Event Overview

Bruges: Old Stones, New Orders

Legal Strategies to Adapt to Political and Economic Shifts

In a time of profound international shifts, the balance between economic resilience, technological innovation, and the protection of individual rights is becoming increasingly delicate.

Held at the very heart of the European Union in Bruges, this conference offers a timely forum to examine the legal complexities emerging from today’s rapidly changing world. As industries confront geopolitical tensions, regulatory upheavals, and the accelerating pace of digital transformation, legal practitioners are being called upon to provide clarity and leadership in uncharted territory.

From navigating the challenges posed by fragmented international markets to addressing the ethical and legal dimensions of advanced technologies, the program brings together young lawyers, legal minds, decision-makers, and industry voices, all ready to tackle the challenges ahead.

Beyond the academic programme, the conference will be enriched by a memorable social agenda set against the backdrop of Bruges—one of Europe’s most charming and culturally rich cities. With its fairytale canals, cobbled streets, medieval architecture, and world-famous chocolate and beer, Bruges offers the perfect setting to connect, unwind, and be inspired. Attendees will enjoy a carefully curated social programme that blends cultural experiences with networking opportunities, allowing participants to explore this UNESCO World Heritage city while forging meaningful professional connections. From elegant receptions to local tastings and a spectacular gala evening, the Bruges experience promises to be as enriching socially as it is intellectually.

 

ACADEMIC PROGRAMME OVERVIEW

Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in in-depth discussions across two focused tracks, designed to address the most pressing legal issues of our time.


Track 1: The New Economy – Legal Challenges in Times of Change
 

What happens when the “global” economy starts to fragment? As political tensions rise, supply chains shift, and protectionist policies take hold, lawyers are increasingly called upon to guide clients through a world that no longer plays by the same rules.

This track delves into the legal tools and strategies needed to navigate uncertainty in cross-border M&A, real estate, finance, and private wealth. Panels will explore how sanctions, regulatory developments, and political instability are reshaping deal-making, compliance, and dispute resolution—offering insights into how legal professionals can adapt and stay ahead in a rapidly evolving economic landscape.


Track 2: In the Crossfire – Technology, Law, and the Defense of Freedoms
 

In an era marked by world-wide uncertainty, powerful technologies can become weapons in geopolitics and law. Within this evolving landscape, for example, algorithmic control and surveillance have gained particular significance, presenting serious risks to fundamental rights such as personal autonomy and privacy.

Moreover, we are witnessing a growing conflict as some nations impose technological embargoes on others. These actions can limit access to critical innovations, patents, and proprietary software, thereby hindering global trade and innovation while raising concerns over intellectual property rights. Such tech-related conflicts also have far-reaching consequences from a cybersecurity perspective, particularly in efforts to circumvent the embargoes, as well as impacting cryptocurrency, banking, and financial regulations.

This track will explore how legal professionals can navigate this technological battlefield, while safeguarding freedoms, dignity, and democratic values in an increasingly interconnected world. 

AIJA Commissions involved
  • Antitrust
  • Banking, Finance and Capital Markets
  • Business Crime and Civil Fraud
  • Corporate and M&A
  • Healthcare and Life Sciences
  • Insolvency
  • Intellectual Property, Technology, Media, and Telecommunications
  • International Arbitration
  • International Business Law (+ Sports Law)
  • Labour Law (+ Immigration Law)
  • Litigation
  • Public Procurement Law
  • T.R.A.D.E. (Trade, Retail, Agency, Distribution, E-commerce)
  • Transport and Logistics Law

Programme

Track #1: The New Economy – Legal Challenges in Times of Change

13:00 - 18:00

Address: Beursplein 1, 8000 Bruges, Belgium
14:00 - 17:00

15:00 - 17:00

17:15 - 18:15

Address: Beursplein 1, 8000 Bruges, Belgium

Is this your first AIJA event? Come and meet other first-timers, more experienced attendees, and AIJA officers. Get to know the AIJA spirit and enjoy the event to the fullest! 
18:30 - 20:30

Address: Markt 3, 8000 Bruges, Belgium
20:30

07:00 - 08:00

08:00 - 18:00

Address: Beursplein 1, 8000 Bruges, Belgium
09:00 - 09:20


Welcome Address by AIJA President Arthur Stüssi
09:20 - 10:45

Organised by Transport and Logistics Law, Intellectual Property, Technology, Media, and Telecommunications (IP/TMT) and Public Procurement Law (PPL) Commissions

As nations invest in drone technologies through joint defense initiatives, legal questions around dual-use capabilities are growing more complex.

