Half-Year May Conference
Mexico City, Mexico
29 May 2024 - 01 June 2024
Track 1 - Transactions in the Age of Technology
Wednesday 29 May 2024 | |
| 14:00 » 20:30 | Registration & open welcome desk |
| 15:00 » 17:00 | Public Speaking Crash Course (for speakers & moderators) Organised by the Skills, Career, Innovation, Leadership and Learning (SCILL) Commission |
| 16:00 » 17:00 | National Representatives Committee (NRC) meeting |
| 17:00 » 18:00 | Skills, Career, Innovation, Leadership and Learning (SCILL) Commission meeting |
| 17:00 » 18:00 | Human Rights Committee (HRC) meeting |
| 17:00 » 18:00 | AIJA Seminar Crash Course Organised by the Academic Programme Committee (APC) The Seminar Crash Course organised by the Academic Programme Committee offers an overview on how to successfully organise AIJA seminars. All members are invited, no matter if they are experienced and have organised events before or are fairly new members or First Timers. Whoever might want to participate in organising seminars at one point will be shown the ropes of successful AIJA event organisation. |
| 18:30 » 20:30 | Welcome Reception at Hyatt Regency Hotel Mexico City Address: Campos Eliseos. 204 Polanco Chapultepec, Polanco, Chapultepec, 11560 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico Supported by  |
| 20:45 » 23:30 | Optional group dinners in restaurants |
Thursday 30 May 2024 | |
| 07:00 » 08:00 | AIJA Run for Human Rights |
| 08:30 » 18:30 | Registration & open welcome desk |
| 09:00 » 09:45 | Welcome to the Half-Year May Conference 2024 Eduardo De La Peña Bernal, Shutts & Bowen LLP & AIJA President 2023-2024, United States Daniela Jara Cruz, OBPO Advisors, Mexico José Luis Vega Garrido, Ramírez, Gutiérrez-Azpe, Rodríguez-Rivero y Hurtado, Mexico Keynote speaker: Alejandro Canela, Vice-President of Siemens Digital industries software, Mexico |
| 09:45 » 10:00 | Transfer to respective track rooms |
| 10:00 » 11:00 | Session 1 - Artificial Intelligence in International Business Law: Challenges, Opportunities, and Future Directions Organised by the International Business Law Commission The discussion on "Artificial Intelligence in International Business Law" begins by defining AI's role and scope in international business, providing a foundational understanding of its classifications and applications. The conversation then tackles the challenges of integrating AI, focusing on ethical concerns like privacy and bias, jurisdictional complexities, and questions of liability and accountability, especially in light of regulations like the EU AI Act. Highlighting practical insights, the discussion shifts to case studies that demonstrate both successful integrations of AI and notable failures, offering a critical analysis of these real-world examples to draw lessons for future applications. Finally, the discussion concludes by emphasizing the need for international standards and best practices in AI's use within business law, proposing a path forward that balances innovation with ethical and legal considerations. Moderator: Dominik Wagner, Tigges Rechtsanwälte, Germany Speakers:
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| 11:00 » 11:30 | Networking Coffee Break Supported by  |
| 11:30 » 12:30 | Session 2 - AI: the business asset engulfing the world and the transaction accelerator you need Organised by the Intellectual Property Technology, Media, and Telecommunications (IP/TMT) and the Coporate and M&A Commissions In its brief public lifespan, artificial intelligence (AI) has quickly become one of the most consequential technologies in this generation, with ChatGPT leading the way in November 2022. In this panel, we will consider AI from two different angles. First, we will evaluate AI as a business asset. From the source data to the algorithms, to the training model and the output data, what are the key components of an AI programme? Who owns the intellectual property at each stage? Can anything created using AI be protected in the way traditional IP rights are protected? How can these risks and opportunities be properly disclosed to potential investors or buyers? What types of representations, warranties, and covenants are being used to specifically deal with these issues? Second, we will evaluate AI as a virtual assistant to aid the prospective buyer and the transactional lawyer. How can AI be used to identify and evaluate potential targets? How can it be used in the legal due diligence process, which typically encompasses the bulk of the legal fees? To what extent can AI be useful in drafting contracts? How much can an attorney rely on AI as a substitute for the attorney’s professional judgment? Moderators:
