Agenda

Interested in speaking? Contact Rebecca Bird at Rebecca.Bird@Centellic.com.

Thursday, February 4, 2027

9:00 AM-9:30 AM

Registration and networking

9:30 AM-9:35 AM

GCR welcome remarks

9:35 AM-9:45 AM

Chairs’ opening remarks

Michael Grenfell
Michael Grenfell Consultant, Clifford Chance
Anna Medvinskaia
Anna Medvinskaia Barrister, Henderson Chambers
9:45 AM-10:15 AM

Keynote address

10:15 AM-11:00 AM

The new era of CMA enforcement

•    What have we learnt about the CMA’s priorities, enforcement strategy, and use of its enhanced powers?
•    The 4Ps in practice and their influence on the CMA’s approach
•    Undertakings, settlements, and negotiated outcomes: when can they offer an alternative to formal enforcement?
•    Fines and consumer redress: emerging policy and practice around penalties, remediation, and outcomes

Michael Grenfell
Michael Grenfell Consultant, Clifford Chance
Rocio Concha
Rocio Concha Director of Policy & Advocacy and Chief Economist, Which?
Harry Hatwell
Harry Hatwell Barrister, Gough Square Chambers
11:00 AM-11:30 AM

Networking break

11:30 AM-12:30 PM

Testing the boundaries – the role of the courts in consumer enforcement

•    Appeal rights under the DMCC Act and their potential impact on challenges to CMA enforcement decisions
•    What can the courts’ approach, including the implications of the Emma Sleep judgement, tell us about the evolving boundaries of consumer enforcement?
•    Is there a future role for a consumer class actions regime, and what would this mean for businesses and consumers?

Anna Medvinskaia
Anna Medvinskaia Barrister, Henderson Chambers
Anneli Howard KC
Anneli Howard KC Barrister, Monckton Chambers
12:30 PM-1:15 PM

Rethinking contract terms – unfair terms and the new rules on subscriptions

•    Unfair terms in the spotlight: what can businesses take from the CMA’s approach and previous cases?
•    What will the new subscription contract rules mean in practice?
•    How should business prepare to ensure they are compliant with the new requirements?

Theo Bamber
Theo Bamber Chief Executive, News Media Association
1:15 PM-2:15 PM

Networking lunch

2:15 PM-2:55 PM

Fireside chat - the CMA and business in conversation

Neha Dhaun
Neha Dhaun Head of Consumer & Competition Law, Sainsbury's
2:55 PM-3:40 PM

The true cost of a click – pricing in plain sight

•    How the interaction between advertised prices, dynamic pricing models and optional extras is creating new risks in highly competitive consumer markets
•    Navigating delivery fees, booking charges, and other unavoidable charges
•    Where do the trickiest compliance questions around additional charges arise?

3:40 PM-4:10 PM

Networking break

4:10 PM-4:55 PM

Regulating the age of AI consumers

•    Fake reviews, manipulated ratings and AI-generated testimonials: what are the emerging risks for online trust and transparency?
•    AI-powered rankings and recommendations and their growing influence over what consumers see and choose
•    What does the rise of AI agents mean for purchasing decisions, choice and accountability?
•    Are existing consumer protection frameworks fit for purpose?
•    Can regulators’ enforcement tools keep pace with increasingly sophisticated AI-systems?

4:55 PM-5:00 PM

Chairs’ closing remarks

Michael Grenfell
Michael Grenfell Consultant, Clifford Chance
Anna Medvinskaia
Anna Medvinskaia Barrister, Henderson Chambers
5:00 PM-5:05 PM

GCR closing remarks

5:05 PM-6:05 PM

Networking drinks reception