Navigating murky waters
From geopolitical tensions to shifting workplace norms and rapid tech disruption, HR leaders and legal experts face a sea of uncertainty. XBHR brings together international HR professionals and employment lawyers toexplore how we tackle today’s global challenges with clarity, strategy and confidence.
Through sharp insights, real-world cases and cross-border perspectives, the conference dives into the legal and practical issues shaping the future of work. From remote work across borders to AI in HR, mobility, compliance andculture – we set the course together.
Program
Wednesday, 25 February 2026
| 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm | Welcome Drinks and Networking at 71 Nyhavn Hotel |
Thursday, 26 February 2026
| 8:00 am | Registration Opens: Informal Networking Breakfast |
| 9:00 am | Welcome by Gunda Niehaus – Chair of XBHR; Andrea Schwartz (Dynatrace) and Mercedes Balado Bevilacqua (MBB Lawyers) – Co-Chairs; Anders Etgen Reitz (IUNO) 2026 Conference Co-Chair |
| 9:10 am | Brief individual introductions |
| 9:35 am |
AI & HRDiscussion Leader: Anders Etgen Reitz (IUNO) and Kristen Lopes (Collin Biggers & Paisley)
|
| 10:45 am | Break |
| 11:00 am |
Internal Investigations 2.0Discussion Leader: Beth Hale (CM Murray) and Paul Griffin (Norton Rose Fulbright)
|
| 12:15 pm | Annual General Meeting of XBHR |
| 1:00 pm | Lunch and keynote speaker Ulrik Vestergaard Knudsen, former Deputy Secretary-General at OECD and current Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Netcompany. |
| 1:45 pm |
Pay transparencyDiscussion Leader: Filip Salaens (Loyens & Loeff) and Andreea Suciu (Suciu Employment Law)
|
| 3:15 pm | Break |
| 3:30 pm |
War for talentDiscussion Leader: Swarmina Halder (Trilegal) and Gerlind Wisskirchen (CMS)
|
| 5:00 pm | Closing Remarks |
| 6:30 pm | Boat trip and Gala Dinner at Apollo Bar Pick-up in front of 71 Nyhavn Hotel |
Friday, 27 February 2026
| 8:00 am | Informal Networking Breakfast and Business Meeting of XBHR Management Committee |
| 9:00 am |
Competitiveness in the new worldDiscussion Leader: Eva Bergenheim-Holmberg (Konsulentia) and Gunda Niehaus
|
| 10:30 am | Break |
| 10:45 am |
National Security & HRDiscussion Leader: Simon McMenemy (Ogletree Deakins) and Thomas Rihm (Rihm Attorneys)
|
| 12:30 pm | Lunch |
| 1:30 pm |
Balancing work lifeDiscussion Leader: Michael Burd (Lewis Silkin LLP)
|
| 3:15 pm | Closing Remarks |
| 6:30 pm | Volunteered Networking Dinner at Restaurant Gorilla (to be paid separately) |