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| 12:30 » 13:30 | Networking Lunch Supported by  |
| 13:30 » 14:30 | Session 3 - Smart Contracts and Employee Compensation: Legal and Ethical Considerations in Insolvency Organised by the Labour Law and Insolvency Commissions Blockchain technology and smart contracts have been emerging for many years and are increasingly used by businesses to create efficiencies in their supply chain and financing arrangements. However, their compatibility with current legal regulations has been continuously questioned. Smart contracts are set up to automatically execute when certain conditions have been fulfilled, removing any need for manual intervention. Furthermore, while legal contracts can be terminated, smart contracts cannot necessarily be considered void, and present challenges when identifying the jurisdiction for breaches of such contracts. This raises further questions for employers and insolvency practitioners alike on termination of such smart contracts. This panel will explore the use of smart contracts in employment law and the challenges faced by such use as well as how smart contracts place challenges in insolvency proceedings specifically with regard to their termination or unwinding as part of these proceedings. Moderator: Fernando Villalobos, Porzio Rios Garcia, Chile Speakers:
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| 14:30 » 15:00 | Networking Coffee Break Supported by |
| 15:00 » 16:00 | Session 4 - When AI replaces physical interaction – challenges of dealing with AI driven automation and market concentration Organised by the Antitrust and the T.R.A.D.E. (Trade, Retail, Agency, Distribution, E-commerce) Commissions AI driven innovation is rapidly reshaping and revolutionising industrial processes and the franchising and distribution sector as well as consumer experiences. Retailers make use of dynamic pricing algorithms, the automotive industry is working on deploying autonomous cars while at the same time transitioning to electric vehicles. Purpose built AI is being rolled out across and reshaping entire supply chains, all the way to the consumers (e.g. self-ordering fridges), while Hollywood actors strike for fear of being replaced by AI in film productions and are given a hard time in negotiations with powerful platforms. At the core of all these developments is the ever increasing reliance on algorithms and AI. How are anti-trust regulators and businesses (retailers, franchises, distributors, the supply chain..) across the world dealing with these issues? Are current anti-trust rules and tests up to the challenge? The rise of non-traditional franchising models What liability issues arise if anti-trust or contractual rules are broken by AI assisted processes? Who is liable for AI-driven infractions, especially if there are multiple involved parties such as the AI developer, a manufacturer, and product owners? How can anti-trust regulators prevent ever increasing concentration of market share at the hand of early movers in AI programming or powerful platforms? Examples of AI use in the e-commerce / franchising sector, and what are clients most likely to ask lawyers about? This panel will discuss the pitfalls and challenges in these areas and seek to identify ways to address them. Moderator: Jonas Krull, Homburger AG, Switzerland Speakers:
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| 16:00 » 16:15 | Transfer to rooms |
| 16:15 » 17:15 | Session 5 - Machine Minds, Human Consequences: Legal Perspectives on AI in Mass Torts Cases Organised by the Litigation Commission and the American Bar Association International Law Section (ABA-SIL) As artificial intelligence continues to transform the legal landscape, this panel will delve into the complex intersection of AI and mass torts cases. From defective algorithms to their unintended consequences, the panelists will explore what role AI might play in mass torts litigation. The discussion will focus on how the legal system will assign liability when damages arise from faulty AI systems—potentially extending to inventors, coders, and other technological professionals. The panel will examine existing legal precedents and propose forward-looking frameworks to address these questions and challenges. Join us for an insightful exploration of the evolving landscape where technology meets justice. Moderator: Rosario Cartagena, ICES, Canada Speaker:
