Agenda

Agenda and timings are subject to change

To view further details about the speakers, please click here.

Arrival: 09.00 to 09.30

Chairs' Welcome: 09.30 to 09.40

  • Bill Fennell, Managing Director, The Motor Ombudsman

A year in review: 09.40 to 10.00
What’s happened in automotive law from 2025 to 2026 and what’s next?

  • Iain Larkins, Partner and Head of Automotive, Cripps

Economic Outlook 2026 – for the Automotive sector: 10.00 to 10.30

  • Rob Elder, Agent for Greater London, Bank of England

Break for coffee and to move to streamed sessions: 10.30 to 10.40 

Streamed Sessions: 10.40 to 11.25

Stream 1: Consumer Dispute Trends 2025 to 2026

  • Zeynep Depsen, Lead Adjudicator, The Motor Ombudsman

 

Streamed Sessions: 10.40 to 11.25

Stream 2: Managing Data in 2026

The Data Use and Access Act 2025 amended the GDPR. The EU Data Act places new obligations on data sharing between connected devices with more obligations applying from September 2026. Add to this new regulatory guidance and changing technologies, and it’s been another turbulent year in data.

This session will unpack the changes and provide guidance on the changes businesses need to implement to keep their data compliance on track.

  • Matt Holman, Partner, Cripps

Break for coffee and to move to streamed sessions: 11.25 to 11.35

Streamed Sessions: 11.35 to 12.20

Stream 1: Employment Law Update 2026

It’s another year packed with employment law changes. The Employment Rights Act has become law, with phased implementation into 2026 and 2027. We’ll discuss these changes and others, providing insight on how they impact the auto sector.

  • Sandra Martins, Managing Associate - Employment, Cripps

Streamed Sessions: 11.35 to 12.20

Stream 2: Johnson Car Finance Ruling: What It Means and What Comes Next

We’ll unpack the decision, the FCA’s response and the activity to date to provide you with best practice guidance to respond to claims and to protect your business in the future.

  • Jerry Page, Compliance Consultant, Cripps
  • Shannon Faulkner, Auxillias
  • Phillip Garlick, CEO, Product Partnerships
  • Katie Lacey, Head of Finance Partnerships, Autotrader

Lunch: 12.20 to 13.10

Batteries, Batteries, Batteries: 13.10 to 14.00

Future mobility is dependent on batteries, but what’s needed to prepare for this change.

Our expert panel will guide you through the risks and how to manage them. Topics covered will include:

· Greenwashing and advertising risks;

· Fires;

· HSE risks including toxicity working with electricity;

· New battery regulations including new rules on recycling;

· Whether demand will exceed supply;

· Slavery in the supply chain;

· Geo-dependency.

  • Moderator: Richard Aucock, Motoring Research
  • Owen Edwards, Co-Head of Automotive, Interpath
  • Lucy McCormick, Barrister, Henderson Chambers 


How global regulations are driving the automotive and mobility transition: 14.00 to 14.30

  • Sebastian Polly, Global Co-Head Automotive and Mobility, Hogan Lovells


Fireside Discussion: 2026 Consumer Law Changes – Impact on Auto Sector: 14.30 to 15.05

The Digital Markets Competition and Consumers Act 2024 – is being implemented throughout 2025 and 2026. We’ll unpack these changes – providing you with the latest guidance on how to stay compliant.

  • Melanie Wiseman, Head of Legal, SMMT
  • Anna Jewitt, Legal Director, Competition and Markets Authority

Afternoon break: 15.05 to 15.20

Cyber Attack - interactive session: 15.20 to 16.10

It’s happened. The systems are locked. The Ransom note delivered: Pay £10 million by 16.00 tomorrow.

This interactive session will take you through the events that unfold in the next hours and days.

In this mock session, you’ll have the benefit of the experts to guide you through the challenges and help you avoid being the target.

  • Iain Larkins, Partner and Head of Automotive, Cripps
  • Tim Burt, Senior Advisor, Teneo
  • Bill McCluggage, Director, Laganview Associates
  • Helen Nuttall, UK Head of Cyber, Marsh

 Stability in an unstable environment: 16.10 to 16.40

Automotive businesses face relentless and unpredictable challenges, whether that’s changing Government policy, changes in tech, or pandemics. How to stay prepared, no matter what happens.   

  • Bill Fennell, Managing Director, The Motor Ombudsman 
  • Prof David Bailey, Professor of Business Economics at the Birmingham Business School
  • Marc Palmer, Head of Strategy & Insights, Autotrader
  • Akash Patel, Head of Operations Advisory, Forvis Mazars
  • Ved Sen, Head of Innovation, Tata Consultancy Services

 Closing remarks: 16.40 to 16.45

Drinks reception: 16.45 to late