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Event Overview
Doing business in transformed digital markets: Recent developments and lessons learned
When you think of vibrant canals, historic architecture, and a bustling digital innovation hub, Amsterdam comes to mind. Known for its rich cultural heritage and dynamic business environment, Amsterdam is also a logistic and distribution centre and a key entry point to international trade. As such, it is the perfect location to delve into the complexities of digital market transformations from an antitrust and commercial law perspective.
The TRADE and Antitrust Commissions are thrilled to invite you to their Annual Conference: "Doing Business in Transformed Digital Markets: Recent Developments and Lessons Learned."
In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, staying abreast of regulatory changes is crucial. This event will explore the latest developments in digital market regulations, focusing on how businesses can navigate new challenges and leverage opportunities. With a dual-track approach, the conference will cover essential topics from both TRADE and Antitrust perspectives.
Our academic sessions will explore critical areas such as the impact of digital market transformations on trade practices, antitrust implications, and strategies for maintaining a competitive advantage in a digital world as well as cross-border markets and business relationships.
Beside describing new layers of regulatory scrutiny, a focus will be placed on taking stock of the most recent updates and looking at the lessons learned. Following a wave of newly adopted texts and regulations across jurisdictions, we aim to provide an overview of the implementation phase of these rules and review the experiences of the recent years and discuss best practices. Participants will benefit from case studies, in-depth discussions on regulatory updates, and exchange of experiences.
Beyond the enriching academic sessions, the Organising Committee has curated an exciting social programme designed to enhance networking opportunities and provide a taste of Amsterdam's vibrant culture. Highlights include exploring the iconic Amsterdam canals on a scenic boat tour, offering a unique perspective of the city's picturesque waterways and nightlife.
Join us for this unique event and gain a comprehensive understanding of the transformed digital markets while enjoying the charm of one of Europe's most dynamic and fascinating cities.
AIJA Commissions involved
- Antitrust
- T.R.A.D.E. (Trade, Retail, Agency, Distribution, E-commerce)
T.R.A.D.E track
18:30
More details to follow soon
08:30
Opening of the registration desk
09:00 - 09:30
Welcome address by the AIJA Bureau Representative, the Commission Officers and the Organising Committee
09:30 - 10:00
More details to follow soon
10:00 - 11:00
Assess the overall impact of the 2022 Vertical Block Exemption Regulation (‘VBER’) and its accompanying Vertical Guidelines, and their implications for digital markets. This general overview will look at the latest developments and updates since the implementation of the VBER in 2022, with a particular focus on its relevance to distribution systems in the dynamic digital markets. We will seek thought-provoking discussions to assess whether the 2022 VBER has (so far) delivered on its promise to provide stakeholders with simpler, clearer and up-to-date rules and guidance in a business environment reshaped by the growth of online sales and by new market players such as online platforms, and to ensure a more harmonised application of the vertical rules across the European Union.
11:00 - 11:30
Coffee break
11:30 - 12:30
Based on the general outlook of the VBER, this panel will delve into the nuanced challenges arising from it, focusing on specific issues such as parity obligations, geographic restrictions or exclusive and selective distribution models. Participants will gain insights into how these critical aspects are being applied and enforced across the EU, particularly in the digital world. The aim is to explore the practical implications for businesses navigating these new dynamics, share experiences and provide practical guidance and actionable insights on how to maintain compliance while optimizing offline and online distribution strategies.
12:30 - 13:00
Commission meeting
13:00 - 14:30
Lunch
14:30 - 15:45
This panel will explore recent and upcoming EU and international legislative developments, such as the EU Digital Markets Act (‘DMA’), which are transforming digital markets and redefining the boundaries of competition and commercial law. In particular, we will discuss the first year of compliance with the DMA by the first wave of designated gatekeepers, shedding light on the new challenges and opportunities for small and medium-sized companies active online. We will assess whether and how business users of large online platforms are benefiting (or not) from the way gatekeepers are (allegedly) complying with the new regulatory landscape. We will discuss best practices and how best to advise our clients so that they are empowered and can take full advantage of their new rights online.
15:45 - 16:15
Coffee break
16:15 - 17:30
This panel will explore the strategic benefits of dynamic pricing—a flexible pricing model that allows companies to adjust prices for goods and services in real time based on demand, competition, seasonality, timing, and more. Unlike static pricing models, dynamic pricing allows companies to tailor their prices to individual customers and products, creating a competitive edge in rapidly changing markets, from ridesharing, to air travel and online retail. However, it also poses significant risks of facilitating collusion, which are being turbo-charged by the explosion of AI across online markets, leading to potentially widespread consumer harm. This panel will discuss both the significant benefits and high risks of dynamic pricing, and how regulators around the world are responding in a rapidly changing environment.
20:00
More details to follow soon
09:30
Opening of the registration desk
10:00 - 11:15
In a landscape where innovation meets intense scrutiny, this panel explores how e-commerce businesses can transform creative ideas into compliant, consumer-friendly practices. With recent cases highlighting the fine line between persuasive advertising and unfair practices, we will discuss legal pitfalls including areas like dark patterns or influencer marketing. Hear about best practices and how to balance cutting-edge e-commerce strategies with responsible, legally sound approaches.