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| 17:30 » 18:30 | First Timers' Gathering |
| 19:30 » 20:00 | Transfer by bus to Conference Dinner |
| 20:00 » 02:00 | Conference Dinner at Hacienda de los Morales Address: Juan Vazquez de Mella 525, Polanco, Polanco I Secc, Miguel Hidalgo, 11510 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico Supported by  |
Friday 31 May 2024 | |
| 08:00 » 18:00 | Registration & open welcome desk |
| 08:45 » 10:00 | Joint Academic Programme Committee (APC) + Officers of the Commissions Committee (OCC) meeting If you are an AIJA Commission Officer, make sure to attend this forum and discuss current and future AIJA issues relevant to your Commission and members tomorrow at 8:45 CST in Regency Ballroom B (2nd floor of the Conference Venue). The Officers of the Commission’s Committee and the Academic Programme Committee Co-Chairs will guide our Commission Officers through the relevant association’s topics and guidelines for the Commissions. |
| 10:00 » 11:00 | AIJA Women Network Plenary Session - On the Basis of Gender – Gender Discrimination and Violence in the Workplace and in Law Firms. Organised by the AIJA Women Network In this panel, the speakers will discuss about gender discrimination and violence, presenting the issues and data in such regard according to different reports published on such matter, particularly in the workplace and in law firms, and will share own experiences and personal stories that show how these issues manifest. The panelists will delve into the intricacies of what constitutes discrimination and violence on the basis of gender and how they affect gender equality and human dignity, explaining how sexism, gender stereotypes and unconscious bias contribute to it. The panelists will also talk about the formation of the gender violence iceberg by approaching sensitive matters such as: how gender discrimination may turn into gender violence, how gender violence can stem from and be manifested through toxic masculinities and micro-aggressions and the so-called “micromachismos”. Lessons to be learned and recommendations to be implemented from our frontlines at the workplace and in law firms will be shared, in order to challenge and change the status quo on gender discrimination and violence and to prevent them, and to fight toward human dignity and gender equality from this realm. Moderator: Marnix van den Bergh, Höcker Advocaten, The Netherlands Speakers:
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| 11:00 » 11:30 | Networking Coffee Break |
| 11:30 » 12:30 | Plenary Session - Cultural respect or misappropriation? Don’t forget about indigenous rights. Organised by the AIJA Human Rights Committee (HRC) The panel will engage in a comprehensive discussion encompassing various facets of the International and domestic Legal Framework for safeguarding the Tangible and Intangible Cultural Heritage, with a particular focus on the Mexican constitutional block. The discourse will include a brief history of the indigenous people’s cultural heritage protection in Mexico and the main legal challenges of navigating concurrent indigenous and non-indigenous legal systems, shedding light on the complexities that arise, especially within Urban Indigenous Communities and Quasi-Indigenous Communities. An examination of the legal consequences associated with cultural misappropriation or unauthorized use in Mexico, will further enrich the conversation, providing valuable insights into the ramifications of their collective rights and self-determination. Furthermore, the panel will delve into the intricacies of contracting with Indigenous Communities, addressing the delicate balance between indigenous legal systems (uses and traditions) and human rights. Lastly, we will elucidate the due diligence obligations incumbent upon companies operating in this domain, offering a holistic perspective on the legal landscape surrounding cultural misappropriation. Moderator: Silvia van Schaik, bureau Brandeis, Netherlands Speakers:
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| 12:30 » 13:30 | Networking Lunch |
| 13:30 » 15:00 | Executive Committee meeting (for EC Members & AIJA Officers) |
| 15:00 » 16:00 | Commission meetings I
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| 16:00 » 17:00 | Commission meetings II
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| 17:00 » 18:00 | Commission meetings III
