The risk landscape in 2026: Key issues and how to manage them

The risk environment facing organisations in 2026 is more complex than ever before. For business leaders, the priority is no longer simply managing known risks, but developing the capability to scan the horizon, identify emerging threats early, and make confident strategic decisions amid uncertainty. 

To help you navigate the complex risk landscape we invite you to join our expert team to consider the top issues that we believe should be on your risk register in 2026 at our next conferences held in Edinburgh (18 March) and Glasgow (19 March).

Reflecting on our experience advising clients on these important issues, we will focus on how each risk could impact you and offer practical guidance on what you can do now to best protect your business and ensure resilience. 

The conference will cover: 

• The complex evolution of the simple fraud
  The use of tech and AI is making the detection of fraud significantly harder. Things have moved on a lot from the Nigerian Prince scams of the 90s. Fraudulent correspondence and documentation is now much harder to identify. But at its heart, most frauds remain straightforward. They typically involve persuading someone to do something that they do not want to do. Whilst the methods of persuasion have become more sophisticated, some of the same approaches to vigilance remain the most effective. In this session we will discuss the simple steps to take to protect your business from potential fraud, even in the current age.
  
  
• A buyer’s guide: risks and rewards of supply contracts 
  Gross spending on public sector procurement in 2025 was around £400 billion across the UK. That equates to about 15% of the UK’s GDP, about one-third of all public expenditure, and a wealth of experience in going to market for the purchase of goods and services. What can we take from this experience? In this session, we’ll consider the risks and rewards facing businesses going to market to purchase goods and services, using public procurement as our guide.
  
  
• Geopolitics meets the supply chain   
  Politics and world events, in the form of trade barriers, international conflicts, and availability of goods and materials, are having an increasing effect on supply contracts, and in turn the successful and profitable delivery of projects. In this session we will explore how some of those events are translating into risk allocation, particularly around time and money, and discuss how to identify and mitigate those risks for your own projects.
  
  
• AI and competition law risks 
  AI-driven algorithmic pricing offers businesses real-time market adaptation and efficiency, but poses significant competition law risks by enabling coordinate pricing (collusion) and price discrimination. Regulators like the CMA are focusing on algorithms that exchange competitor data or facilitate tacit collusion, even without explicit agreements. We look at this novel issue, and the risks involved.
  
  
• Climate change litigation and class actions 
  Climate related litigation is a growing risk for businesses across a wide range of sectors - whether an activist organisation or stakeholder group challenging a failure to meet climate commitments, including so-called ‘greenwashing’ claims, or direct claims by those affected by climate change.  We will look at how climate litigation is developing in the UK and abroad, and how this can directly or indirectly impact your organisation. We will also discuss the proposed ‘opt-out’ regime for civil claims in Scotland in this context. 
  
  
• Investigations
  When serious allegations are made against an organisation (or individuals within it), an investigation can be an effective means of establishing the facts and mitigating risks. Where these are handled well, they are can demonstrate that a matter has been dealt with appropriately, but if they are not designed and managed carefully from the outset, they can be counterproductive and have a detrimental impact on the company’s credibility and culture. This session will outline what you need to consider if you are undertaking (or subject to) and investigation within your organisation, including special considerations which apply to workplace investigations.
  

This event is relevant for board members, c-suite leaders, general counsel, senior risk, compliance and procurement professionals and those managing emerging risks. 

We hope you can join us at the location most convenient to you.