AI & the Law: Liability, Practice, Ethics & Regulation - 2027 Virtual Conference

Introduction

AI is already changing how legal work gets done, yet the rules on using it safely are still being written. Chaired by Peter Wright, Solicitor and Managing Partner of Digital Law, this virtual conference gives legal professionals clear, practical answers to the questions they are facing right now.

Who is liable when an AI tool gets it wrong? Where do the SRA’s expectations end and the grey areas begin? How do you spot bias in an AI-assisted decision before it becomes a legal problem, and what should you demand from a supplier before signing an AI contract?

Expert speakers from the Bar and leading law firms will share real-world guidance on managing risk and protecting your clients and organisation, while making generative AI work harder in research, contracts and litigation without compromising professional standards.

Conference Agenda

This live and interactive 5-hour conference will cover the following:

10am-11am: AI Regulation & Professional Conduct: The UK, the EU & the SRA's Grey Areas

Peter Wright, Solicitor & Managing Partner, Digital Law

This session explores the rapidly evolving regulatory and professional conduct landscape surrounding the use of artificial intelligence in legal practice. It examines key developments in the UK and EU, including the emerging regulatory framework for AI, data protection considerations and the implications of AI-assisted decision-making and generative AI tools.

The session also considers the professional and ethical responsibilities of solicitors, with particular focus on the SRA Standards and Regulations and the grey areas that arise when lawyers use AI in practice.

Through practical scenarios and discussion, participants will consider issues such as confidentiality, client care, competence, supervision, accuracy, bias, accountability and the risks associated with relying on AI-generated content.

Learning Outcomes

• Identify key UK and EU regulatory and professional conduct considerations relevant to the use of AI in legal practice
• Recognise potential ethical and regulatory risks arising from the use of generative AI, including issues of confidentiality, accuracy, competence, supervision and accountability
• Apply a practical risk-based approach to using AI tools while meeting professional obligations and navigating areas where regulatory expectations remain unclear

Morning Break

11:10am-12:10pm: AI Contracts, Procurement & Due Diligence: Drafting for a World You Can't Predict?

Chris Eastham, Partner at Fieldfisher LLP

This session explores how the introduction of AI into service delivery raises new concerns for customers and how these can be addressed through procurement, due diligence and contract drafting. From consulting services to software as a service, the session will examine how practitioners can carry out effective due diligence on AI suppliers and tools, and draft contracts that hold up even when the service roadmap remains unclear.

Learning Outcomes

• Recognise how AI considerations differ from other technology contracting issues
• Understand what due diligence on AI suppliers and tools should cover
• Learn practical approaches to drafting contracts that manage AI-related risk as products and services evolve
• Appreciate how procurement risk can be reduced as AI capabilities change over time

12:10pm-1:10pm: Who is Liable When AI Gets it Wrong?

Jacob Turner, Fountain Court

In this session, leading AI barrister Jacob Turner will discuss liability for harms caused by AI. The session will include contract, negligence (including professional negligence), and product liability, as well as regulatory consequences of AI harms. Consideration will also be given to the UK Jurisdiction Taskforce Legal Statement on AI Harm, of which Jacob was a co-author, and proposals for reform, including by the Law Commission.

Learning Outcomes

• Understand how existing private law structures apply to AI
• Learn about potential changes and updates, including emerging differences between the UK and EU
• Acquire strategies for mitigating AI risk within organisations

Break for lunch

2pm-3pm: Risk, Bias & Compliance in AI-Assisted Decision Making

Charles Ciumei KC, Essex Court Chambers

AI-assisted decision making raises difficult questions about bias, fairness and legal accountability. This session will examine the legal and regulatory risks that arise when AI systems inform or influence decisions in business and legal practice. It will explore how bias can emerge, the challenges of identifying and mitigating discriminatory outcomes and the implications for compliance, governance and professional responsibility. Through practical examples, delegates will consider how in-house counsel and lawyers in private practice can assess these risks, scrutinise AI-assisted decisions and help ensure that the use of AI remains lawful, fair and accountable.

Learning Outcomes

• Identify key legal and regulatory risks associated with bias in AI-assisted decision making
• Recognise how bias can arise in AI systems and the challenges of identifying and mitigating discriminatory outcomes
• Understand the compliance, governance and accountability considerations when AI is used to inform or influence decisions
• Apply practical approaches to assessing AI-related risks and scrutinising AI-assisted decisions within legal and business settings

Afternoon break

3:15pm-4:15pm: Generative AI in Legal Practice: Opportunities & Risks in Research, Contracts & Litigation

Jimmy Desai, Keystone Law

Generative AI is creating significant opportunities to improve the efficiency of legal research, contract review and litigation preparation, but its use also raises important questions around accuracy, confidentiality, professional responsibility and reliance on AI-generated outputs. This session will examine how generative AI is being applied across legal practice, the practical benefits it can offer and the risks lawyers need to manage. It will consider the implications for legal research, drafting and reviewing contracts and supporting litigation, with a focus on maintaining professional standards and exercising appropriate human oversight.

Learning Outcomes

• Identify practical applications of generative AI in legal research, contract drafting and review and litigation preparation
• Recognise key risks associated with AI-generated legal content, including inaccurate information, fabricated authorities and confidentiality concerns
• Understand the importance of verification, human oversight and professional judgment when using AI in legal work
• Apply practical approaches to using generative AI responsibly while managing risk and maintaining the quality of legal services

Recording of live sessions: Soon after the Learn Live session has taken place you will be able to go back and access the recording - should you wish to revisit the material discussed.