Sessions

Plenary 1: APAC employment law trends and updates 2025

Our highly anticipated round-up of APAC employment law developments will delve into the most recent legal trends, legislative changes, government reforms, and emerging demographic issues affecting the global labour force. Our panel of experts will share unparalleled insights into market dynamics and client needs, inviting you to participate in discussions that are shaping the future of work.

Moderator:

Catherine Leung

Catherine Leung
Partner
Lewis Silkin (Hong Kong)

Panelists:

Chris Mandel
Partner
Yulchon (South Korea)

Katie Sweatman
Partner
Kingston Reid (Australia)

Matthew Durham

Matthew Durham
Senior Consultant
Lewis Silkin (Hong Kong)

Steven Tobin
Senior Labour Economist (APAC)
International Labour Organisation (Thailand)

 


 

Breakout: Classification of workers in the gig economy

The expansion of the gig economy across the region and the trend of workers seeking more flexible working arrangements raises the complex issue of whether a specific working arrangement constitutes an employment or an independent contractor relationship. This session will delve into the legal hurdles organisations often encounter in classifying workers, examining recent case law, legal tests, and factors for distinguishing employees from other workers, including consultants, with fewer employment protections.

Moderator:

Jezamine Fewins

Jezamine Fewins
Partner
Lewis Silkin (Hong Kong)

Panelists:

Katie Sweatman
Partner
Kingston Reid (Australia)

Marshall Chu
Legal Director
GogoX (Hong Kong)

Peter Kiely
Partner
Kiely Thompson Caisley (New Zealand)

Yuka Kamio
Partner
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune (Japan)

 


 

Breakout: War on talent – Navigating and mitigating the legal risks of high-profile departures and team moves

Team moves and high-profile departures can pose a variety of legal, commercial, and operational challenges for employers. In this section, we will delve into the legal risks that employers may encounter when considering the departure or recruitment of a group of employees to/from a competitive organisation. We will also discuss the range of protective post-termination measures available to employers, providing insights into practical steps that can be implemented to protect business interests.

Moderator:

Russell Brimelow

Russell Brimelow
Partner
Lewis Silkin (United Kingdom)

Panelists:

Dr Burkard Göpfert
Partner
Kliemt.HR Lawyers (Germany)

David Kong

David Kong
Managing Associate
Lewis Silkin (Hong Kong)

Doreen Chia
Partner
Rajah & Tann (Singapore)

Lisa Zhao
Partner
Fangda Partners (China)

Tony Falso
Chief Human Resources Officer
Peak Re (Hong Kong)

 


 

Breakout: Restructuring in APAC – Trends, challenges and best practices

The evolving landscape of labour law reforms in the region has significantly influenced how employers are approaching workforce restructuring. During this session, our panel of experts will provide valuable insights into the current trends, challenges, and best practices related to restructuring. Additionally, they will address essential legal considerations that companies must take into account when navigating restructuring processes to guarantee compliance, particularly in managing employee redundancies.

Moderator:

Desmond Wee
Partner
Rajah & Tann (Singapore)

Panelists:

Bo Zhou
Partner
Fangda Partners (China)

Gladys Ching

Gladys Ching
Role
Lewis Silkin (Hong Kong)

Rohit Kochhar
Chairman & Managing Partner
Kochhar & Co (India)

Shelley Williams
Partner
Kingston Reid (Australia)

 


 

Plenary 2: Establishing effective AI governance frameworks and deployment strategies in the workplace

With the adoption of AI technologies in the workplace (from CV sifting tools to AI performance monitoring and the use of biometrics), organisations are increasingly faced with the complex task of establishing effective AI governance frameworks and ensuring successful deployment in the workplace. 

During this session, our panel of experts will look at real-world case studies to illustrate best practices in AI governance and deployment in the workplace. They will explore questions such as how multinational corporations can navigate these challenges and implement solutions on a global scale whilst still accommodating local jurisdictional nuance. Additionally, the discussion will touch upon critical issues including the intersection of AI governance with employment law and other laws, how to identify and mitigate bias and discrimination in AI tools, and effective governance strategies.

Moderator:

Alex Milner-Smith

Alex Milner-Smith
Partner
Lewis Silkin (United Kingdom)

Panelists:

Fiona Lai
Assistant Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (Acting) (Legal)
PCPD (Hong Kong)

Sherman Deng
Partner
Fangda Partners (China)

Tarun Tawakley

Tarun Tawakley
Partner
Lewis Silkin (United Kingdom)

 

Event information