EELA – Conference Programme
Please note:
- Travelling across London can be unpredictable. The arrangements below are intended to minimise discomfort and delay for participants. We recommend that you follow the programme as suggested rather than making any alternative arrangements.
- Please ensure you carry your conference ID with you at all times and that you are booked to attend the relevant event to avoid security delays.
- EELA aims to provide a cutting-edge programme to members. This is shared 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).
18:00-21:00
ELA-hosted drinks
Bank of England (pub), 194 Fleet St, EC4A 2LT
Pre-conference drinks hosted by UK ELA for ELA and EELA members.
(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, Park Restaurant
Meet friends for a cup of tea before setting off on historic walking tour together.
16:00-17:00
National representatives meet (by invitation)
Royal Lancaster Hotel, Park Restaurant
Meet for tea together before setting off at approx 17:00 on historic walking tour, with other national representatives.
16:30-19:00
Royal Lancaster Hotel, main entrance lobby
We recommend that all participants book to join EELA’s traditional welcome tour. Leaving in groups between 16:30 and 17:00 and arriving at our traditional Welcome Drinks at Westminster Abbey Gardens between 18:30 and 19:00. The route passes by Hyde Park, Downing Street, the Houses of Parliament and the Supreme Court, see Tours.
18:30-22:00
EELA’s Welcome Drinks
Westminster Abbey Gardens, Great College St, London SW1P 3SE (with cover in event of rain)
Dress: bright, comfortable eg flowery dress, batik/Hawaiian shirt, stripey blazer (ie not suits)
Bus available from Royal Lancaster to Westminster Abbey Gardens at 18:15 for those unable to walk to Westminster (limited numbers).
Depart independently. Nearest tubes: Westminster, St James Park (NB taxis cannot pick up or drop in Great College St.).
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), Dušan 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.
Session Leader: Bartek Raczkowski, Raczkowski, Poland
Panellists:
- John Bowers KC, Littleton Chambers, Deputy High Court Judge, Principal, Brasenose College, Oxford University, author ‘Accountability and Transparency in Government’ and ‘Downward Spiral, collapsing government standards and how to restore them’, England
- Wendi Lazar, Founder, CEO, C-Suite Strategies, formerly Commissioner, ABA Commission on Women and Chair, ABA LEL Section’s International Committee, Executive Committee, US
- Dame Eleanor Sharpston DCMG KC, Kings College, Cambridge University, former Advocate-General, CJEU, Luxembourg, England
- Michal Vašečka, representative (Slovak Rep), European Commission Against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), Associate Professor, Bratislava International School of Liberal Arts, Slovakia
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 in a Challenging Time
Innovative approaches and best practices
Session Leader: Burkard Göpfert, Kliemt, Germany
Panellists:
- Gry Myklebust, Head of Future Work Life, Abelia, Norway
- María Royo Codesal, AGM Abogados, Spain
- Roel Staes, formerly International General Counsel, Fedex, Netherlands
more details
In the current economic climate, Europe faces significant challenges, including deindustrialisation, digitisation, a shift in European defense and military spending, climate changes, and international restrictions on trade. This session will explore innovative approaches and best practices for restructuring companies that need to adjust to these new realities to stay competitive in such a challenging time. Our panel will provide insights from both in-house and outside counsel on managing the complexities of cross-border exercises, as well as perspectives from our social partners on cross-border coordination.
Key topics to be discussed include:
- Managing the complexities of cross-border exercises with insights from in-house and outside counsel.
- The union side: Cross-border coordination of our social partners.
- Day-1 communication in listed companies and the challenges to the negotiation process when combining redundancies with cost savings.
- Defining ‘quality’ in the current scenario: Speed versus effectiveness?
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.
Session Leader: Nick De Marco KC, Blackstone Chambers, England
Panellists:
- Dr Antoine Duval, Senior Researcher, T.M.C. Asser Instituut, France
- Saverio Paolo Spera, Sp.in law, formerly in-house counsel at FIFA, Switzerland
- Hermine Voute, founder of Better Place to Work BV, member of the Supervisory board of AFC Ajax, Netherlands
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.
Session Leader: Natasha Adom, GQ Littler, England
Panellists:
- Simon Brittz, Lead Psychologist, HCA Healthcare UK, registered UK & S Africa
- Joydeep Hor, Founder & Managing Principal, People + Culture Strategies, Australia
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’)
How the inconsistency of EWCs as they operate practically across the EU impacts the collective power of employees. We will also consider whether enforcement mechanisms and remedies for employees are uniform and suitable while exploring new motions within the EU aimed at revising the legislative framework for EWCs to enhance their effectiveness and consistency.
Session Leader: Ming Evans, Associate General Counsel, Employment, Smiths Group plc, England, France
Panellists:
- Rachel Barry, Matheson, Ireland
- Hellmut Gohde, Founder, Training+Consulting International, Germany
- David Hopper, Lewis Silkin, England
Option 2: Transparency
A broader look at (pay) transparency in the workplace
Session Leader: Hans-Hermann Aldenhoff, Simmons & Simmons, Germany
Panellists:
- Ottila Boström, Lindahl, Sweden
- Sandra Konstantzky, Leader of the Austrian Equal Treatment Authority, Austria
- Martina Šumavská, GT Legal, Czech Rep
more details
To include:
- EU Pay Transparency Directive and its objectives
- Extensive reporting and information obligations
- Transparency in pay determination and development
- Practical steps for analysing and adjusting pay structures
- Easier legal enforcement for employees
- What about data protection?
Option 3: A view from the City
In-house Counsel and M&A experts from law firms, banks and financial institutions explain how the City works, their role in cross-border transactions and how they interact with lawyers from various jurisdictions.
Session Leader: Sharon Tan, Mishcon de Reya, England
Panellists:
- Sabine Chappard, Managing Director Global Markets (Derivatives Marketing), SMBC Nikko Capital Markets Ltd, England
- François Funck-Brentano, General Counsel Europe, Lazard, France
- Costanza Posarelli, Sullivan & Cromwell, England
Option 4: Navigating LGBTQ+ rights at work in a changing global landscape
A practical discussion encouraging participants to consider the experience of LGBTQ+ employees at work and legal developments.
Session Leader: David Mendel, Freshfields, England, Wales
Panellists:
- Sam Cornelius, Global Gender Diversity & Talent Manager, Linklaters, Germany
- Tamas Dombos, Project Coordinator, LGBT NGO Háttér Society, Hungary
- Bethan Price, Legal Director, PepsiCo, England, Wales
more details
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
London’s Guildhall (black tie)
Drinks, Old Library and Print Room, music: Tara Viscardi
Dinner, Great Hall, music: The London Oratory School Chamber Choir
After dinner speaker: Judge Barry Clarke, President, Employment Tribunals (England & Wales)
Dancing, Crypts, music: IMDL
Saturday, 14 June 2025
08:00-09:00
Optional exercise in Hyde Park
10:00-11:00
Plenary 1: Developments in EU case law
Prof Catherine Barnard, Professor of EU law and Employment law, fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge University
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 business communities might prefer to be politically neutral, some choose not to be. Nonetheless, employers must deal with the impact of conflict on interaction with and between their employees.
Session Leader: Neil MacLean, Shepherd & Wedderburn, Scotland
Panellists:
- Pilar Baltar Fillol, Roca Junyent, Spain
- Frank Kohl-Boas, HR Director, Die Zeit, Germany
- Prof Chris McCrudden, Professor of Human Rights & Equality Law, Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland
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.