The IWIRC London network is pleased to once again be hosting our in-person conference in collaboration with Octus.

The London IWIRC network is delighted to be hosting this event on 18 November 2026 in collaboration with Octus.

The half-day conference will centre on 4 main events - further details to follow:

Keynote Speaker: Suzanne Williams QPM (Hostage and Kidnap Negotiation Expert): Having served as the most senior ranking officer in the negotiation unit at Scotland Yard, Suzanne has advised foreign and domestic governments, worked with the FBI, and lectured at Harvard and the Said Business School on themes including risk, crisis response, negotiation, security, and trust. Suzanne also applies negotiation strategies to business and politics, looks at the intersection between leadership, communication and performing in stressful environments, and recounts stories from her career, offering a glimpse into the extraordinary and high-pressured life of a hostage negotiator.

Judges Panel: An eminent panel of judges, featuring Lord Justice Zacaroli from the English Court of Appeal and Mrs. Justice Joanna Smith DBE from the English High Court, alongside distinguished judges from other jurisdictions (to be confirmed). This session will explore the evolving expectations placed on practitioners appearing before the courts and delve into critical variations across different legal systems.

Unmasking Fraud in Distressed Situations: Detection, Recovery, and the Evolving Legal Landscape: A panel exploring how fraud intersects with corporate distress, the challenges practitioners face in identifying and pursuing fraudulent conduct, and the tools available to officeholders and creditors to maximise recoveries.

Distressed M&A: Buying and Selling in the Twilight Zone: A practically focused session on the particular challenges of transacting with or around distressed businesses — covering pre-pack administrations, accelerated M&A processes, hive-downs, credit bidding by secured lenders, and the tension between speed and transparency.

Following the conference, delegates are invited to join us for a drinks reception at The Tokenhouse, Moorgate, 4 Moorgate, London, EC2R 6DA - timings to be announced.

Ticket prices for this event are as follows:

IWIRC Members (any network): £100 + VAT and Eventbrite fees

Non-members: £150 + VAT and Eventbrite fees

IWIRC Members with less than 3 years' experience: £50 + VAT and Eventbrite fees

We very much look forward to seeing you there.

Many thanks to our sponsors

Description supplied by the event organiser.