AIJA | Bruges 2026 | Half-Year May Conference

Half-Year May Conference

27 - 30 May 2026
Bruges

Event Overview

Law and Disorder: 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

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.

Organising Committee

Lore DERDEYN LYDIAN (BELGIUM)

Sarah KOCKS Kocks & Partners (BELGIUM)

Ruben MASAR VISCHER Ltd. (SWITZERLAND)

Jacopo PIEMONTE De Berti Jacchia (ITALY)

Sara SAHRANAVARD Schwärzler Rechtsanwälte (LIECHTENSTEIN)

Michel SEGERS MVVP (BELGIUM)

Tom SWINNEN Simont Braun (BELGIUM)

Eline VERELST Laurius BV CVBA (BELGIUM)

Personal Protection

The personal data that you communicate to us shall be processed by the International Association Of Young Lawyers (AIJA), with its registered office at Avenue de Tervueren 231, 1150 Brussels, Belgium (Tel: +32 2 347 33 34 - office@aija.com), in accordance with Act No. 78-17 of January 6, 1978 relating to data, files and freedoms and Regulation No. 2016/679 on data protection, as of its entry into force on May 25, 2018.

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.