLP, UK
• David Yelland, Kitchen Table Partners, UK
  (co-hosts of BBC Radio 4’s brilliant PR & Crisis Communications Podcast “When It Hits The Fan”)
• Jenny Afia, Schillings International LLP, UK (Chair)

Would We Act For Weinstein? In a democratic society those accused of wrongdoing are entitled to legal representation no matter the allegations that they face, but what are the ethical, legal, reputational, generational, and even personal safety issues that advisers should and do take into account in deciding whether or not to act, or to continue to act when darker truths start to emerge. (A Samoan Circle discussion)

• Colleen Cleary, CC Solicitors, Ireland
• Inge Derde, Bellaw, Van Eeckhoutte, Taquet & Clesse, Belgium
• Wonu Sanda, CM Murray LLP, UK
• Gus Sellitto, Byfield Reputation Counsel, UK
• Cathy Qu, River Delta Law, China
• Veena Gopalakrishnan, Trilegal, India (Facilitator)
• Beth Hale, CM Murray LLP, UK (Facilitator)

Thought-leadership and Ethics Breakout Sessions:

Polarized But Protected: How do you create an inclusive workplace where polarized but protected employee views on global politics and war, gender identity and gender critical theory, and religion and sexuality can safely co-exist?

• Kelly M. Dermody, Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, USA (San Francisco) (Chair)
• Lucy Lewis, Lewis Silkin, UK
• Aileen McColgan KC, 11KBW, UK
• André Royer, Borden Ladner Gervais, Canada (Montreal)

 Women, Compensation And Negotiation: Executive compensation, pay disparity and the psychological barriers for female executives in pay negotiations.

• Wendi Lazar, C-Suite Strategies, LLC, USA (New York) (Chair)
• Nicola Rabson, Linklaters, UK
• Wendy Walton, Executive & Leadership Coach, UK

Sexual Harassment, Bullying And The Regulators – What Are The Regulators Doing And Is The Law Starting To Catch Up?  Exploring the proposed new FCA rules on non-financial conduct and the impact of the recent SRA and other regulators’ interventionist approaches to attempt to eradicate sexual harassment and bullying. What new and proposed legislation might also bring meaningful change?

• Claire Cross, Corker Binning, UK
• Sarah Chilton, CM Murray LLP (Chair)
• James Hockin, Withers, UK
• Andrew Pavlovic, CM Murray LLP, UK
• Henry Perlowski, Arnall Golden Gregory, USA (Atlanta)

The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the C-Suite and Senior Executives: This fireside chat will delve into the broad implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the workplace, focusing particularly on how it reshapes the roles and responsibilities of senior executives and the C-Suite.

From the dual perspectives of technology companies and law firms, we will explore topics including, the impact of AI on workplaces, culture, executive and C-suite duties and roles, and the key strategic challenges companies need to address.

• Ruma Bose, Clearco, USA (New York)
• Dorothy Chou, DeepMind, UK
• Matt Meyer, Mishcon De Reya (UK)
• Doug Mandell, Withers, USA (California) (Chair)

Not Your Client’s Mouthpiece: The ethical conflicts for advisers between passionately representing their client’s interests and maintaining professional objectivity, personal integrity and obligations to the Court, particularly when your client is a strong-minded business leader or powerful organisation, with their own forceful agenda. How do lawyers maintain their independence and objectivity, and avoid becoming collateral damage?

• Joanna Chatterton, Fox Williams UK
• Atul Gupta, Trilegal, India (Chair)
• Carl-Fredrik Hedenström, CFH Law, Sweden
• Megan Lopp Mathias, Hinshaw & Culbertson, USA
• Niya Phiri, Clyde & Co LLP, UK

Technical and Best Practice Breakout Sessions:

He Said; She Said – Who Should You Believe?  How do you decide who to believe in a sexual misconduct investigation when it’s one person’s word against the other? An exploration of the key legal and evidential issues in making factual findings in the face of tricky allegations of sexual and other serious wrongdoing. 

• Peter Csemiczky, Hickman & Rose, UK
• Emily Kaufer, Human Rights & Harassment, Air Canada, Canada
• Suzanne McKie KC, Farore Law, UK (Chair)
• Lindsey Wagner, Moxie Mediation & Investigation, USA (California & Ohio)

Clawback And Forfeiture In Shareholder, Partnership And Executive Agreements: The current law and practice.

• Jeremy Callman, Ten Old Square, UK
• Greg Campbell, Mishcon De Reya, UK
• Richard Leiper KC, 11KBW, UK
• Brian MacDonough, Sherin & Lodgen, USA (Boston)
• David Fisher, CM Murray LLP, UK (Chair)

Handling A Financial Crisis: Directors’ Duties In The Face Of A Business In Trouble And Potential Insolvency.