This panel will explore how cross-border alliances navigate public procurement, IP protection, and regulation, focusing on technologies that bridge civilian and defense applications. Speakers will also address liability, standardisation, and compliance, offering guidance for lawyers in this rapidly evolving field.
10:45 - 11:15

11:15 - 12:30

Organised by Litigation and Business Crime and Civil Crime Commissions and Skills, Career, Innovation, Leadership and Learning (SCILL) and In-House Counsel Boards

In the global cyber battlefield, ransomware attacks have emerged as one of the most disruptive - and lucrative - forms of digital extortion. These attacks do not just paralyse systems; they create a cascade of legal, regulatory, and reputational crises for victims across borders.

This session will examine the legal complexities of ransomware from tracing crypto-ransom payments and coordinating with law enforcement and cross-border asset recovery. We will also explore the fine line between victim response and criminal liability, and how lawyers can help clients safeguard both operational resilience and fundamental freedoms in a world where technology is weaponised.
12:30 - 14:00

14:00 - 15:00

Organised by Corporate and M&A and Insolvency Commissions

Globalisation is being reshaped by rising protectionism, trade wars, and localisation requirements, forcing multinational groups to rethink or even dismantle long-standing cross-border structures.

This panel will explore the legal and financial challenges of strategic or forced de-integration, from spin-offs and carve-outs to governance conflicts and creditor risks. With insights from key sectors such as tech, pharma, and critical infrastructure, the session will highlight how lawyers can guide clients through politically driven reorganizations in an increasingly fragmented global economy.
15:00 - 15:30

15:30 - 16:30

Organised by Healthcare and Life Sciences and T.R.A.D.E. (Trade, Retail, Agency, Distribution, E-commerce) Commissions

The pandemic revealed the fragility of global medicine supply chains, prompting governments to adopt protectionist measures such as the EU’s Critical Medicines Act and U.S. reshoring policies.

This session will explore how lawyers can help life sciences companies navigate export restrictions, regulatory reforms, and geopolitical risks while building resilient and compliant supply chains.
16:30 - 17:15

16:30 - 17:15

16:30 - 17:15

17:30 - 18:15

19:30 - 02:00

Address: Vismijnstraat 83, 8380 Bruges, Belgium

08:00 - 18:00

Address: Beursplein 1, 8000 Bruges, Belgium
09:00 - 09:45

09:45 - 10:30

10:30 - 11:45

Organised by International Private Clients and Family and Tax Law Commissions 

In a world of mobility and global lifestyles, tax residency has become increasingly contested, with major implications not only for taxation but also inheritance, divorce, and family governance.

This session will examine how shifting residency status affects private clients, founders, and globally mobile families, exploring the interplay between tax audits, succession planning, matrimonial disputes, and cross-border family structures. Practical insights will focus on sustaining residency claims, mitigating risks, and navigating disputes in an era of stricter enforcement.
11:45 - 12:15

12:15 - 13:30

Organised by International Business Law (+ Sports Law) and Antitrust Commissions

Digital platforms are transforming global business models while raising complex challenges at the intersection of international business law and antitrust enforcement.

This panel will explore how new regulations and competition scrutiny impact platform governance, liability, and market access across jurisdictions. With insights from global enforcement trends, speakers will discuss how companies can stay compliant, mitigate risks, and scale digital business models sustainably.
13:30 - 14:30

14:30 - 15:45

Organised by Banking, Finance and Capital Markets and Real Estate Commissions

Geopolitical tensions are pushing companies to reconfigure supply chains and strategic infrastructure by relocating to “friendly” countries.

This friend shoring trend is driving a rise in cross border industrial real estate projects that require innovative financing structures. In this panel, real estate and banking lawyers will discuss legal strategies for financing and developing logistics hubs, manufacturing facilities, energy storage, and defense infrastructure in politically aligned jurisdictions.

