Description
Hosted and sponsored by Bird & Bird
Companies are driving digital transformation to be future-ready. The landscape of technology regulation continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace. The rise of AI, increased geopolitical uncertainty and cybersecurity threats and the regulation of new technologies are all reshaping the way businesses, lawyers and policymakers operate – and the questions being raised have never been more complex or consequential.
Tech Law and the Next Frontier will bring together leading legal practitioners, in-house counsel, regulators, academics, and technology innovators to explore these key topics. Over the course of the conference, we will examine the most pressing legal challenges, provide practical insights into navigating an ever-shifting regulatory environment, and engage in forward-looking discussion about how companies are adapting to meet the demands of tomorrow.
Whether you are advising companies, managing risk for a global organisation, or shaping the policies that will govern the digital world, this conference offers an essential forum for those at the forefront of technology law.
The next frontier is closer than you think. Are you ready?
Agenda
09:10 – 09:30 | Opening Keynote
SESSION ONE
09:30 – 10:00 | Change the Enterprise: How to Run a Successful Digital Transformation Programme
Companies are continuing to transform their organisations, to seize the opportunities of AI and new technologies, to reduce cyber risk and meet regulatory requirements. In this session, our speakers will discuss different types of digital transformation services and provide practical tips when contracting for cloud, outsourcing and systems integration services, from RFP stage through to implementation and run.
10:15 – 11:00 | Live long and prosper – Regulating the Digital World: Data, Cyber and Online Safety
The regulatory landscape governing digital life continues to evolve at pace. This session brings together leading practitioners to examine the cross-cutting themes shaping the next generation of digital regulation: the convergence of data protection, cybersecurity and online safety obligations, the rise of AI-driven compliance challenges, and an increasingly assertive enforcement posture from regulators.
SESSION TWO
11:20 – 12:05: | AI Governance in an Agentic World
As agentic AI systems capable of autonomous reasoning and independent action become increasingly prevalent, are traditional AI governance frameworks able to keep up pace? This session brings together leading lawyers to examine how existing regulatory regimes – including the EU AI Act and other regulatory frameworks – apply to autonomous agents, and practical issues to consider when building or augmenting your AI governance. Topics include liability, human oversight obligations, contracting challenges, and emerging regulatory signals.
12:20 – 12.50 | The Regulated Stack: Emerging Legal Trends in Communications and Digital Infrastructure Communications and digital infrastructure companies face a rapidly evolving, overlapping regulatory landscape. This panel will discuss these key developments and practical ways to prioritise compliance risks, identify strategic opportunities, and navigate the complexity of operating across multiple regulatory regimes.
SESSION THREE
14:00 – 14:35 | The Future of the Fight: How New Technologies are Reshaping Disputes and Investigations We will cut to the heart of how emerging technologies are redrawing the disputes landscape — from novel claims fuelled by crypto and AI, to the explosive growth of mass actions and consumer class action regimes across the globe. We will also get practical: how are AI-powered tools transforming the way parties fight their cases, and what guardrails do you need to deploy them without getting burned?
14.35 – 15:15 | Copyright in the Age of AI: Rights, Risks and the Road Ahead As generative AI reshapes creative industries, copyright law faces some of its most fundamental questions in decades. Is training an AI model on protected content an act of infringement? Can AI-generated works attract copyright protection — and if so, for whom? This session brings together leading practitioners to navigate the competing interests of creators, technology developers and users, and to explore how the law may need to evolve in response.
SESSION FOUR
15:35 – 16:20 | Digital Sovereignty: the Battle for our Tech Future As geopolitical tensions reshape the tech landscape, questions of strategic autonomy and regulatory control are driving national technology agendas, investment and policy In this panel we will explore what this increased focus on digital infrastructure and data sovereignty means for businesses and how this latest trend is shaping governance structures, tech offerings and contractual measures.
16:35 –17.00 | Closing Keynote
Plus, don’t panic, the Flash Talk will return.
We will be covering “To infinity and beyond: An introduction to Space and Satellite Law” and “Are Digital Assets the Future of Finance?”
But that’s not all – in the words of the legendary Jedi master, Yoda, “always pass on what you have learned” – you can apply now for one of the remaining two Flash Talks up for grabs!
Send your proposals to hello@scl.org – title and short description – and mark your email “Flash Talk – Annual Conference”.
Early bird offer – SCL Members save £95 + VAT
Take advantage of our early bird offer. Spaces are limited and demand is expected to be high – so book now to secure your place at the discounted rate!
Early bird rates:
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£440 + VAT (£528)£345 + VAT (£414) for SCL members -
£880 + VAT (£1056)£690 + VAT (£828) for non-members
To enquire about SCL membership and receive the discounted fee, please email hello@scl.org.
Book now to avoid disappointment!
Administration notes:
Fees:
Early bird offer: £345 + VAT (£414) for SCL members. £690 + VAT (£828) for non-members.
We have limited early bird tickets, so avoid disappointment and book now!
Booking: To secure your place, please book online using the link above or send an email to hello@scl.org with details of who is attending and the billing address for the invoice.
Booking T&Cs: Please refer to SCL’s full event terms and conditions here.
Venue address:
Bird & Bird
12 New Fetter Lane
London
EC4A 1JP
Registration and attendee arrival:
Registration for this event begins at 08:30 am. Please arrive on time to ensure a prompt start at 9:00 am.
Joining details: For in-person events, you will receive joining details within 24 hours of the event.
Non-members wishing to join the Society are entitled to membership of the Society valid for 12 months from the date of payment including full access to the content of the SCL website www.scl.org plus notification of future SCL events. The cost of an annual SCL membership is £190.00. If you have any queries about SCL membership please contact the SCL office on Tel: 07948 517049 or Email: hello@scl.org
Free membership for trainee lawyers and UK students:
SCL provides free membership for trainee lawyers until qualification and for UK students in full-time education with a valid ac.uk email address. Student members are eligible to attend SCL events at concessionary rates where a fee is applicable. Trainee members are entitled to attend SCL events at the standard members’ rate (the concessionary attendance rate does not apply to trainees). Trainees and UK students in full-time education can apply to join SCL for free by emailing hello@scl.org
SCL – The voice of tech law
Society for Computers and Law A company limited by guarantee 1133537 Registered Charity No. 266331 VAT Registration No. 115 4840 85 Registered in England and Wales Registered office: Unit 4.5, Paintworks, Arnos Vale, Bristol, BS4 3EH.
