Law, leadership and judgement in a volatile age
Economist Enterprise will bring together more than 600 general counsel, chief legal officers and senior in-house legal leaders at the 23rd annual General Counsel Summit UK to examine how legal leadership is evolving amid rapid technological change, geopolitical uncertainty and growing pressure on business decision-making.
Under the theme “Law, leadership and judgement in a volatile age”, the summit will explore how general counsel are navigating AI adoption, cyber risk, regulatory change, employment law reform, supply-chain disruption and geopolitical volatility while playing an increasingly influential role in shaping boardroom decisions.
As businesses face faster decisions, greater scrutiny and more complex risk environments, legal leaders are being asked to provide commercial judgement alongside legal expertise. The summit will examine how the role of the general counsel is changing, what new risks are emerging and how legal teams can help organisations remain resilient, competitive and prepared for the future.
Held under Chatham House Rule, the General Counsel Summit UK provides a trusted forum for candid discussion among senior legal leaders from FTSE 100 companies, global organisations and fast-growing businesses. Attendees will gain practical insight into the challenges reshaping legal leadership while building valuable connections with peers from across industries.
The programme will focus on six key themes:
• Geopolitics, volatility and business risk
• AI, accountability and legal transformation
• Regulation, enforcement and market reform
• Operational resilience and legal exposure
• Talent, succession and responsibility
• Legal economics and delivery
Discussions throughout the day will address some of the most pressing questions facing legal departments today, including:
• How can legal teams separate genuine AI value from expensive distraction?
• Is buying AI the same as transformation?
• Who is developing the next generation of legal judgement and leadership?
• How should organisations balance commercial urgency with legal prudence?
• What impact will employment law reform have on operational risk?
• How should businesses navigate evolving competition and regulatory scrutiny?
The summit will also feature a briefing from experts at the Economist Intelligence Unit examining the economic, geopolitical and business developments likely to shape 2027, including the top global risks legal leaders should be preparing for today.
Additional speakers include senior legal executives from leading FTSE 100, Fortune 500 and global organisations, alongside legal innovators, policymakers and industry experts. Sessions will be moderated by journalists and editors from The Economist, ensuring independent, rigorous and forward-looking discussion.
Now in its 23rd year, the General Counsel Summit UK has become one of the most established gatherings of senior legal leaders in Europe, bringing together the legal community’s decision-makers to discuss the issues shaping the future of business, governance and risk.
Event details and registration
23rd Annual General Counsel Summit UK
Law, leadership and judgement in a volatile age
London | November 12th 2026
For more information, visit the General Counsel Summit UK website.
Networking and collaboration opportunities
Connect with more than 500 general counsel, chief legal officers and senior legal leaders through dedicated networking sessions, roundtables and informal discussions. Share experiences, exchange ideas and build valuable relationships with peers navigating today’s most pressing legal and business challenges.
About Economist Enterprise
Economist Enterprise is the business-facing arm of The Economist Group. It helps organisations navigate global complexity, make confident strategic decisions and engage credibly on the issues shaping markets and policy. By combining forward-looking analysis, authoritative perspectives and platforms for informed engagement, Economist Enterprise makes sense of global change for strategists, investors, risk managers and leaders.
About The Economist (www.economist.com)
The Economist is an international news organisation that provides trusted insight and analysis on world affairs, business, finance, science and technology. Through its journalism, research and events, The Economist convenes influential leaders to discuss the ideas and issues shaping the future of business, policy and society.
For information on sponsorship or attendance, contact:
Max Jacobs, Head of Sales, The Economist
For media enquiries, contact:
Hannah Flynn, Marketing Lead, The Economist
