In The Corner Office, we ask Managing Partners at law firms across Central and Eastern Europe about their backgrounds, strategies, and responsibilities. This time around, we asked: With autumn being a peak conference period, what are your annual “cannot miss” conferences during the fall season and why?
Kostadin Sirleshtov, CMS, Bulgaria: For many years now, my “cannot miss” conference is the annual Regional Oil and Gas Conference (ROGC 2025) of the Balkan and Black Sea Petroleum association, which this year will be held between November 27-28 in Istanbul. This is a somewhat boutique event, where oil & gas professionals and advisors meet and discuss the recent developments in the sector. The event is very special for me because it provides valuable technical, legal, financial, regulatory, and strategic insights to the oil & gas sector in Central and Eastern Europe. Last, but certainly not least, the organizers are excellent and very professional!
Mykola Stetsenko, Avellum, Ukraine: The IBA Annual Conference is a top priority for me every autumn. It gathers numerous talented lawyers from around the globe, and the program is very diverse. Any practitioner will find something interesting at this conference. In addition, so many side events are happening along with the conference that they can easily overwhelm you.
Djura Mijatovic, Zivko Mijatovic and Partners, Serbia: For a Managing Partner, the autumn calendar is one of the busiest, although probably also the most rewarding time of the year. Certain conferences have become absolute cornerstones for us, both for networking and for staying ahead of industry trends. AIPPI stands out as the premier global forum bringing together practitioners, in-house counsel, academics, and policymakers. Its breadth ensures that we gain valuable insights not only into IP law but also into the direction of international policy. It is also an annual IP conference that has a very strong focus on patents, which is of great importance to us. Marques has a unique focus on brand owners, making it indispensable for trademark professionals. The dialogue there bridges the interests of counsel and business leaders, which is critical for our clients. PTMG remains unrivalled for those of us advising in the pharmaceutical sector. The discussions combine technical expertise with practical business implications, a mix that adds real value. INTA Leadership Meeting allows us to deepen relationships and contribute to the global IP community in a more focused environment, while IP Con Belgrade provides an excellent opportunity to connect with peers locally, share knowledge, and reinforce our presence in the regional market.
Milos Vuckovic, Karanovic & Partners, Serbia: The International Bar Association Annual Conference is the one event I always make time for, no matter how busy the season gets. This year’s gathering in Toronto, Canada, once again, brought together thousands of lawyers from around the world, but what always makes it truly special is the atmosphere of exchange that surrounds it. For me, the IBA has never been just about formal sessions. It’s about reconnecting with colleagues from different jurisdictions, sharing experiences, and gaining perspectives that remind us how connected the global legal community really is, regardless of how different our local settings may be. Every year, I come back with new ideas, and this time in Toronto was no exception: sometimes small insights that improve how we work, sometimes broader reflections on where the profession is heading. The IBA week is demanding and inspiring in equal measure, but it’s one of the rare occasions where you can feel the pulse of the global market and see how our region fits into that bigger picture.
Ondrej Peterka, Peterka & Partners, Czech Republic: Participation in key legal and industry conferences throughout the year is central to the business development strategy at Peterka & Partners. Our experienced lawyers from across the firm regularly attend local and international events based on their specializations and experience. This autumn, for example, a delegation from our firm attended the IBA Annual Conference Toronto 2025 in Canada, and we also participated, and will participate, in many other European IBA conferences, such as the 8th Annual IBA European Start-up Conference in Cascais, Portugal, and Building the Law Firm of the Future in London, England. When it comes to industry-specific events, our top-notch aviation practice ensures solid representation at important gatherings, such as the recent EALA (European Air Law Association) Annual Conference in Vienna, Austria, and the A4E (Airlines4Europe) Winter Cocktail in Brussels, Belgium. Also important for us are those events closely linked to our firm’s international membership in legal networks. Our younger colleagues also attend numerous conferences held by the AIJA (the International Association of Young Lawyers), including its recent 8th TRADE Annual Conference/12th Antitrust Annual Conference in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Milos Velimirovic, Kinstellar, Serbia: At the global level, the International Bar Association annual conference is the preeminent gathering for cross-border practitioners. It offers unparalleled networking and insight into international regulation, dispute resolution, and global business trends. On a regional level, events such as the European Corporate Counsel Summit or CEE Legal Matters General Counsel Summit provide more focused forums for relationship-building, regional updates, and collaboration opportunities across jurisdictions. I must also highlight the local conference Regional Legal Business Forum as one of Serbia’s leading events, bringing together experts from diverse fields. This year, we had the honor of co-creating a panel dedicated to the retail industry and contributing to a timely discussion on the sector’s most pressing issues. In addition, for those lawyers operating in technology-oriented areas, tech-oriented conferences stand out for their forward-looking approach to legal technology, innovation, and AI, increasingly central to modern practice. Finally, there are general legal conferences that offer a broader lens on the profession’s evolution, covering topics from ethics to firm leadership. Together, these autumn gatherings shape not only professional networks but also the strategic direction of law firms, aligning legal insight with innovation, client service, and future growth.