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| 20:00 » 23:00 | Home Hospitality Dinner One of the most anticipated evenings with a personal-local touch is the ‘Home Hospitality Dinner’, where local lawyers open their homes to welcome AIJA delegates from around the world with local delectable food and drinks. Gain insights into the lifestyle and hospitality of the city hosting the conference in a friendly atmosphere experience. |
| 23:00 » 02:00 | Home Hospitality Afterparty at Fiera Rooftop Address: Av. Paseo de las Palmas 530, Lomas - Virreyes, Lomas de Chapultepec, Miguel Hidalgo, 11000 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico |
Saturday 01 June 2024 | |
| 09:30 » 09:45 | Transfer by bus to Optional Brunch |
| 10:30 » 12:30 | Optional Brunch at Arroyo Address: Av. Insurgentes Sur 4003, Sta Úrsula Xitla, Tlalpan, 14420 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico |
| 10:30 » 17:30 | Optional Brunch & Tour Brunch at Arroyo: Av. Insurgentes Sur 4003, Sta Úrsula Xitla, Tlalpan, 14420 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico Boat Tour at Xochimilco: Av. Nuevo León S/N, Caltongo, Xochimilco, 16090 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico |
Track 2 - The Impact of the Digital Economy in our Daily Lives
Wednesday 29 May 2024 | |
| 14:00 » 20:30 | Registration & open welcome desk |
| 15:00 » 17:00 | Public Speaking Crash Course (for speakers & moderators) Organised by the Skills, Career, Innovation, Leadership and Learning (SCILL) Commission |
| 16:00 » 17:00 | National Representatives Committee (NRC) meeting |
| 17:00 » 18:00 | Skills, Career, Innovation, Leadership and Learning (SCILL) Commission meeting |
| 17:00 » 18:00 | Human Rights Committee (HRC) meeting |
| 17:00 » 18:00 | AIJA Seminar Crash Course Organised by the Academic Programme Committee (APC) The Seminar Crash Course organised by the Academic Programme Committee offers an overview on how to successfully organise AIJA seminars. All members are invited, no matter if they are experienced and have organised events before or are fairly new members or First Timers. Whoever might want to participate in organising seminars at one point will be shown the ropes of successful AIJA event organisation. |
| 18:30 » 20:30 | Welcome Reception at Hyatt Regency Hotel Mexico City Address: Campos Eliseos. 204 Polanco Chapultepec, Polanco, Chapultepec, 11560 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico Supported by |
| 20:45 » 23:30 | Optional group dinners in restaurants |
Thursday 30 May 2024 | |
| 07:00 » 08:00 | AIJA Run for Human Rights |
| 08:30 » 18:30 | Registration & open welcome desk |
| 09:00 » 09:45 | Welcome to the Half-Year May Conference 2024 Eduardo De La Peña Bernal, Shutts & Bowen LLP & AIJA President 2023-2024, United States Daniela Jara Cruz, OBPO Advisors, Mexico José Luis Vega Garrido, Ramírez, Gutiérrez-Azpe, Rodríguez-Rivero y Hurtado, Mexico Keynote speaker: Alejandro Canela, Vice-President of Siemens Digital industries software, Mexico |
| 09:45 » 10:00 | Transfer to respective track rooms |
| 10:00 » 11:00 | Session 1 - To DAO or not to DAO: Considerations for DAOs as clients and adversaries in criminal and civil litigation Organised by the Business Crime and Civil Fraud Commission DAOs are a unique application of blockchain and organisational governance, which use automation and democratised consensus-based decision making with no central governing body. So, what happens if you have one as a client or adversary in criminal prosecutions or in civil litigation? Is that even possible? This panel will explore how DAOs fit in the traditional litigation scheme. Moderator: Charlotte Hill, Penningtons Manches Cooper, England Speakers:
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| 11:00 » 11:30 | Networking Coffee Break Supported by |
| 11:30 » 12:30 | Session 2 - Robots in charge of our health Organised by the Healthcare and Life Sciences Commission Automation has become an integral part of the healthcare system, physical assistant robots treat patients in rehabilitation, robots assist in surgery, physicians upload images or medical histories to a platform to receive possible medical findings. The complexity of cyber-physical systems in specific healthcare applications is diverse, ranging from automated imaging techniques to doctor's appointments with a chat bot. This panel will shed light on the specific issues and challenges of regulation in this highly innovative environment. Are current industry standards sufficient? Do general legal principles still apply when robots are in charge of our health? Moderator: Angelika Murer, Homburger AG, Switzerland Speakers:
