After the success of the In-House Conference in March 2022 we wanted to ensure we sought out and covered the most relevant topics in another one day networking event. To ensure there is ample time to catch up with like-minded members we have included slightly longer networking breaks between sessions, we hope this will give you chance to re-connect with ELA colleagues and meet new ones too. Paul McFarlane, ELA Chair will be chairing our keynote speaker from Uber and this will be Paul’s last session of his 2022-2024 term having been appointed September 2022. The conference will be opened by Ken Morrison, General Counsel, St George’s, University of London and Chair of the ELA In House Committee. We do hope you will join us for this event and enjoy hearing from expert speakers on some really burning issues. The programme and further details can be found below.
A one day event organised by the Employment Lawyers Association
This one-day course will look at the full range of legal and practical issues surrounding in house issues and challenges.
This conference is open to all ELA members.
Programme
9.00am Registration and tea/coffee
9.30am Supply Chain Compliance Management
Speakers: Mag Shapiro/Bindi Sandu, London Universities Purchasing Consortium
Responsible procurement in global supply chains including Modern Slavery, Carbon Emissions Environmental Social and Corporate Governance
10.30am Tea/coffee break
11.00am The Impact of Technology on Our Profession
Speakers: Danielle Viall, General Counsel, Legal Services Board; David Copping, Partner, Farrer & Co
Many lawyers are hesitant to adopt new technology, but Covid-19 has accelerated adoption and increased innovation. Is the pace fast enough, though? In this talk, Danielle Viall, General Counsel at the Legal Services Board, will explore the impact of technology on the sector and consider how regulation can support innovation and mitigate risk. With artificial intelligence infiltrating every element of our lives, it is essential to consider how the role of the employment lawyer will need to change. Will lawyers even be needed if AI can do our jobs faster and more accurately? Danielle will share insights from the LSB research on technology and innovation and consider how our profession can benefit from the opportunities ahead.
11.55am Comfort Break
12.05pm How to Find Your Next Job
Speakers: Panel Chair: Sarah Wilder - Global Legal Director, Employment and Litigation at Staffbase, Co-Founder and Inclusion Director, mpm included, and ELA In-House Committee Member
Panel: Ruth Surendran - Employee Relations Director, BAE Systems; Charlotte White - General Counsel at Cloudpay; Kate Novak - Owner of Feeding Time; Wendy McRae Smith - Senior Legal Counsel, University of Sussex
What do an ER Director, a General Counsel, two entrepreneurs, an academic and three employment lawyers have in common? Join us to find out... and to enjoy a panel discussion where we will discuss traditional and non-traditional career paths for in house employment lawyers, as well as offer some tips and tricks that have helped us in our career.
1.00pm Lunch
2.00pm KEYNOTE – Uber – The Learning from Recent Challenges
Speaker: Jonathan Ollivent, Director EMEA Employment team, Uber
We are pleased to have Jonathan Ollivent, Director EMEA Employment Team at Uber delivering our keynote address at the ELA In-House Conference on the intriguing challenges faced in the ever-evolving role of the legal team at Uber. Uber is a pioneer in ride-hailing and food delivery. When you work for the inhouse legal team at Uber, anything can come through the door. The work their legal team does is helping to continue to change the way they do business, putting integrity at the core of every decision they make and working hard to earn the trust of the cities in which they operate. The most high-profile example of this came when Transport for London said it would not renew Uber’s private-hire operator licence in September last year, citing public safety and security implications. Uber appealed the decision, while battling over the employment classification of Uber drivers. Jonathan will also cover issues from Uber around employment litigation, Supreme Court case, global first model change (UK first worker status), first platform union recognition agreement, pension scheme and settlement programme. Jonathan led on all of these workstreams. Uber also have lots of cases and interesting challenges to talk about across the EMEA region, including some intersections with AI.
At the inhouse conference Jonathan Ollivent will provide valuable insights into the legal landscape of Uber and share the team’s commitment to adaptability, transparency and ethical practices in an ever-changing business environment.
3.00pm Tea/coffee break
3.30pm Employment Law in Multiple Jurisdictions
Speaker: Kathleen Healy, Partner, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, Jenny Andrews, Partner, Global Lead Employment Counsel, EY; Angus Macgregor, Head of Global HR, MUFG Bank
The life of an in-house employment lawyer is becoming increasingly international in nature. The scope of the role often encompasses non-English jurisdictions, be that jurisdictions not far from our shores like the Channel Islands and Scotland, to full blown EMEA coverage and beyond. In Asia the role is often even broader – an APAC role can stretch across to India, down as far as New Zealand and up to China and Japan. That often matches with the very broad-ranging role of their primary clients – the HR Director or Global People Officer.
How do in-house lawyers develop the skills to enable them to advise on employment law in jurisdictions that are often ‘far from home’. How does the role evolve over time? What skills do in-house lawyers need to develop to cover increasingly wide-ranging roles? And what trends might in-house lawyers want to anticipate?
Join a fireside chat with Jenny Andrews, Partner, Global Lead Employment Counsel at EY and Angus Macgregor, Head of Global HR at MUFG Bank, led by Kathleen Healy, Chair of ELA’s International Committee.
4.30pm Diversity, Equality and Inclusion
Speaker: Robin White, Barrister, Old Square Chambers; Robert Davies, Walbrook Law; Emma Burrows, Partner, Head of Employment and Pensions, Trowers and Hamlins
Chair: Debbie Nathan
Robin Moira White from Old Square Chambers considers the effect of the Taylor v Jaguar Land Rover case on the protected characteristic of ‘gender reassignment’. Why did the tribunal take such a bold step? Who has the case extended protection to? Who is not protected? What are the implications for workplace policies and facility provision? What lessons does the case have for diversity and inclusion?
How are those with complex gender identities accommodated or protected outside the workplace? (identity documents, tax, gender recognition)
Robin acted for the claimant in the Taylor case. In 2011 she became the first barrister to transition from male to female in practice at the discrimination bar. She is joint author with Nicola Newbegin of Old Square Chambers of ‘A Practical Guide to Transgender Law’ published in 2021, of which the second edition is in preparation. She acts and advises in transgender-related matters (and all other forms of discrimination) for both employers and employees.
Disability at Work
It has been estimated that 1 in 70 people in the UK is autistic and research indicates that autistic workers face the largest pay gap of all disability groups as well as a significant disadvantage in securing paid work relative to other disabled and non-disabled people. There has been very welcome focus on the importance of improving opportunities for autistic people within the workplace through the Buckland Review of Autism Employment which commenced in April 2023 and which has been published in February 2024. Emma and Robert will highlight and discuss the Review’s key recommendations to encourage and facilitate more autistic candidates and to help employers support autistic workers in the workplace throughout all stages of their careers.
5.30pm Break
6.30pm Pre Dinner Drinks
7.00pm Dinner
10.00pm Close of Event
Fees
- In-Person attendance at BMA House
Discounts
We also offer the following discounts on the full fee:
- There is a 50% discount for the voluntary or not-for-profit sector
- There is a 50% discount for pupil barristers and barristers under 2 years call
- Please note only one discount will be applied per booking.