Many of Reed Smith’s top litigators will collaborate with leading global experts in the areas of politics, trade, health and law during the four-day event to examine the future of litigation and arbitration in the face of a “once-in-a-lifetime” pandemic, the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union, the rise of high-profile sociopolitical movements such as racial justice protests, and rapidly advancing technologies impacting all aspects of litigation and the law firm workplace.

“This has been a year of unprecedented geopolitical, economic, health and societal challenges – all of that affecting the global disputes landscape,” said Peter Ellis, global chair of Reed Smith’s Litigation Department and a member of the firm’s Senior Management Team. “The confluence of these challenges has enormous implications for businesses to thrive, and this conference is designed to provide a view into the future with direction on how to adapt.”

Moderated by Reed Smith litigators, the conference will have live keynote addresses delivered each of the four days. The keynotes will be followed by several pre-recorded sessions aligned with the keynote theme that will be offered to accommodate multiple global time zones.

Keynote addresses are as follows:

• Caitlin Dean, Practice Head, Financial & Professional Services and Michael Hirson, Practice Head, China & Northeast Asia of Eurasia Group will present “Looking Ahead: What to expect in November and Beyond.”
• Moderated by Reed Smith’s Jennifer Yule DePriest, a Chicago Partner, a panel including Peter Hardy, a London partner, Ricky Raven, a Houston Partner, Ali Malek, QC and Barrister, and Judge Rabeea Collier, serving on the Texas 113th District Court bench will present “Virtual trials and hearings: Are they here to stay? Perspectives from the U.S. and UK.”
• Peter Hardy, Consultant Waseem Khokhar from Dubai, Reed Smith Richmond partner Betty Graumlich and Andrew Gordon, EY, will present “The role of corporate responsibility in unprecedented times -has the pandemic given corporate behavior a new focus?”
• Annabelle De St Maurice MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, UCLA Health and Zachary A. Rubin MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases, UCLA, will present a public health-focused keynote.