2026 IBA/IFA Joint Conference Agenda

View the 2026 IBA/IFA Joint Conference event schedule below.

Event Schedule

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Time Session
3:00 pm – 4:15 pm
Legal Symposium Basic Track: International
Speakers: Abhishek Dube, Partner, Baker & McKenzie LLP; TBA
6:00 pm
Reception and Dinner (RARE Steakhouse & Tavern at 1595 I St NW, Washington, DC 20006)
The off-site restaurant will be a short walk from the Grand Hyatt Washington.
Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be served from 6:00 – 7:00 pm. Dinner will be served at 7:00 pm.
* One ticket to this reception and dinner is included in the IBA/IFA Conference registration fee. Tickets to just the reception and dinner are also available for purchase.

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Time Session
7:30 am – 4:00 pm Registration Desk Open
7:30 am – 8:00 am Continental Breakfast Available
8:00 am – 8:10 am
Welcome & Introduction
Welcome and Introduction by the IBA International Franchising Committee Co-Chairs and IFA.
Speakers: Lee Plave, Plave Koch, USA; Dagmar Waldzus, BUSE, Germany
8:10 am – 9:25 am
Plenary 1: Hot Topics
Hot Topics in International Franchise Laws — a series of roundtable discussions on various topics of interest to franchise lawyers from around the world.
Session Chair: TBA
  • Table 1: Common law vs. Civil law forms: why does it matter?
    Moderators: TBA
  • Table 2: Master franchising vs direct franchising
    Moderators: TBA
  • Table 3: Going big – or going smart? Countrywide vs regional grants
    Moderators: TBA
  • Table 4: Mastering Post-termination aspects (non-compete, indemnity claims, know-how protection, etc.)
    Moderators: TBA
  • Table 5: Digital Marketing in franchise systems: typical pitfalls
    Moderators: TBA
  • Table 6: Pricing: how free is the franchisee to set prices?
    Moderators: TBA
  • Table 7: Establishing and Maintaining an International Compliance Program for Franchising
    Moderators: TBA
  • Table 8: Using and controlling AI in international relationships
    Moderators: TBA
9:30 am – 10:45 am
Plenary 2: Pre-contract: There Is So Much More Than Just The Franchise Agreement
Description: TBA
Moderator: TBA
Speakers: TBA
10:45 am – 11:05 am Refreshment Break
11:05 am – 12:05 pm
Concurrent Interactive Workshops
  • Workshop #1: FPRs in International Transactions
    A practical framework to design, substantiate, and present FPRs across key jurisdictions, emphasizing data hygiene, translation/localization, franchisee comparability, advertising substantiation, and alignment between contracts and disclosures to mitigate regulatory scrutiny and litigation risk.
    Moderator: TBA
    Speakers: TBA
  • Workshop #2: Fulfilling disclosure obligations in Europe: how to deal with 27+ jurisdictions
    A broad review of disclosure requirements in European jurisdictions, including scope, format, language, and requirements to understand before transactions are contemplated.
    Moderator: TBA
    Speakers: TBA
  • Workshop #3: Under Attack: How To Protect Franchise Networks Against Cybercrimes
    Establish systemwide security baselines, conduct vendor diligence, and implement breach playbooks and ransom decision frameworks. Align contractual risk allocation, insurance, cross border reporting, and data localization to meet multinational requirements and reduce exposure for franchisors and multi-unit operators.
    Moderators: TBA
    Speakers: TBA
12:05 pm – 12:45 pm Luncheon
12:50 pm – 1:35 pm
Dispute Resolution: How to Handle Pre-Dispute Negotiations
When is it worth pursuing a claim? Drafting considerations include choosing between arbitration and litigation. Is arbitration always the right choice? Availability of injunctive relief in the international context.
Moderators: TBA
Speakers: TBA
1:45 pm – 2:45 pm
Concurrent Interactive Workshops
  • Workshop #1: FPRs in International Transactions
    A practical framework to design, substantiate, and present FPRs across key jurisdictions, emphasizing data hygiene, translation/localization, franchisee comparability, advertising substantiation, and alignment between contracts and disclosures to mitigate regulatory scrutiny and litigation risk.
    Moderator: TBA
    Speakers: TBA
  • Workshop #2: Fulfilling disclosure obligations in Europe: how to deal with 27+ jurisdictions
    A broad review of disclosure requirements in European jurisdictions, including scope, format, language, and requirements to understand before transactions are contemplated.
    Moderator: TBA
    Speakers: TBA
  • Workshop #3: Under Attack: How To Protect Franchise Networks Against Cybercrimes
    Establish systemwide security baselines, conduct vendor diligence, and implement breach playbooks and ransom decision frameworks. Align contractual risk allocation, insurance, cross border reporting, and data localization to meet multinational requirements and reduce exposure for franchisors and multi-unit operators.
    Moderators: TBA
    Speakers: TBA
2:45 pm – 3:00 pm Refreshment Break
3:00 pm – 4:13 pm
Plenary 3: News from the World
A panel of expert franchise law practitioners from selected countries around the world will discuss recent and topical legal developments affecting franchising in their countries.
Moderator: TBA
Speakers: TBA
4:15 pm
Closing
Speakers: Lee Plave, Plave Koch, USA; Dagmar Waldzus, BUSE, Germany

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