Alexandra Doytchinova, Schoenherr, Bulgaria: In Bulgaria, the autumn season indeed presents valuable opportunities for professional advisors and businesses to explore emerging sectors and engage directly with policymakers. We make use of business breakfast invitations, for example, which are commonly combined with presentations by government officials in a more informal environment, offering the opportunity for Q&A with stakeholder representatives who would otherwise not be easily available for a direct discussion. This allows us to get first-hand insights into upcoming legislative changes and regulatory frameworks. Such gatherings enable us to advise clients proactively on policy developments potentially affecting their operations and to clarify regulatory ambiguities before they impact business decisions. As defense and security emerge as significant business areas, we attend the most relevant local events. The Regional Defense Summit, organized by Economedia in October in Sofia, was a remarkable gathering of international stakeholders from politics and businesses. With Bulgaria’s strategic position in the region and growing defense sector investments, this conference provided good networking opportunities and intelligence on procurement and cross-border collaboration in this rapidly developing sector. These conferences aren’t merely networking events; they’re strategic intelligence-gathering opportunities that enable us to deliver informed, forward-looking counsel to clients whilst strengthening our relationships with key decision-makers.
Daniel Gera, Schoenherr, Hungary: Autumn brings a packed conference calendar, and I’ve learnt that choosing wisely is essential. For me, the “cannot miss” conferences combine high-quality content with genuine networking and practical insights I can actually use. As an employment lawyer, the Hungarian Labor Law Conference organized by Wolters Kluwer has become indispensable, tackling emerging trends like artificial intelligence and data protection that I’m grappling with daily. My real estate colleagues say the same about Expo Real, whilst our M&A lawyers value the IBA M&A conferences highly. Here in Hungary, we rely on Portfolio.hu conferences for their consistently high quality. This year, we sponsored the CEE Legal Matters GC Summit, which provided excellent opportunities to engage with general counsel from various organizations across the region. What makes these conferences particularly valuable is the speaking engagements and meeting clients face-to-face. I particularly enjoy cooperating with HRPWR and AmCham and speaking at their events. Those in-person interactions strengthen relationships in ways video calls cannot replicate. Ultimately, the conferences I cannot miss are those where I leave feeling inspired, better informed, and connected to a community of professionals committed to excellence.
Panagiotis Drakopoulos, Drakopoulos, Greece: Autumn comes every year with a couple of conferences where our firm’s attendance is a must; both are organized in the context of the IBA: The European Start-Up Conference, organized by the European Regional Forum of the IBA (this year it was held in Cascais and Lisbon, Portugal and next year it will be held in Paris, France) and the IBA Annual Conference (this year it was held in Toronto, Canada, and next year it will be held in Copenhagen, Denmark). These conferences offer excellent opportunities both in terms of access to important speakers and great content, and for networking with colleagues from all over the world. With our firm being predominantly extroverted in its approach to clients, with a mix heavily leaning towards foreign/cross-border work, staying relevant in terms of being constantly updated with the latest international developments and connecting with our global network is a priority.
This article was originally published in Issue 12.10 of the CEE Legal Matters Magazine. If you would like to receive a hard copy of the magazine, you can subscribe here.
