Inhousecommunity Day 2025
Once again, the in-house legal community gathers in Zurich. On the 23rd of October 2025, the Inhousecommunity Day takes place at the prestigious Park Hyatt Zurich, located on Beethovenstrasse 21. Organized by LC Publishing Group through LegalcommunityCH in partnership with 5Gambit Disputes, InterimLegal and Odyssey by Kalexius and with the support of ACC Europe and ECLA, the event brings together general counsel and legal executives for a full day of debate, networking and reflection on the evolution of the in-house legal profession.
THE DAY: OPENING AND FIRST ROUNDTABLE
Check-in begins at 2:00 PM at the Park Hyatt Zurich. After registration, Aldo Scaringella, CEO of LC Publishing Group, addresses the attendees of the event with a welcome message. At 2:30 PM, the programme opens with the first roundtable titled “The Legal Department as Business Partner: From Blocker to Enabler. The session examines how legal departments are increasingly expected to go beyond risk management and act as strategic contributors to business performance. Taking part in the discussion are Thomas Barothy (Interim Legal AG), Elmar Büth (Ivoclar), Claudio Elia (STMicroelectronics), Nils Kjaergaard (Novartis Operations), Pejman Madani (Oracle) and Fabienne-Anne Rehulka (SIX). The speakers explore how the legal function can evolve from a perceived obstacle to a true business partner by aligning legal strategy with corporate objectives and promoting a culture of collaboration.
SECOND ROUNDTABLE: GENERAL COUNSEL & CEO
At 3:30 PM, the second roundtable begins under the title “General Counsel & CEO: How to Build a Trusted Relationship.” The session focuses on the dynamic between legal leadership and top management. The panel features Mahmood Ahmad (Johnson Controls), Dahir Ali (CNH Industrial), Stéphanie Fougou (Hbxgroup plc and Chairwoman of the Board, ECLA), Manuel Liatowitsch (Ringier AG) and Alexandria Schindler (Azura Partners). The discussion highlights the importance of trust, strategic vision and communication between the general counsel and the chief executive. The speakers reflect on their role in advising leadership, handling crises, managing governance responsibilities and ensuring that legal insight supports long-term corporate value rather than merely compliance.
After this exchange, a coffee break is offered at 4:30 PM, allowing participants to continue their conversations in an informal atmosphere before the final session of the day.
THIRD ROUNDTABLE: EXTERNAL COUNSEL RELATIONSHIPS
At 5:00 PM, the third roundtable takes place under the title “Beyond the Brief: How to Get More Value from Your External Counsel.” This last session brings together Stefan Buerge (Oxyle), Juancho De Lassaletta (Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma), Andrea Ferrari (Sandoz), Nicolas Leroux (Odyssey by Kalexius), Luca Tarzia (Sauber Group) and Kees van Ophem (KD Pharma Group). The panel discusses how in-house teams can strengthen relationships with external law firms, moving from transactional engagements to long-term strategic partnerships. Topics include cost efficiency, measurable performance, collaboration models, innovation in legal service delivery and the growing importance of technology and transparency in managing external counsel.
EVENING: NETWORKING, DINNER AND DJ SET
At 6:00 PM, the formal programme concludes with a light cocktail at the Park Hyatt. This moment provides an opportunity for networking and informal dialogue among participants. From 6:30 PM, the evening continues in the heart of Zurich with a private dinner party and DJ set – in collaboration with 5Gambit Disputes, at Dr. Zhivago Bar, located at Bärengasse 29, 8001 Zurich. Reserved for in-house lawyers upon registration, the gathering offers a relaxed and convivial end to the day, strengthening professional relationships within the community.
The Inhousecommunity Day Switzerland 2025 reaffirms its role as a key meeting point for the in-house legal world. Through discussions spanning the transformation of the legal department, the relationship between general counsel and CEOs and the evolving dynamics with external advisors, the event showcases the strategic value of legal professionals in companies today. Supported by its partners and enriched by the contributions of influential speakers, the day in Zurich once again reinforces the spirit of exchange, innovation and community that characterizes the in-house legal profession.