The discussion will also examine the effects of rising construction costs, shifting investment geographies, government incentives, and protectionist trade measures, highlighting how counsel can help clients secure funding and approvals across multiple jurisdictions under evolving regulatory frameworks. As geopolitical tensions, economic instability, and fast-evolving technologies converge, business crime is becoming more complex and harder to contain.
15:45 - 16:15

16:00 - 18:30

20:00 - 23:00

23:00 - 03:00

Address: Breidelstraat 3, 8000 Bruges, Belgium

09:00 - 13:00

Address: Stalijzerstraat 19, 8000 Bruges, Belgium
10:00 - 11:00

11:00 - 11:30

11:30 - 13:00

14:30 - 16:30

19:30 - 03:00

Address: Vaartdijkstraat 7, 8200 Bruges, Belgium
Track #2: In the Crossfire – Technology, Law, and the Defense of Freedoms

13:00 - 18:00

Address: Beursplein 1, 8000 Bruges, Belgium
14:00 - 17:00

15:00 - 17:00

17:15 - 18:15

Address: Beursplein 1, 8000 Bruges, Belgium

Is this your first AIJA event? Come and meet other first-timers, more experienced attendees, and AIJA officers. Get to know the AIJA spirit and enjoy the event to the fullest! 
18:30 - 20:30

Address: Markt 3, 8000 Bruges, Belgium
20:30

07:00 - 08:00

08:00 - 18:00

Address: Beursplein 1, 8000 Bruges, Belgium
09:00 - 09:20


Welcome Address by AIJA President Arthur Stüssi
09:20 - 10:45

Organised by Transport and Logistics Law, Intellectual Property, Technology, Media, and Telecommunications (IP/TMT) and Public Procurement Law (PPL) Commissions

As nations invest in drone technologies through joint defense initiatives, legal questions around dual-use capabilities are growing more complex.

This panel will explore how cross-border alliances navigate public procurement, IP protection, and regulation, focusing on technologies that bridge civilian and defense applications. Speakers will also address liability, standardisation, and compliance, offering guidance for lawyers in this rapidly evolving field.
10:45 - 11:15

11:15 - 12:30

Organised by Litigation and Business Crime and Civil Crime Commissions and Skills, Career, Innovation, Leadership and Learning (SCILL) and In-House Counsel Boards

In the global cyber battlefield, ransomware attacks have emerged as one of the most disruptive - and lucrative - forms of digital extortion. These attacks do not just paralyse systems; they create a cascade of legal, regulatory, and reputational crises for victims across borders.

This session will examine the legal complexities of ransomware from tracing crypto-ransom payments and coordinating with law enforcement and cross-border asset recovery. We will also explore the fine line between victim response and criminal liability, and how lawyers can help clients safeguard both operational resilience and fundamental freedoms in a world where technology is weaponised.
12:30 - 14:00

14:00 - 15:00

Organised by International Arbitration and Litigation Commissions

Artificial intelligence is reshaping not only legal work but also the nature of evidence. From AI-generated documents to deepfakes, predictive analytics, and manipulated metadata, the line between truth and simulation is blurring.

This panel will explore how courts and arbitral tribunals are confronting these evidentiary challenges - from questions of authenticity, reliability, and admissibility to the right to challenge algorithmic proof - offering practical strategies for litigators and arbitrators facing this new evidentiary battlefield.
15:00 - 15:30

15:30 - 16:30

Organised by Skills, Career, Innovation, Leadership and Learning (SCILL) and In-House Counsel Boards

Artificial intelligence is already transforming how law firms and legal departments research, draft, manage matters, and deliver value. Despite growing interest and an expanding range of tools, many professionals still struggle to move from experimentation to consistent and compliant use. This panel focuses on how lawyers are using AI today to improve both billable and nonbillable workflows.

Bringing together tech savvy law firm and in-house counsel with representatives from leading legal AI providers, the discussion will explore real world use cases, adoption strategies, and practical guardrails. Panelists will share what works, what doesn’t, and how AI can be integrated into daily practice while preserving professional judgment, confidentiality, and ethical standards.

The session will also address key AI applications across the legal workflow, platform comparisons, emerging build your own and vibe coding tools, and how organizations balance billable efficiency gains with nonbillable productivity and quality of life improvements.
16:30 - 17:15

16:30 - 17:15

16:30 - 17:15

17:30 - 18:15

19:30 - 02:00

Address: Vismijnstraat 83, 8380 Bruges, Belgium

08:00 - 18:00

Address: Beursplein 1, 8000 Bruges, Belgium
09:00 - 09:45

09:45 - 10:30

10:30 - 11:45

Organised by Labor Law (+ Immigration Law), Environmental and Energy Law and Healthcare and Life Sciences Commissions 

As the EU AI Act nears implementation, legal advisors are shifting from theory to practice.