• Vernon Dennis, Howard Kennedy LLP, UK
• Andrew Katzen, Hickman & Rose, UK
• Dr Johannes Traut, Seitz, Germany
• Denise K. Drake, Polsinelli, USA (Kansas City)
• Corinne Staves, CM Murray LLP, UK (Chair)

Restrictive Covenant Update: Everything you need to know about the latest key developments in 30 minutes!
Restrictive covenants are a common tool for employers to protect their confidential information, trade secrets, and customer relationships. However, the legal landscape of restrictive covenants is constantly evolving.  How do different countries approach the enforcement of restrictive covenants? What are the emerging issues and best practices for drafting and implementing them in the global economy? How do restrictive covenants affect executives in various industries? In this panel, you will hear from experts in the UK, Spain, and the US, who will share their insights and experiences on the regulation and development of restrictive covenants in the UK, US, Spain and the EU. 

• Jane Amphlett, Howard Kennedy LLP, UK
• Amit Bindra, The Prinz Law Firm, USA (Chicago)
• Omar Molina Garcia, Augusta Abogados, Spain
• Mark Risk, Mark Risk PC, USA (New York) (Chair)

What is the future of working from anywhere? The tax, immigration, compliance and HR issues, as well as team connectivity and the developing trends for executives working remotely.

• Sophie Barrett-Brown, Laura Devine Immigration, UK
• Katja Halonen, AURORALAW Attorneys Ltd, Finland
• Christoph Rechsteiner, MME Legal, Switzerland
• Helen Ruelle, Ogier, (Jersey, Channel Islands)
• David Yewdall, BDO, UK (Chair)

Controlling Employee Communications: The risks of employees in financial services using unauthorized communication apps at work, are huge, including recent record SEC fines. What are the key risks, penalties and potential solutions for executives and businesses to harmonize modern communication practices with regulatory record-keeping requirements? 

• Simon McMenemy, Ogletree, UK (Chair)
• Natalie A. Napierala, Carlton Fields, USA (New York)
• Sebastian Sayer, Fox Williams, UK

Whistleblowing Update: Everything you need to know about the latest key developments in 30 minutes! What works best for whistleblowing, the carrot or the stick? Traditionally Europe prioritised the anti-retaliatory model, whilst the US operates very generous incentive systems by an increasing number of regulators. Are financial rewards to whistleblowers the best way forward? And what new developments are looming in the horizon following the EU whistleblowing directive?  In the UK, following various scandals and the government’s review of the legal framework, where are we now, and what improvements are needed?

• Grahame Anderson, Littleton, UK
• Inge Arts, Van Hall, Netherlands
• Amy F. Shulman, Outten & Golden, USA (New York)
• Sybille Raphael, Protect, UK (Chair)

The FTC Ban on Non-Competes: Questions for the Morning After? A Fireside Discussion between US and UK advisers
The FTC has banned non-competition clauses in most US employment contracts, affecting millions of workers. The ban aims to boost labour mobility, innovation, and competition, but it raises new questions and challenges for employers and employees. To whom does the ban apply? How will it impact current and future contracts, severance deals, and lawsuits? How will the rule relate to existing state laws and court rulings on non-competes? How will employers now seek to protect their confidential information? How will it affect employers and executives in the UK and elsewhere in the world with US operations and US employment and equity arrangements?

• Amit Bindra, The Prinz Law Firm, USA (Chicago)
• Jonathan Cohen KC, Littleton (UK)
• Mark Risk, Mark Risk PC, USA (New York) (Chair)

The IFSEA Annual Conference is chaired by Clare Murray, Managing Partner of CM Murray LLP.

Why attend the 2024 IFSEA Annual Conference?
This unique one-day international event will offer you:

• Fantastic networking with your peers, business leaders and professional advisers from across disciplines and around the world, who advise senior executives, founders and other business leaders.

• Market-leading speakers and cutting edge thought leadership on workplace risk, reward, regulatory and reputational issues.

• The opportunity for you to get actively involved in the conference discussions and debates.

The IFSEA Annual Conference is chaired by Clare Murray, Managing Partner of CM Murray LLP.

The Registration Fees for attending the IFSEA Annual Conference are as follows:
IFSEA Members & Speakers: £295 plus VAT
In-house Counsel, HR Professionals: £295 plus VAT
Associates (non-partner) at professional services firms: £295 plus VAT
Non-IFSEA Members: £395 plus VAT

This event is open to:
• Senior Executives and Founders
• Employment law, equity and incentive specialists
• Immigration lawyers and international executive mobility specialists 
• Regulatory and criminal law specialists
• Private wealth and tax specialists
• Reputation management lawyers
• HR professionals
• Senior recruitment specialists
• Executive coaches
• PR advisers to Senior Executives and Founders worldwide

IFSEA operates through International Forum of Senior Executive Advisers Limited (a limited liability company registered in England and Wales with registered number 12489182).

The registered office of International Forum of Senior Executive Advisers Limited is at First Floor, 36-38 Cornhill, London, England, EC3V 3NG. International Forum of Senior Executive Advisers Limited is a subsidiary of CM Murray LLP and is not authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.