11:15 - 11:45
Coffee break
11:45 - 13:00
With the Digital Services Act (‘DSA’) reshaping the rules for e-commerce platforms for Europe, this panel addresses the critical challenges and strategies for launching and sustaining compliant, thriving digital platforms in a global environment. From ensuring safer content to managing regulatory tensions—like those seen between X and the European Commission or the recent actions against Temu—our discussion will focus on how platforms can adapt to regulatory demands around the world while promoting growth and innovation.
13:00 - 13:15
Closing Remarks
13:15 - 14:30
Lunch
15:00
More details to follow soon
Antitrust track
18:30
More details to follow soon
08:30
Opening of the registration desk
09:00 - 09:30
Welcome address by the AIJA Bureau Representative, the Commission Officers and the Organising Committee
09:30 - 10:00
More details to follow soon
10:00 - 11:00
Assess the overall impact of the 2022 Vertical Block Exemption Regulation (‘VBER’) and its accompanying Vertical Guidelines, and their implications for digital markets. This general overview will look at the latest developments and updates since the implementation of the VBER in 2022, with a particular focus on its relevance to distribution systems in the dynamic digital markets. We will seek thought-provoking discussions to assess whether the 2022 VBER has (so far) delivered on its promise to provide stakeholders with simpler, clearer and up-to-date rules and guidance in a business environment reshaped by the growth of online sales and by new market players such as online platforms, and to ensure a more harmonised application of the vertical rules across the European Union.
11:00 - 11:30
Coffee break
11:30 - 12:30
Based on the general outlook of the VBER, this panel will delve into the nuanced challenges arising from it, focusing on specific issues such as parity obligations, geographic restrictions or exclusive and selective distribution models. Participants will gain insights into how these critical aspects are being applied and enforced across the EU, particularly in the digital world. The aim is to explore the practical implications for businesses navigating these new dynamics, share experiences and provide practical guidance and actionable insights on how to maintain compliance while optimizing offline and online distribution strategies.
12:30 - 13:00
Commission meeting
13:00 - 14:30
Lunch
14:30 - 15:45
This panel will explore recent and upcoming EU and international legislative developments, such as the EU Digital Markets Act (‘DMA’), which are transforming digital markets and redefining the boundaries of competition and commercial law. In particular, we will discuss the first year of compliance with the DMA by the first wave of designated gatekeepers, shedding light on the new challenges and opportunities for small and medium-sized companies active online. We will assess whether and how business users of large online platforms are benefiting (or not) from the way gatekeepers are (allegedly) complying with the new regulatory landscape. We will discuss best practices and how best to advise our clients so that they are empowered and can take full advantage of their new rights online.
15:45 - 16:15
Coffee break
16:15 - 17:30
This panel will explore the strategic benefits of dynamic pricing—a flexible pricing model that allows companies to adjust prices for goods and services in real time based on demand, competition, seasonality, timing, and more. Unlike static pricing models, dynamic pricing allows companies to tailor their prices to individual customers and products, creating a competitive edge in rapidly changing markets, from ridesharing, to air travel and online retail. However, it also poses significant risks of facilitating collusion, which are being turbo-charged by the explosion of AI across online markets, leading to potentially widespread consumer harm. This panel will discuss both the significant benefits and high risks of dynamic pricing, and how regulators around the world are responding in a rapidly changing environment.
20:00
More details to follow soon
09:30
Opening of the registration desk
10:00 - 11:15
Much attention has been paid in recent years to public enforcement of competition laws, with multi-billion fines against large digital platforms, as well as new and innovative regulatory frameworks such as the EU DMA. Private enforcement has received less attention. This panel will discuss how private enforcement can serve as a crucial source of deterrence for illegal and harmful behaviour and as a primary means of compensating victims for damages suffered at the hands of cartelists and dominant firms in the digital sphere. A particular focus will be on the private enforcement of the DMA, including the new types of claims that will be available and the risks this poses to gatekeepers.
11:15 - 11:45
Coffee break
11:45 - 13:00
The European Court of Justice is clear: the European Commission had no jurisdiction to investigate Illumina's acquisition of Grail. But what happens next? At EU level, the European Commission has insisted that one of its main priorities for the new legislature will continue to be to tackle destructive takeovers. At national level, some Member States have introduced, or have recently introduced, call-in powers in their national legislation. Other Member States plan to introduce such powers in the short term. However, destructive takeovers are also an issue at a global level, affecting all major jurisdictions. This panel will examine the different approaches taken by the major competition authorities in the main jurisdictions around the world to deal with this important issue.
13:00 - 13:15
Closing Remarks
13:15 - 14:30
Lunch
15:00
More details to follow soon
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
Jelle BLOM
Kennedy Van der Laan (NETHERLANDS)
BORJA CHASTANG
MLAB ABOGADOS S.L.P. (SPAIN)
Timothée GIARD
GATE AVOCATS (FRANCE)
Wolfgang GUGGENBERGER
PHH Rechtsanwält:innen GmbH (AUSTRIA)
Hans Jørgen LANGELAND
Advokatfirmaet CLP DA (NORWAY)
Giorgia MASSARO
DOLCI CERRETA MASSARO SOCIETA TRA AVVOCATI SRL (ITALY)
Stefan TUINENGA
Lindenbaum B.V. (NETHERLANDS)
Lumine VAN UDEN
Houthoff Cooperatief U.A (NETHERLANDS)
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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