Compliance & Regulation for Law Firms - 2026 Virtual Conference

Introduction

Law firms are facing unprecedented compliance and regulatory scrutiny and the margin for error is shrinking.

This 2026 Compliance and Regulation for Law Firms Conference, chaired by Joanna Morris, brings together the expertise, strategies and real world guidance you need to stay ahead of risk.

Whether you are navigating evolving AML duties, rising cyber threats or the challenge of building a compliance culture that actually sticks, this conference will equip you with the insight and practical direction to strengthen your firm’s resilience and protect your clients.

Conference Agenda

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

2026: A Year of Change in the World of Compliance and Regulation - What’s Changed, What’s Coming and What You Need to Do Now

Joanna Morris

Whether you work in the field of AML, are a COLP/COFA/MLRO or work in the finance team, time doesn’t stand still and change occurs almost daily in the compliance and regulation world. Sometimes it’s legislation or regulation changes, updates from the SRA and other regulators or some article in the news. It all keeps us on our toes!

In the session, we will look at the key changes that have been made in 2026 and what we can expect for the future. It’s not a time to take our foot off the pedal - we need to be as up to date as possible to keep ourselves and our firms compliant.

This session will include:

• Key changes in legislation and the regulations over the year
• What the SRA has been up to with their guidance, reports, consultations and thematic reviews
• What 2027 could bring for us
• Are you ready for the future? What should be on your ‘to do’ list

Morning Break

11:10am-12:10pm: Conflict and Confidentiality Management

Tracey Calvert, Oakalls Consultancy Limited

Whether you work in private practice or as in-house counsel, conflicts of interest and confidentiality obligations are issues you will face and the consequences of getting them wrong can be significant for you, your clients and your firm. This session will help you navigate the SRA's requirements with confidence, giving you the practical tools to spot conflicts early, manage competing duties and ensure your confidentiality obligations are always met, whatever the situation.

Learning Outcomes:

• Recognise the types of conflicts of interest you are most likely to encounter in practice and know exactly what the SRA Standards and Regulations require you to do
• Navigate situations where confidentiality duties to different clients compete, with a clear and practical framework you can apply with confidence
• Strengthen the systems and processes in your firm to manage conflicts and confidentiality effectively and demonstrate compliance when it matters most

12:10pm-1:10pm: Cyber Crime in Law Firms: The Threats You Can’t Ignore!

Dr Stephen Hill, Hill Bingham Ltd

Law firms remain prime targets for cyber criminals who see client data, funds, and confidential case files as high value assets. This session covers the active threats against UK firms and the essential security and compliance actions every practice must take to stay protected, defensible, and operational.

Learning Outcomes:

• Spot the most damaging cyber crime tactics used against law firms and why the sector is uniquely exposed
• Understand the compliance expectations around cyber security, governance, and incident response
• Apply effective security controls that strengthen your firm’s defences and lower risk

Break for lunch

2:00pm-3:00pm: Compliance That Works: How to Build a Robust Compliance Programme

Emma Dimbylow, Teal Compliance

This session will cover why law firm compliance programmes often fail and the compliance rules every firm should know to build a robust compliance framework. We will focus on the 'Six C's of Compliance' and why 'Culture' is the biggest cog in your framework.

This session will look at:

• Why compliance programmes often fail
• Best practice tips for building a culture of compliance
• What makes a successful compliance officer
• How to use tech to stay compliant

Afternoon break

3:15-4:15pm: 2am Wakefulness: Navigating Personal Crisis, Regulatory Investigations and High-Stakes Claims in Law Firms

Sarah Mumford, Expert Risk Management for Lawyers

Beyond routine claims and complaints, you may face a serious allegation, whether internal or external. You may be a whistleblower who isn’t believed. You may be bullied by a client or litigant in person. Since Trouble is usually accompanied, you may have to deal with pressures at home and elsewhere at work. This session is informed by personal experience and observing investigations over forty-five years of practice. It aims to provide a toolkit and road map to get you through in one piece.

Learning Outcomes:

• Consider certain serious professional career defining events and how to assemble a toolkit for surviving them
• Provide different perspectives to the issue (you may be an employer, friend or prosecutor)
• Learn to think like a litigator in preservation of evidence and how it is presented

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.