BICBA Forum 2026

RUNNING ORDER

14th ANNUAL BICBA LAW FORUM & DINNER

CONFERENCE SPONSORS

The Laws of Contract and Unjust Enrichment

DATE

Thursday 26 March 2026, 9am - late

CONFERENCE VENUE

Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, Manchester

TICKET INCLUDES

Entrance to the conference

Networking lunch

Pre-dinner drinks reception

Conference dinner

One year of BICBA membership

The British Irish Commercial Bar Association invites you to attend the 14th BICBA Annual Law Forum & Dinner in Manchester, bringing together BICBA members and friends.

The BICBA Law Forum is a unique opportunity for networking and learning from leading legal experts across the four jurisdictions of Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, England & Wales and Scotland.

We have already secured a formidable lineup of speakers. Places are limited and we are expecting high demand as in previous years — so please sign up without delay.

Speakers include

Lord Burrows JSC, UK Supreme Court
Woulfe J, Supreme Court of Ireland
Barniville P, President of the High Court of Ireland
Henshaw J, Head of the Commercial Court in England & Wales
Birss LJ, The Chancellor of the High Court of England & Wales
Humphreys J, The High Court of Northern Ireland
Representatives of the Scottish senior courts
Plus: other senior members of the judiciary, practitioners and experts, providing insight into this important area of commercial law.

Concessionary spaces available for those less than 5 years’ qualified. Non-members welcome.

BOOK NOW >

MORNING PROGRAMME

SEE SPEAKER PROFILES

9.00 to 9.30
Coffee & registration

9.30 to 10.00
Welcome
HHJ Pearce (Head of the Circuit Commercial Court in Manchester)
Mr Justice Henshaw (Head of the Commercial Court in England & Wales)

10.00 to 10.30
Mr Justice Séamus Woulfe
(Supreme Court of Ireland)
Money had and received following BOI v Murray [2025]

10.30 to 11.15
PANEL:
Contractual duties of good faith
SPEAKERS:
:: Mr Justice Mark Cawson, High Court of England & Wales
:: Susan Ower KC, Scottish Bar
:: Mr Justice Mark Sanfey, High Court of Ireland
:: David Dunlop KC, Northern Irish Bar
Curated by Ian Cooper of Kings Chambers and Caitlin Corrigan of 18 St John Street Chambers

11.15 to 11.30
Coffee break

11.30 to 12.15
PANEL:
Agents, fiduciaries and commissions: is your contract safe?
SPEAKERS:
:: Professor James Lee, King’s College London
:: Gavin MacColl KC, Scottish Bar
:: James Turner, Solicitor-Advocate, Northern Ireland
:: Imogen McGrath SC, Irish Bar
Curated by Ben Lafferty and Jodie Wildridge of Kings Chambers

12.15 to 12.30
BICBA
The BICBA Annual Bursary update; and introducing the BICBA Moot
Comfort Odesola & Micheál Murphy

12.30 to 1.00
Lord Sandison
(Senator of the College of Justice, Scotland)
An introduction to Unjustified Enrichment in Scotland

1.00 to 2.00
Lunch served in the Whitworth Suite

AFTERNOON PROGRAMME

SEE SPEAKER PROFILES

2.00 to 2.30
Dame Siobhan Keegan
(Lady Chief Justice of Northern Ireland)

2.30 to 3.15
PANEL:
Remedies in contract and restitution
SPEAKERS:
:: His Honour Judge Pearce, Judge in Charge of Circuit Commercial Court in Manchester
:: Hannah Shaw, Solicitor, Ireland
:: Tanya Sturgeon, Solicitor, Northern Ireland
:: Lynsey Walker, Solicitor, Scotland
Moderated by Mr Justice David Barniville, President of the High Court of Ireland
Curated by Brad Pomfret KC and Micheál Murphy of 23ES Chambers

3.15 to 3.30
Coffee break

3.30 to 4.15
Lord Burrows JSC
(UK Supreme Court)
The relationship between Contract and Unjust Enrichment

4.15 to 4.30
Closing address
Mr Justice Tom Leech, Vice Chancellor of the County Palatine of Lancaster

6.30 for 7.00
Drinks reception and dinner
Speech Mr Justice Humphreys