EELA – Conference Programme

EELA aims to provide a cutting-edge programme to members.  The programme is shared very early on to facilitate members’ practical arrangements (eg booking of flights and hotels) and European employment law changes rapidly.  Accordingly, the programme, particularly panel topics, content and speakers, will be updated periodically as the event approaches. 

Wednesday, 11 June 2025

15:00-18:00

City Walking Tour

Optional pre-conference guided walking tour of ‘the City’, starting at Tate Modern and ending with ELA-hosted drinks (see ‘Tours’, booking required, also open to ELA members).

18:30-21:30

ELA-hosted drinks

Pre-conference drinks hosted by UK ELA for ELA and EELA members.
Location: Bank of England (pub), 194 Fleet St, EC4A 2LT (booking required)

Thursday, 12 June 2025

12:00-19:00

Registration opens

Royal Lancaster Hotel, W2 2TY

09:00-15:00

Greenwich by river boat (optional)

Optional additional tour, see ‘Tours’.

15:00-17:00

Afternoon tea (all)

Royal Lancaster Hotel, meet friends for a cup of tea before setting off on historic walking tour together.

16:00

National representatives meet (by invitation)

Royal Lancaster Hotel
Meet for tea together before setting off early on historic walking tour, together with other national representatives. 

17:00-19:00

Historic walking tour (all)

Guided walking tour, Royal Lancaster Hotel to Westminster Abbey Gardens, a route including Hyde Park, Downing Street, the Houses of Parliament and the Supreme Court, see ‘Tours’. 

19:00-23:00

EELA’s Welcome Drinks

Westminster Abbey Gardens (with cover in event of rain)
Dress: bright, comfortable eg flowery dress, batik/Hawaiian shirt, stripey blazer
Bus transport available from Royal Lancaster to Westminster Abbey Gardens for those unable to join historic walking tour (limited numbers).  

Friday, 13 June 2025

09:15-10:30

Conference opening, welcome and keynote speech

Royal Lancaster Hotel (all panels in Royal Lancaster Hotel).
Welcome: Anna Jerndorf (EELA Chair), Dusan Nitschneider (Deputy Chair), Juliet Carp (Board Member for England & Wales).
Keynote speech: Baroness Hale of Richmond, former President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. 

10:30-11:00

Coffee break 

11:00-12:30

Opening plenary panel: Democracy & employment law

Royal Lancaster Hotel
Panel discussion on the role of employment law in supporting democracy.

more details

 

Including, eg:

  • interaction between collective employment laws and democracy, eg rights to protest and strike
  • role of international standards eg ECHR
  • codes of conduct and standards in public life
  • importance of the judiciary and effective remedies 

12:30-14:00

Lunch

14:00-15:15

Breakouts A 

Option 1: Restructuring

Collective dismissals – what does the EU Directive 98/59 really say, and what is best practice?

more details

What modern transformation and restructuring tools are now available?  A practical and ‘hard law’ discussion of aspects relevant to employment lawyers’ practice.

 

Option 2: Football 

From Bosman to Diarra – free movement of workers and FIFA/UEFA rules. The effects of recent judgments for football and other sports. 

more details

The rules governing contractual relations between football players and clubs have been subject of recent debate. The Bosman case (C-415/93) in 1995 shook professional football. As a result, no transfer fees could be charged for players at the end of their contracts. Consequently, changes were made to the transfer system. In Bernard (C-325/08) the Court however justified restrictions on free movement for out-of-training-contract players and granted exception to the prohibition on age discrimination in EU law. Now that system has again come under scrutiny in Diarra (C-650/22). The CJEU has found that FIFA regulations that impose severe financial penalties and restrictions on the registration of players restrict the freedom of movement of football players and, by their very objective, restrict competition and infringe cartel prohibition. In Royal Antwerp Football Club (C-680/21) the ECJ held that rules of UEFA and the national football association on the minimum number of home-grown players in teams could also be contrary to EU law, specifically competition rules and the free movement of workers. What effect will these decisions have on the free movement of football players? Can we envisage that the current transfer rules in football will need to be dramatically altered? Are rules on home-grown players still enforceable? Do other obligatory rules of sports bodies foreseeably violate the fundamental rules of free movement of workers and competition law? 