This panel will explore real-world cases involving AI classification, high-risk use assessments, compliance planning, and liability exposure. From startups building generative models to companies deploying AI in HR, energy, environment, or health, speakers will share advisory experiences, highlight grey areas, and discuss how to future-proof client strategies as the regulation begins to reshape the legal landscape.
11:45 - 12:15

12:15 - 13:30

Organised by International Arbitration and Intellectual Property, Technology, Media, and Telecommunications (IP/TMT) Commissions 

As technological leadership becomes both a strategic asset and a source of geopolitical tension, cross-border intellectual property disputes are growing more frequent, complex, and sensitive.

This panel will examine the use of arbitration to resolve high-stakes IP disputes involving patented technologies, advanced software, trade secrets, and complex licensing, and will address challenges of arbitrability, enforcement, and confidentiality.
13:30 - 14:30

14:30 - 15:45

Organised by Intellectual Property, Technology, Media, and Telecommunications (IP/TMT) and T.R.A.D.E. (Trade, Retail, Agency, Distribution, E-commerce) Commissions 

As information moves at algorithmic speed, disinformation is becoming a strategic weapon in politics, business, and public debate. AI-generated deepfakes, bot networks, and manipulative advertising can distort markets, damage reputations, and impact cross-border trade.

This panel will examine how frameworks like the EU Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Code of Practice on Disinformation are reshaping platform duties and helping lawyers protect companies from AI-driven disinformation.
15:45 - 16:15

16:00 - 18:30

20:00 - 23:00

23:00 - 03:00

Address: Breidelstraat 3, 8000 Bruges, Belgium

09:00 - 13:00

Address: Stalijzerstraat 19, 8000 Bruges, Belgium
10:00 - 11:00

11:00 - 11:30

11:30 - 13:00

14:30 - 16:30

19:30 - 03:00

Address: Vaartdijkstraat 7, 8200 Bruges, Belgium

Fees & General Info

There are currently no registration fees available.

General terms and conditions

By registering you have to accept the general terms and conditions and accept that your registration is considered binding immediately, but participation to the event is possible only after full payment of the registration fee.

Please note that any arrangements related to the participation of the participant in an AIJA event, including but not limited to booking or cancellation of accommodation or flights, as well as respecting the cancellation deadlines indicated in the general terms and conditions, are the sole responsibility of the participant. AIJA shall not be held liable for any expenses the participant may suffer as the result of participant’s failure to comply with his/her obligations.

It is recommended for each participant to purchase a cancellation and travel insurance.

Please note that in-house counsel registrations are subject to review and confirmation by AIJA. AIJA considers in-house counsel professionals who hold a university degree in law allowing access to a bar association and practicing law as an in-house counsel in private, public, or non-profit companies, institutions or organisations. Please note that in-house counsel who are at the same time active as fee-earning lawyers or consultants are not eligible to the discounted in-house counsel fee.

Please read the general terms and conditions applicable for AIJA events.


Scholarships

If you are a lawyer under 35 years old and meet the requirements, apply to our Scholarship Programme for this event. You can check more details here.

Prepare your stay

CONFERENCE VENUE

The Exhibition, Meeting and Congress Centre in Bruges (BMCC)

The Exhibition, Meeting and Congress Centre in Bruges (BMCC) is the ideal location for special events, conferences and trade fairs. Besides the impressive ground floor with an area of 4,500m² - perfect for trade fairs, larger public events and concerts - there is the conference area on the upper floors. The BMCC has multiple spaces to offer such as the impressive multifunctional hall of 4,500m², a plenary hall, a spacious foyer, breakout rooms and a unique space for 500 people (The View) with terrace on the top floor, so you can choose the ideal space that perfectly suits your event. Of course, you always get the beautiful view of the historic city center with it!

You can easily reach the BMCC on foot, by bicycle, via public transport and by car. The BMCC is located in the heart of the historic city center within walking distance of numerous hotels, historic attractions and world-famous museums.

Venue details:

Date: May 26th until May 30th  2026, from 8 AM until 6 PM
Address: Sint-Maartensblik 1, 8000 Brugge
Tel:+32(0)50 89 35 47
Website https://bmccbruges.com/

ACCOMMODATION IN BRUGES

Dukes’ Palace Hotel - 5-star SUP

Contact details:
Address: Prinsenhof 8, 8000 Brugge
Tel: +32 (0)50 44 78 88
Email: info@hoteldukespalace.com
Website: https://hoteldukespalace.com/

Cancellation Policy:
These rooms may be cancelled by the guest free of charge up to two (2) weeks prior to arrival. The room must be cancelled by email. Cancellations made within two (2) weeks of arrival are non-refundable.

