Inhousecommunity Days Switzerland 2023 – Day 1
On October 26, 2023, the Inhousecommunity Days Switzerland had a remarkable start in Zurich, with a substantial turnout of attendees. This event, known for uniting legal experts, general counsel, and in-house lawyers from prestigious Swiss companies and law firms, unfolded at the elegant Park Hyatt Hotel. Kicking off the proceedings was Aldo Scaringella, Founder and CEO of LC Publishing Group, with a warm welcome message. Subsequently, Christian Haitz, Head of Legal & Compliance at Gryphon Invest and Country Representative Switzerland for ACC Europe, delivered a compelling keynote speech emphasizing the evolving role of in-house lawyers and general counsel, particularly in the context of AI’s advancement.
The first captivating roundtable, moderated by Suzan Taha, Journalist from LegalcommunityCH, delved into the theme “In-house Counsel and AI: What Will It Look Like in 10 Years?”. The panel featured distinguished and influential figures from both the legal and business realms, offering invaluable insights and engaging in a thought-provoking discussion about the future of AI in Switzerland’s in-house counsel landscape. LC Publishing Group orchestrated this event in collaboration with Bär & Karrer, DiliTrust, Cyverse, and received the backing of ACC Switzerland.
At 3:30 pm, the debate unfolded with contributions from esteemed individuals such as Dahir Ali, Vice President, General Counsel Asia Pacific at CNH Industrial, Claudio Elia,Legal Director at STMicroelectronics, Giulio Fazio, Partner and Member of the General Council of AIGI – ECLA, Tobias Himmelreich, Sales Director at DiliTrust, Kees van Ophem, Global General Counsel & EVP at Fresenius Medical Care and Guido Wennemer, General Counsel EMEA at the Legal Department of Acer Europe. Their discussions spanned various critical topics, including the evolution of the General Counsel role in the context of AI, adaptation of changes in processes and workflows as well as balancing human expertise and AI assistance and its impact the structure of legal teams.
Following the coffee break, the second panel discussion, adeptly moderated by LegalcommunityCH Journalist Mercedes Galán, explored the theme “Unleashing the Potential: AI in the Hands of GC.” This intriguing conversation delved into the impact of AI in the legal departments of companies. The panel comprised experts from diverse sectors, including pharmaceuticals, trading, and banking. Eminent speakers such as Evelyn Acevedo, Associate Legal Director at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Elmar Büth, Group General Counsel at Ivoclar, Leonardo Scimmi, Regulatory Compliance Officer at STOXX, Richard James, Head of Legal Technology at UBS Group Switzerland and Edoardo Disetti, Legal Director and Head of M&A and Corporate Transactions. The discussion covered aspects including AI adoption in the legal industry, challenges of implementing AI into in-house legal operations and the importance of fostering a healthy collaboration between General Counsels and legal tech providers to better harness and utilize AI potential.
As the day’s proceedings concluded, participants transitioned into a more relaxed atmosphere, relishing the GC cocktail and dinner party.
The anticipation for the second day, set for Friday, October 27, is palpable. Two enthralling roundtables are on the agenda, addressing pressing issues: “Cybersecurity and In-house departments” and “ESG and Chief Legal Officer”.
