Meeting point is hotel lobby

Hosts:

Jody Hecht, Special Advisor & Senior Counsel, Litigation, The Canada Life Assurance Company
Kate Walker, Senior Legal Counsel, Lead: Market Conduct and Anti-fraud, CLHIA

Speaker:
Gillian Purvis, General Counsel, Empire Life, 
Chair of the Nominating Committee

What if the key to performing at our best while remaining resilient lies in harnessing the power of our emotions? Corina Walsh, a Certified Professional Coach and Emotional Intelligence Assessor, has helped hundreds of professionals overcome internal challenges including stress and uncertainty that impact performance and relationships at work.

In this engaging keynote, attendees will discover how enhancing emotional
intelligence (EQ) can transform professional and personal effectiveness, including our ability to navigate complex workplace dynamics. Corina will share tools and techniques to bolster emotional intelligence when navigating stress, difficult conversations, and other work-related challenges. Attendees will walk away with actionable strategies and skills they need to THRIVE in their careers.

Speaker: Corina Walsh, President, Shift People Development

Practical applications of EQ to improve your daily work life

Facilitators: Gadhi Cruz, Jody Hecht, Olga Matyash, Stephanie Neate, Jacques Waite, Kate Walker

Speaker: Corina Walsh, President, Shift People Development

Host:

Jacques Waite, Corporate Director, Litigation, iA Financial Group

Please make your own reservation.

Icebreaker Challenge – Prize draws
Host:
Jody Hecht, Special Advisor & Senior Counsel, Litigation, The Canada Life Assurance Company

This panel will explore the complexities and strategies of appeals from the perspective of in house counsel and judges, including when to appeal a decision or how to respond to an appeal, when and how to retain appellate counsel or a former judge to assist, and how to prepare for your appeal. 

In this session, we discuss competition issues that may arise from arrangements between non-competitors, including case studies of recent developments in the insurance space and practical considerations for new partnerships. 

This session will provide an overview of beneficiary designation principles and then focus on real-life cases that may have more questions than answers! In this workshop format, we’ll discuss challenging beneficiary scenarios that insurers grapple with day-to-day.

During this session, panelists will discuss recent developments affecting the private pension plan sector, including new CAPSA guidelines, FSRA’s guidance on pension plan amendments, and certain hot topics in Quebec such as unclaimed property management, personal information protection, and French language. The panelists will share their insights on the impact of these developments and practical guidance for pension plan sponsors and administrators as well as their service providers.

Explore evolving case law, strategic expert retention, and emerging procedural trends shaping the use of expert evidence in insurance trials. Our dynamic panel will share their insights followed by open Q&A

Artificial Intelligence is becoming embedded in the insurance industry as carriers explore ways to implement emerging technology with the aim of making substantial efficiency gains. Yet there are two sides to every coin. AI also generates new exposures for insurers as bad actors learn how to wield AI to carry out fraud. Attendees will learn how AI is reshaping known fraud schemes and how investigations will need to evolve and adapt to the changing landscape.

In this workshop, the speakers will discuss what kind of damages Plaintiffs have been seeking since Baker, the degree to which those damages are a focal point of litigation, and how they are dealt with during settlement negotiations/mediations. 

Reception: 6:15pm-7:15pm
Dinner and Networking: 7:15pm-10pm
 

Special event sponsor and opening remarks: Janet Clark, Partner, Stewart McKelvey
 

Sponsored by

Host:
Jody Hecht, Special Advisor & Senior Counsel, Litigation, The Canada Life Assurance Company

In-house legal departments are increasingly expected to deliver more with fewer resources, all while navigating complex regulatory landscapes, rising business demands, and rapid technological change.  This plenary brings together the heads of the legal departments from three life insurance companies and a leading reinsurance company to share their insights and strategies for navigating today’s challenges.  Topics include legal budgets and resource constraints, legal workload and operational efficiencies, building business partnerships and structuring legal teams.  Whether you're part of a large department or a small team, this session offers insights and tips relevant to all in-house counsel.

Speaker: Gadhi Cruz, Senior Vice President, Senior Legal Counsel, Swiss Re, Chair of the 2025-2026 Legal Section Executive Committee