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| 12:30 » 13:30 | Networking Lunch Supported by |
| 13:30 » 14:30 | Session 3 - Nearshoring Odyssey: Your Map to Conquer Environmental, Energy, and Transport Realms for Client Success Organised by the Transport Law and the Environmental and Energy Law Commissions Nearshoring offers cost efficiency, logistical ease and mitigating risks associated with more distant outsourcing. The convenience lies in the balance of operational benefits, reduced complexities, and improved innovation through closer partnerships. Within the context of Digital Economy, these elements are crucial in navigating the interconnected global landscape. This panel will explore the legal intricacies of nearshoring by delving into transport, environmental, and energy law. Among others, we will address the regulatory landscape, environmental considerations, and clean energy requirements shaping nearshoring challenges. Through case studies and practical insights, this session will provide a comprehensive understanding of legal challenges and successful strategies in a wide array of regions. In the realm of the Digital Economy, understanding these legal aspects becomes pivotal as technology-driven industries engage in nearshoring. Moderator: Juan Manuel Rullán, Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aíza y Enríquez, Mexico Speakers:
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| 14:30 » 15:00 | Networking Coffee Break Supported by |
| 15:00 » 16:00 | Session 4 - Going past bad crypto: Digital assets after FTX Organised by the Banking, Finance and Capital Markets Commission The panel explores the evolving landscape of digital assets and cryptocurrencies in the post-FTX era. FTX, a prominent cryptocurrency exchange, has played a significant role in shaping the industry and its collapse significantly destroyed general public's faith in the blockchain industry, but the discussion goes beyond recent challenges or setbacks. Panelists will provide unique insights from both industry and regulatory perspectives. The conversation delves into the future of digital assets, including tighter regulation of the sector, increasing focus on CBDCs, transformation from crypto exchanges into digital-asset ecosystems, analysing the impact of regulatory developments, technological advancements, and market trends. The discussion aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of navigating the digital space responsibly and innovatively, addressing key issues such as security, compliance, and the role of emerging technologies in shaping the next phase of digital asset evolution. Moderator: Katarzyna Szczudlik, Schoenherr Halwa sp.k., Poland Speakers:
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| 16:00 » 16:15 | Transfer to rooms |
| 16:15 » 17:15 | Session 5 - Protecting culture through intellectual property Organised by the Intellectual Property Technology, Media, and Telecommunications (IP/TMT) Commission As Mexico and the EU have recently enacted new legislation in relation to the protection of traditional knowledge, cultural property and non-traditional trademarks, the timing and location offers a unique opportunity for an in-depth discussion on how we protect culture and indigenous knowledge while supporting their continued use and appropriate commercialisation. Moderator: Johannes Struck, Brödermann Jahn, Germany Speakers:
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| 17:30 » 18:30 | First Timers' Gathering |
| 19:30 » 20:00 | Transfer by bus to Conference Dinner |
| 20:00 » 02:00 | Conference Dinner at Hacienda de los Morales Address: Juan Vazquez de Mella 525, Polanco, Polanco I Secc, Miguel Hidalgo, 11510 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico Supported by |
Friday 31 May 2024 | |
| 08:00 » 18:00 | Registration & open welcome desk |
| 08:45 » 10:00 | Joint Academic Programme Committee (APC) + Officers of the Commissions Committee (OCC) meeting If you are an AIJA Commission Officer, make sure to attend this forum and discuss current and future AIJA issues relevant to your Commission and members tomorrow at 8:45 CST in Regency Ballroom B (2nd floor of the Conference Venue). The Officers of the Commission’s Committee and the Academic Programme Committee Co-Chairs will guide our Commission Officers through the relevant association’s topics and guidelines for the Commissions. |
