About

Geopolitics, Trade and Risk:
The General Counsel’s Role in Navigating Global Uncertainty

Geopolitics is no longer a background consideration for General Counsel. Trade tensions, tariffs, regulatory retaliation, and political risk now shape board-level decisions, market access, and organisational resilience in real time.

In this closed-door virtual session, Susan Sayers, former Group General Counsel of HSBC, will draw on first-hand experience leading legal teams through periods of sustained geopolitical volatility across Asia, the US, and Europe.

Rather than theory, the session will focus on how General Counsel actually operate at the sharp end of global risk:

How legal leaders interpret and contextualise geopolitical developments for boards and executive committees

Building reliable intelligence across jurisdictions, and avoiding overreaction driven by political noise

The GC’s role in ensuring measured, defensible decision-making during periods of trade tension, sanctions, and regulatory escalation

Managing risk when expanding into, operating within, or exiting politically sensitive markets

Using internal teams, external counsel, and industry networks to see around corners rather than react too late

The discussion will be anchored in real scenarios faced by global organisations, anonymised where appropriate, and will explore how experienced GCs balance legal risk, commercial reality, and reputational exposure.