LSLA 2026 Summer Lecture Series

21st May 2026 @ 6:00pm to 9:00pm

Various

The LSLA is delighted to announce details of our 2026 Summer Lecture Series, which will consist of talks and panel discussions with eminent practitioners on topical subjects of legal interest.
Each lecture will begin at 6 p.m., and will last approximately one hour, which will include an opportunity for questions.  The lectures will be followed by an opportunity for drinks and networking.  Materials and, if practicable, a video recording will appear on the LSLA website after the event.                                                           

We are grateful to the following firms for hosting these lectures:      
Hogan Lovells International LLP, Atlantic House, Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2FG
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP, Exchange House, Primrose Street, London EC2A 2EG

Attendance is not limited to LSLA members. Anyone can apply for tickets via the LSLA website.  An email will be sent confirming your place once you have paid and a reminder to attend will be sent a few days before the event.  

Series Programme

 

Thursday 21 May at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP

 

Parent Companies and Subsidiaries: the evolving boundaries of parent company liability

Nicholas Medcroft KC and Leonora Sagan, Fountain Court Chambers KC

 

Recent years have seen a growing number of claims brought against parent companies for harm caused by the activities of their overseas subsidiaries, reflecting an increasing focus on questions of responsibility and control within multinational corporations. At the same time, developments in the criminal law, and in particular the expansion of "failure to prevent" offences, point in the same direction, reinforcing the importance of group-level compliance and risk management within corporate groups. The speakers will examine the evolving legal landscape governing parent company liability, the increasing use of the English courts as a forum for determining such claims, and the broader trend towards closer scrutiny of how multinationals are structured, governed and managed.

 

Wednesday 10 June 2026, at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP 

 

Freezing and Disclosuren Orders: A 2026 Practitioner Update

Alexander Brown KC and Micha Lazarus of One Essex Court

 

A practical 2026 update on worldwide freezing orders and information-gathering relief (Norwich Phamacal and Bankers Trust), focused on how recent authorities affect the real-world mechanics of getting in quickly, freezing effectively, and moving from suspicion to usable evidence. The session covers the key decision points — merits and dissipation, without-notice strategy, and full-and-frank disclosure, plus how to frame disclosure orders. Expect a tactical, practitioner-led approach to drafting, sequencing and enforcement, aimed at maximising speed and leverage. 

 

Tuesday 23 June, at Hogan Lovells International LLP 

 

Early disclosure in the Business and Property Courts: a Practitioner's Guide

William Edwards KC, Lisa Lacob, Gretal Scott of 3 Verulam Buildings
 
 
Is Initial Disclosure a mirage? Those litigating high-value matters in the Business & Property Courts are well aware that Initial Disclosure is routinely dispensed with. Does the Practice Direction therefore leave the parties with no fall-back until after the Case Management Conference? Our speakers will argue the opposite, addressing the  circumstances in which the Business and Property Courts will order disclosure at an early stage (pre-action and pre-CMC), covering the relevant legal principles, practical tips, and strategic pointers from recent case law.

 

 

Wednesday 9 September 2026, at Hogan Lovells International LLP

 

Constraints on contractual decision-making: unresolved issues

Fred Hobson KC and Vanshaj Jain of Brick Court Chambers

Contracts often give one party a power to make certain decisions, e.g. in the finance context, the bank has a contractual discretion to close out a client’s trading position. Does that party have a free hand to decide as they see fit – or will the court step in to say that the decision-making power must be exercised rationally? Significant unresolved issues abound. How intrusive is the court’s review of contractual decision-making? Can termination rights be subject to review? If a breach is established, does this result in the nullity of the decision or a claim to damages? Fred and Vanshaj acted in one of the key cases in this area, and are well placed to discuss how these issues are best navigated.

 

Attendance is not limited to LSLA members. 

The cost is £100 for all four events (non-members £120).

Alternatively you can book each event individually via our events page.

Our events usually sell out, so please apply early.

The LSLA lectures will start at 6 p.m. All events will last approximately one hour, to include a period for questions at the end, and will be followed by drinks.