| 10:00 » 11:00 | AIJA Women Network Plenary Session - On the Basis of Gender – Gender Discrimination and Violence in the Workplace and in Law Firms. Organised by the AIJA Women Network In this panel, the speakers will discuss about gender discrimination and violence, presenting the issues and data in such regard according to different reports published on such matter, particularly in the workplace and in law firms, and will share own experiences and personal stories that show how these issues manifest. The panelists will delve into the intricacies of what constitutes discrimination and violence on the basis of gender and how they affect gender equality and human dignity, explaining how sexism, gender stereotypes and unconscious bias contribute to it. The panelists will also talk about the formation of the gender violence iceberg by approaching sensitive matters such as: how gender discrimination may turn into gender violence, how gender violence can stem from and be manifested through toxic masculinities and micro-aggressions and the so-called “micromachismos”. Lessons to be learned and recommendations to be implemented from our frontlines at the workplace and in law firms will be shared, in order to challenge and change the status quo on gender discrimination and violence and to prevent them, and to fight toward human dignity and gender equality from this realm. Moderator: Marnix van den Bergh, Höcker Advocaten, The Netherlands Speakers:
|
| 11:00 » 11:30 | Networking Coffee Break |
| 11:30 » 12:30 | Plenary Session - Cultural respect or misappropriation? Don’t forget about indigenous rights. Organised by the AIJA Human Rights Committee (HRC) The panel will engage in a comprehensive discussion encompassing various facets of the International and domestic Legal Framework for safeguarding the Tangible and Intangible Cultural Heritage, with a particular focus on the Mexican constitutional block. The discourse will include a brief history of the indigenous people’s cultural heritage protection in Mexico and the main legal challenges of navigating concurrent indigenous and non-indigenous legal systems, shedding light on the complexities that arise, especially within Urban Indigenous Communities and Quasi-Indigenous Communities. An examination of the legal consequences associated with cultural misappropriation or unauthorized use in Mexico, will further enrich the conversation, providing valuable insights into the ramifications of their collective rights and self-determination. Furthermore, the panel will delve into the intricacies of contracting with Indigenous Communities, addressing the delicate balance between indigenous legal systems (uses and traditions) and human rights. Lastly, we will elucidate the due diligence obligations incumbent upon companies operating in this domain, offering a holistic perspective on the legal landscape surrounding cultural misappropriation. Moderator: Silvia van Schaik, bureau Brandeis, Netherlands Speakers:
|
| 12:30 » 13:30 | Networking Lunch |
| 13:30 » 15:00 | Executive Committee meeting (for EC Members & AIJA Officers) |
| 15:00 » 16:00 | Commission meetings I
|
| 16:00 » 17:00 | Commission meetings II
|
| 17:00 » 18:00 | Commission meetings III
|
| 20:00 » 23:00 | Home Hospitality Dinner One of the most anticipated evenings with a personal-local touch is the ‘Home Hospitality Dinner’, where local lawyers open their homes to welcome AIJA delegates from around the world with local delectable food and drinks. Gain insights into the lifestyle and hospitality of the city hosting the conference in a friendly atmosphere experience. |
| 23:00 » 02:00 | Home Hospitality Afterparty at Fiera Rooftop Address: Av. Paseo de las Palmas 530, Lomas - Virreyes, Lomas de Chapultepec, Miguel Hidalgo, 11000 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico |
Saturday 01 June 2024 | |
| 09:30 » 09:45 | Transfer by bus to Optional Brunch |
| 10:30 » 12:30 | Optional Brunch at Arroyo Address: Av. Insurgentes Sur 4003, Sta Úrsula Xitla, Tlalpan, 14420 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico |
| 10:30 » 17:30 | Optional Brunch & Tour Brunch at Arroyo: Av. Insurgentes Sur 4003, Sta Úrsula Xitla, Tlalpan, 14420 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico Boat Tour at Xochimilco: Av. Nuevo León S/N, Caltongo, Xochimilco, 16090 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico |
Sponsors
García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez
