2018 European Conference

Milan, Italy

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ITechLaw delivers a successful European Conference in Milan, Italy!
98% of attendees would recommend the conference to a colleague

On October 17-19, 2018, ITechLaw hosted 366 attendees from 34 countries at the 2018 European Conference in Milan. The focus of the conference was on transformation of industries and how we prepare for the impending disruption. With sessions that featured a range of experts – in-house, academics, government practitioners, and private practice – this conference was brimming with relevant knowledge. One attendee shared that she “took a lot away from this year's ITechLaw conference, including building a stronger global network and attending key sessions which have significant practical application and have added value to my work as In-House Counsel.” You can review a summary of selected sessions here

We express our deepest thanks to our local planning committee, chaired by Laura Liguori of Portolano Cavallo, and all of our conference sponsors who contributed to the success of our conference.

Keynote Speaker: Luciano Floridi

Professor Luciano Floridi from Oxford University opened the conferences by sharing his views on The Ethics of AI: Irresponsible Distractions and Actual Challenges. Throughout his talk he brought an academic lens to legal topics and, many attendees shared that because of his comments, their understanding of AI evolved to a new level. This keynote address provided the fodder for many conversations during the conference.

Educational Sessions
Following the keynote speech on artificial intelligence, attendees participated in discussions on industry changing trends such as fashion, open banking, and e-health. With some topics drawing record setting attendance, attendees shared how much they appreciated the high-quality content that was delivered engagingly by speakers and lead to an active audience question/answer period. This year there was strong industry and in-house representation on nearly all panels.

Gala Reception and Dinner
The formal gala reception and dinner was held at La Triennale di Milano, a design and art museum. Attendees had the opportunity to access the Storie exhibit before the dinner, which featured the history and stories of Italian design told through a broad selection of iconic twentieth century objects. Attendees networked before, during, and after the dinner and new friendships emerged for many attendees. A special note of thanks is extended to our gala dinner sponsor Portolano Cavallo Studio Legale.

Young Lawyers Committee Reception

After the opening reception at the Excelsior Hotel Gallia, the young lawyers committee hosted a contingent of young (and young at heart!) lawyers for an aperitif. With more than 40 delegates in attendance, this smaller event allowed for in-depth networking and conversations, which will encourage young-lawyers to come back year over year.

I-WIN Committee Breakfast and Morning Speaker

The I-WIN Committee, focused on women’s networking and education, featured speaker Gianna Martinengo; Didael KTS, Women & Technologies. She attracted nearly 50 attendees who discussed advancement, equality, and the challenges of being a female leader. The I-WIN Committee is open to all attendees and members who support the advancement of women.

Networking 

Most conference attendees cite networking as the core reason they return to ITechLaw events year after year. The informal hallways conversations allow for knowledge sharing, referrals, and ongoing business relationships. As one attendee shared, the conference was a “life changing experience, and the first of many others. I didn’t just get to know people, I made great friends.”

Training Certificates

If you need an attendance certificate or training letter, please contact us so we can provide one for you.

Conference photos are available for viewing on Flickr
Session materials are available in Member Center

Committee Members

Chair, Program Committee

Ira Schwartz

Parker Schwartz PLLC
Phoenix, United States
Vice Chair, Program Committee

Claire Bernier

ADSTO
Paris, France
European Chair

Reinoud Westerdijk

Kennedy Van der Laan
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Zurich Conference Co-Chair

Jürg Schneider

Walder Wyss Ltd.
Zurich, Switzerland
Executive Committee Assistant Secretary

Laura Liguori

Portolano Cavallo Studio Legale
Rome, Italy