Check the 'Read more' document to book your room.

READ MORE  

 

Grand Hotel Casselbergh - 4 star

Contact details:
Address: Hoogstraat 6, 8000 Brugge
Tel: +32 (0)50 44 65 00
Email: info@grandhotelcassselbergh.com
Website: https://www.grandhotelcasselbergh.be/

Cancellation Policy:
Individual cancellation is possible until 6 weeks prior to arrival.
Cancellation between 6 weeks & 1 week prior to arrival : 50% cancellation fee.
In case of late cancellation or no show, there’s no possibility for a refund.

READ MORE BOOK YOUR ROOM HERE

 

Dukes' Academy - 4 star

Contact details:
Address: Wijngaardstraat 7/9, 8000 Brugge
Tel: +32 (0)50 33 22 66
Email: info@dukesacademie.com
Website: https://www.dukesacademie.com/

Subject to availability, participants who would like to book can make a reservation by completing this form and mailing it to sales@dukesacademie.com.

Cancellation policy:
Cancellation as from 2 weeks prior to arrival: 100% cancellation fee.

READ MORE  

 

Hotel Aragon - 4 star

Contact details:
Address: Naaldenstraat 22, 8000 Brugge
Tel: +32 (0)50 33 35 337
Email: info@aragon.be
Website: https://www.aragon.be/

Rooms can be booked upon availability. Guests can register by completing this form and sending it to groups@aragon.be.

Cancellation Policy:
Individual cancellation is possible until 6 weeks prior to arrival.
Cancellation between 6 weeks & 1 week prior to arrival: 50% cancellation fee.
In case of late cancellation or no show, there’s no possibility for a refund.

READ MORE BOOK YOUR ROOM HERE

 

Boutique Hotel Sablon - 4 star

Contact details:
Address: Kopstraat 10, 8000 Brugge
Tel: +32 (0)50 96 02 46
Email: info@hotelsablon.be

READ MORE BOOK YOUR ROOM HERE

 

Hotel Portinari - 4 star

Contact details:
Address: ‘t Zand 15, 8000 Bruges
Tel: +32 (0)50 34 10 34

Book rooms online with the promotional code: AIJA-Bruges2026 to receive a 10% discount.

READ MORE BOOK YOUR ROOM HERE

 

Martin’s Brugge - 3 star SUP

Contact details:
Address: Oude Burg 5, 8000 Brugge
Tel: +32 (0)50 44 51 11
Email: resa.brugge@martinshotels.com

READ MORE BOOK YOUR ROOM HERE

 

Organising Committee

Lore DERDEYN LYDIAN (BELGIUM)
Sarah KOCKS Kocks & Partners (BELGIUM)
Ruben MASAR VISCHER Ltd. (SWITZERLAND)
Sébastien MASSARO Tiberghien BV (BELGIUM)
Jacopo PIEMONTE De Berti Jacchia (ITALY)
Sara SAHRANAVARD Schwärzler Rechtsanwälte (SWITZERLAND)
Michel SEGERS MVVP (BELGIUM)
Tom SWINNEN Simont Braun (BELGIUM)
Ester VETS Claeys & Engels (BELGIUM)

Sponsors


Become a sponsor

Partnership with AIJA as a sponsor provides the best networking opportunities in a relaxed business environment.
If you have any questions, contact us on ‘Become a sponsor’ and check for more opportunities.

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Your data will be managed by AIJA's General Services, Events and Accounts Section:

  • For the purpose of administering your registration for the event and your on-site access to the event;
  • In order to pay for the selected services - your bank details will be deleted after receipt of your payment;
  • In order to communicate information messages from AIJA.

To the extent necessary for the execution of their respective tasks, our subcontractors in charge of our seminar organisation, our IT infrastructure, our management, the production and maintenance of our website and extranet, are likely to gain access to your data from time to time. Their servers are located in the European Union.

Data relating to your participation in the event shall be stored for a period of 10 years. We are obliged to archive billing data until the end of the period required for our tax and accounting obligations, i.e. for 7 full tax years.

We shall store your contact information to keep you informed until you ask us to stop. You have the right to access your data and have it corrected if necessary.