Global risk management after COVID-19: key trends and practical approaches

Known for hosting powerful speakers that deliver business-critical information, The Lawyer’s GC Strategy Summit taking place between 30^th September and 2^nd October is a must-attend event. The 3-day virtual conference provides highly interactive and engaging formats including keynote presentations, TED-style talks, panel debates and more intimate roundtable discussions enabling effective learning and peer-to-peer knowledge sharing.

Attendees have over 20 different sessions to choose from, including this 60-minute virtual roundtable discussion on Global risk management after COVID-19:  key trends and practical approaches, taking place at 2pm on the 30^th September and again on the 1^st October.

If there ever was one, 2020 has been a year that demands ‘thinking outside-the-box’. The lasting impact of COVID-19 is forcing a rethink of corporate value-chains, market positions and fundamental business models. In this environment, General Counsel are providing time-critical advice to guide and implement decisions related to cross-border restructuring, carve-outs, acquisitions and business partnerships.

This roundtable will build on Lex Mundi’s work with General Counsel, in order to identify key risk trends as companies adapt business operations to new economic realities and seek practical ways to support business plans amidst significant global uncertainty.

Facilitators:

Helena Samaha, President & CEO, Lex Mundi 

Helena Samaha is a multicultural lawyer with substantial international experience. Helena began in private practice as a finance lawyer at Clifford Chance before moving in house at Virgin Group in 1998 where she served as Group Legal Director. She was subsequently a TMC partner at DLAPiper. Thereafter, with a global recession looming, Helena joined restructuring and turnaround consultancy AlixPartners as General Counsel-EMEA in 2008 in Paris. In 2011 Helena joined broadcaster OSN in Dubai 2011 as GC. Back in London since 2015, Helena led the Media and Programming team for Liberty Global before being appointed as Lex Mundi President and CEO in 2019.

Eric Staal, Vice President, Global Markets, Lex Mundi

Eric is Lex Mundi’s Vice President of Global Markets and a member of the organization’s senior management team. He and his team work with member firms and in-house counsel to develop services for clients that address cross-border legal and management issues such as advising on transactions, regulatory affairs, and investigations. He also designs Lex Mundi’s Summit series for General Counsel, focusing on best-practices for addressing key strategic challenges. Eric began his career working as an international economist in the US International Trade Administration, following which he joined a management strategy consultancy where he worked with European blue chip companies and later joined Clifford Chance in Europe.

Howard Morris, Head of London Business Restructuring & Insolvency Group, Morrison & Foerster

Howard is head of the London Business Restructuring & Insolvency Group at Morrison & Foerster. Howard has more than 25 years’ experience in UK and international restructuring and insolvency work. He has acted for banks and other secured and unsecured creditors, committees of bondholders, trade creditors, debtors and acquirers of business and assets from insolvent companies. He has experience in international asset tracing and recovery, as well as a strong background in banking and finance. Howard practiced for a number of years at the bar before becoming a solicitor. He enjoyed a long career with Dentons where he served two terms as Chief Executive and was most recently their Global Integration Partner post-merger.