Option 3: Bullying 

Under pressure. Bullying at work. How to Spot it and steps to Stop it in today’s global workplaces.
A Workshop-style discussion on new and evolving types of bullying and practical strategies for dealing with it.

more details

In today’s increasingly global workplaces, bullying has evolved. While many employers recognise the importance of addressing such allegations, from a cost, PR and culture perspective, cultural and intergenerational diversity gives rise to new challenges. Behaviours once overlooked, such as unintentional conduct, can create serious issues and the pressure on employers to act swiftly to increasingly complex issues has never been greater. How do you handle “upward bullying” where managers are targeted? Or address biases which may misinterpret behaviour by women or people of colour as bullying? This workshop, grounded in real world experience, will provide practical strategies to help SPOT and STOP bullying in the modern workplace.

This workshop will include:

  • How to recognise bullying? Hidden definitions of bullying, including “upward bullying”; differences between bullying and harassment;
  • How cultural values and bias may impact perceptions of bullying and reporting;
  • How unbalanced power or dysfunctional relationships can escalate into conflict and bullying;
  • Bullying through social media, public reprimands and employer’s duties;

Strategies businesses can use to address these issues and promote respect and inclusion. Plus, why a one-size fits all approach may not work for multinational businesses.

 

12:30-14:00

Tea

15:45-17:00

Breakouts B 

Option 1: European Works Councils (‘EWCs’)

Our Panel of Experts will discuss how the inconsistency of EWCs as they operate practically across the EU, impacts the collective power of employees. They will also consider whether the enforcement mechanisms and remedies for employees are uniform and suitable while exploring the new motions within the EU aimed at revising the legislative framework for EWCs to enhance their effectiveness and consistency.

Option 2: Transparency 

A broader look at transparency in the workplace 

To include eg:

  • Pay Transparency Directive
  • Some aspects of ESG 

     

Option 3: Employment law and ‘the City’ 

How does the City work?  A practical discussion about the context for M&A and financial services work and the way the City of London interacts with other jurisdictions.  Your chance to ask questions of, and about, the people who do this kind of work. 

Option 4: Navigating LGBTQ+ rights at work in a changing global landscape

Summary: A practical discussion encouraging participants to consider the experience of LGBTQ+ employees at work and legal developments. We will hear from colleagues from the UK, Germany and Hungary, including employment in-house counsel, on the legal landscape of LGBTQ+ rights, how to handle conflicting rights at work, and what employers can do to support their people.

18:00-18:20

Buses depart for Guildhall

Following short break to change for dinner at Royal Lancaster, guided bus transfer to Guildhall. 

19:00-01:00

Gala dinner

After dinner speaker: Judge Barry Clarke, President, Employment Tribunals (England & Wales)

London’s Guildhall (black tie)
Drinks, Crypts
Dinner, Great Hall
Dancing, Crypts 

Saturday, 14 June 2025

08:00-09:00

Optional exercise in Hyde Park 

10:00-11:00

Plenary 1: Developments in EU case law

With Professor Catherine Barnard, Professor of EU law and Employment law, fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge

11:30-13:00

Plenary 2:  Conflict and work

We live in times of increased political violence and unrest – connected to ideology, nationality and territory.  While the business community might prefer to be politically neutral, some choose not to be.  Nonetheless, all employers must deal with the impact of conflict on interaction with and between their employees.

more details

We will hear from those working in Northern Ireland about their experiences of managing political discrimination and balancing ECHR freedoms with workplace expression. We shall also hear from colleagues working in countries going through political upheaval and unrest at present.
Discussion will include:
• Workplace harassment and the limits of freedom of expression – Strategies to minimise workplace conflicts including respectful expression of views, encouraging tolerance of diverse perspectives, and providing training for employees and managers.
• Employer neutrality – the impact on employee relations of maintaining a neutral stance or taking a stand on a political question.
• Health and safety obligations: employees directly affected by political events may feel hyper-visible. How should employers respond to this? And what other obligations arise when conflict directly impacts the workforce?

13:00-13:30

General Assembly 

13:30-14:30

Lunch

Various

Optional tours depart

See ‘Tours’, booking required.