The International Conference of Legal Regulators 2025 took place in Hong Kong from Monday 20 October to Wednesday 22 October 2025. This was the first time the conference had been hosted in Hong Kong, and nearly one hundred delegates from nineteen jurisdictions attended. Delegates included legal regulators, government representatives, academics, and legal sector professionals. The conference theme, “New ways to regulate in a changing world,” reflecting the challenges regulators face as legal practice adapts to globalisation, technological development, and evolving public expectations.
The conference was hosted by the Law Society of Hong Kong at the Hopewell Hotel in Wan Chai, which provided an accessible venue for both the formal programme and the accompanying cultural events.
Opening day activities
The conference opened on 20 October with an outdoor cultural excursion, offering delegates an introduction to Hong Kong’s distinctive heritage and landscape. This was followed by a welcome reception that created an early forum for establishing connections among regulatory colleagues from around the world.
Attendees represented a broad international community, including Australia, Canada, Germany, Malaysia, Oman, Singapore, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. This diversity demonstrated the increasingly global nature of legal services regulation and reinforced ICLR’s role as a hub for international regulatory collaboration.
Plenary sessions
Across the two main conference days, four plenary sessions examined the broad regulatory themes shaping legal services worldwide.
Plenary one: Adapting regulatory models in a changing global landscape
Speakers considered how regulators can maintain effective oversight amid shifting political environments, increased cross border legal work, and rising public expectations of transparency. Hong Kong officials spoke about the city’s bilingual common law environment and the importance of the “one country, two systems” framework in maintaining judicial independence and public confidence in legal regulation.
Plenary two: Regulating technological development
Artificial intelligence was a prominent topic throughout the conference. Speakers noted the potential for technology to enhance access to justice and efficiency, while also acknowledging risks related to data security, professional accountability, and ethical decision making. Delegates agreed that regulators must update frameworks quickly and engage in shared learning to ensure consistent oversight across jurisdictions.
Plenary three: Strengthening ethical and resilient regulation
Delegates explored issues related to public protection, professional ethics, anti money laundering obligations, cybersecurity, and diversity within the legal profession. Discussions focused on how regulators can maintain strong ethical standards while responding proportionately to emerging risks in practice.
Plenary four: Cross jurisdictional cooperation
The final plenary session highlighted the essential role of international cooperation in legal regulation. Delegates examined shared challenges involving cross border practice, international dispute resolution, and global enforcement of professional standards. The importance of information exchange and aligned regulatory principles was emphasised throughout the session.
Breakout session summaries
Nine breakout sessions allowed delegates to engage deeply with specific regulatory challenges. The smaller format enabled countries to share practical examples and explore areas of common difficulty.
Cross border practice
Delegates discussed the supervision of practitioners who operate across multiple jurisdictions. Challenges included differing reporting requirements, inconsistent transparency mechanisms, and limited ability to track misconduct across borders. Hong Kong’s growing role in dispute resolution created a useful context for these discussions.
Cybersecurity and technological resilience
Breakout groups reviewed recent cyber incidents affecting legal practices and identified gaps in preparedness among regulated entities, particularly smaller firms. Regulators shared approaches to setting minimum technology standards and requiring firms to report cyber incidents. Participants again stressed the need for international collaboration in responding to technological risks.
Artificial intelligence oversight
Several sessions revisited artificial intelligence and its implications for competency, client protection, and regulatory accountability. Participants discussed the need to ensure that legal practitioners remain responsible for the outputs of technology tools used in practice.
Anti money laundering supervision
Delegates compared approaches to risk based supervision, client due diligence expectations, and collaboration with financial authorities. The complexity of modern financial crime was a consistent theme, and participants highlighted the challenge of balancing regulatory burden with effective oversight.
Ethical conduct and integrity in practice
Breakout groups reviewed case studies illustrating ethical challenges, particularly for in house lawyers. Delegates exchanged approaches for strengthening ethical support, including guidance tools, disciplinary frameworks, and internal reporting pathways.
Diversity and inclusion in professional regulation
Participants reflected on the benefits of building regulatory systems that promote inclusivity. Discussions included regulatory leadership structures, access to entry pathways into the profession, and the impact of diversity on public trust in legal services.
Regulatory independence as a cross cutting theme
Across the plenary and breakout sessions, regulatory independence emerged as one of the defining themes of the 2025 conference. Multiple speakers emphasised the importance of protecting regulatory bodies from political or administrative interference. Hong Kong’s Deputy Secretary for Justice noted that independent self regulation remains central to the credibility of the city’s legal system.
Delegates recognised independence as essential to public confidence and shared experiences demonstrating how regulators can communicate their role clearly and transparently during periods of change.
Cultural programme
Cultural engagement played a significant role in shaping the 2025 conference atmosphere. Delegates attended a lion dance performance at the opening ceremony on 21 October, symbolising prosperity and good fortune. These cultural elements deepened delegates’ connections to the host city and reinforced the value of international exchange.
A closing dinner on 22 October offered space for reflection, networking, and discussion of next steps for international cooperation.
Key insights emerging from the 2025 conference
Across plenary sessions, breakout discussions, and informal conversations, several overarching insights emerged:
- Legal regulators face shared challenges regardless of jurisdiction, particularly in relation to technology, cross border practice, and ethical standards.
- Regulatory independence remains essential for maintaining public confidence in legal systems.
- Technology, especially artificial intelligence, is transforming legal practice faster than many regulatory frameworks can accommodate.
- Diversity and inclusion strengthen the legal profession and support public trust.
- International cooperation is no longer optional; it is vital for effective modern regulation.
These insights reflect the continued evolution of legal regulation and reinforce the importance of ICLR as a global forum for collaborative learning.