MSI Specialist Interest Group Festival 2026

Join the MSI Specialist Interest Group Festival taking place 16 - 20 November 2026. A week dedicated to fresh thinking, collaboration, and cross-border conversations.

Fifteen sessions. Nine Specialist Interest Groups. One global festival.

MSI colleagues from around the world come together for one-hour sessions of presentations, discussion and knowledge exchange on the issues shaping legal and accounting firms.

15 sessions to choose from
9 Specialist Interest Groups
Scheduled across multiple time zones
Open to all professionals at MSI member firms.

New for November: Operations & Administration SIG
Our newest Specialist Interest Group is for the professionals who keep member firms running day to day, such as firm and practice administrators, workflow managers, tax administrators, and resource, scheduling and operations managers.

For a one page overview of all SIGs, please download the timetable, which also includes registration links for each SIG.

View sessions below

Please expand the individual tabs to see what will be covered in each SIG, and to register.

Audit & Accounting

Join this interactive SIG session focused on the key issues, trends and opportunities shaping the audit and accounting profession. This discussion will provide a forum for sharing practical insights, exchanging experiences and exploring developments that may impact firms and clients across different markets.

Thursday, 19 November 2026

Session 1

08:00 London
13:30 Delhi
16:00 Singapore
19:00 Sydney

Session 2

Audit and Accounting in an Increasingly Complex World: Where can things go wrong?

In today's interconnected business environment, audit and accounting professionals face increasing complexity when working across jurisdictions. Differences in accounting standards, regulatory requirements, reporting expectations, and business practices can create significant challenges for firms and their clients.
This interactive session will explore common areas where audit and accounting engagements can encounter difficulties, from financial reporting and regulatory compliance to communication breakdowns and cross-border coordination challenges. Participants will be encouraged to share examples from their own professional experience and highlighting lessons learned.

09:00 Chicago
11:00 Los Angeles
12:00 New York
17:00 London

International Tax

Join this interactive International Tax SIG session to discuss current developments, regulatory changes and practical issues affecting cross-border taxation.

Wednesday, 18 November 2026

Session 1

International Cross-Border Tax: where can things go wrong?
Cross-border tax matters are becoming increasingly complex, creating significant risks for businesses operating internationally. This interactive session will explore common pitfalls and unintended consequences that can arise when navigating international tax rules across multiple jurisdictions.

Participants will be encouraged to share examples from their own professional experience of situations where cross-border tax arrangements have not gone as planned, highlighting the practical challenges faced by advisers and businesses alike.

Drawing on perspectives from both the EMEA and APAC regions, the discussion will examine how differences in local legislation, interpretation, compliance requirements, and tax authority approaches can lead to unexpected outcomes. The session will emphasize the importance of understanding jurisdiction-specific nuances and maintaining a proactive approach to managing cross-border tax risks.

19:00: Sydney
16:30: Singapore
11:00: Delhi
06:00: London

Friday, 20 November 2026

Session 2

Join fellow MSI accountants and attorneys for a dynamic 60-minute virtual roundtable on “Dreadful Issues in Cross Border Taxation,” featuring practical discussions on some of the most complex international tax challenges facing businesses and individuals today. Topics will include the regulatory country of residence of business organizations, gift and inheritance tax rules, and deferred compensation from a cross-border perspective.

The discussion will be facilitated by Juan Carlos Pérez Peña of Perez Gongora, Cathal Cusack of Cusack & Co., and Leslie Sobol of Lucas Horsfall, who will share their insights, experiences, and perspectives on navigating these critical cross-border tax issues.

11:00: Chicago
12:00: New York
15:00: London
09:00: Los Angeles

Labour & Employment

This session will look at current developments and trending topics in the area of Labour & Employment. In particular, the discussion will focus on:

International Labour Organization (ILO) rules in domestic jurisprudence
Best practices for pay transparency in Europe
Impact of AI in employment related matters – the role of policies and legal frameworks

Monday, 16 November 2026

Session 1

19:00: Sydney
16:00: Singapore
13:30: Delhi
08:00: London

Tuesday, 17 November 2026

Session 2

20:00: Sydney
15:00: Singapore
14:00: Delhi
12:00: London

Marketing & Business Development

The Marketing and Business Development SIG brings together marketing and BD professionals from MSI member firms to share what's working, compare approaches and learn from each other's experience. The are two sessions to choose from:

Tuesday, 17 November 2026

Session 1: 'Growing the firm from the inside and out'

Winning work in new markets, getting people across offices working together, and persuading busy fee earners that business development is worth their time - most of us are tackling at least one of these. Three marketing and business development leads from MSI member firms will share how they're approaching them.

17:00: Chicago | 12:00: New York | 11:00: London | 09:00: Los Angeles

Wednesday, 18 November 2026

Session 2: 'AI and data in marketing and business development'

There is no shortage of AI tools promising to make marketing and business development more efficient. Working out which ones actually deliver is the hard part. Three marketing and business development leads from MSI member firms will join us and talk us through what they use, and why.

19:00: Sydney | 16:00: Singapore | 13:30: Delhi | 08:00: London

Mergers & Acquisitions

Join this interactive Mergers & Acquisitions SIG session to discuss deal activity, market trends and practical considerations impacting transactions across different markets. Exchange insights, share experiences and explore the opportunities and challenges facing advisers and clients in today's M&A environment.

Wednesday, 18 November 2026

Session 1

21:00: Sydney
18:00: Singapore
15:30: Delhi
10:00: London

Thursday, 19 November 2026

Session 2

19:00: Chicago
14:00: New York
13:00: London
11:00: Los Angeles

NEW Operations & Administration

Operations & Administration

The MSI Operations & Administration Special Interest Group (SIG) provides a dedicated forum for professionals responsible for the operational success of their firms to connect, collaborate, and learn from one another. During this inaugural meeting, participants will explore the purpose and vision of the SIG, discuss common operational and administrative challenges, and identify opportunities for ongoing peer support and professional development. Attendees will gain insight into future topics covering operations, technology, innovation, administration, and leadership, while building relationships with colleagues facing similar responsibilities. The session also includes an interactive roundtable designed to encourage knowledge sharing and strengthen the network of operations professionals across MSI firms.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

Describe the purpose, goals, and value of the MSI Operations & Administration SIG and identify opportunities for engagement within the community.
Recognize common operational, administrative, and workflow challenges facing professional services firms and explore strategies for addressing them through peer collaboration.
Identify key trends and topics in operations, technology, and leadership that can support greater efficiency, innovation, and professional growth within their organizations.

Wednesday, 18 November 2026

17:00: Chicago
12:00: New York
11:00: London
09:00: Los Angeles

Private Clients

International Estate Planning: Where can things go wrong?

As individuals and families become increasingly international, estate planning and wealth structuring have grown more complex. Differences in tax regimes, succession laws, residency rules, family structures, and reporting obligations can create significant challenges for private clients with cross-border interests.

This interactive session will explore the common pitfalls and unintended consequences that can arise when wealth, assets, beneficiaries, and business interests span multiple jurisdictions. Participants will be encouraged to share experiences from their own practices, highlighting situations where planning objectives were compromised by unforeseen tax, legal, or administrative issues.

Drawing on perspectives from different jurisdictions, the discussion will examine how advisers can help private clients navigate evolving regulatory environments while preserving wealth, managing risk, and achieving long-term succession objectives.

Tuesday, 17 November 2026

12:00: London
20:00: Singapore
17:30: Delhi
07:00: New York

Technology

Thursday, 19 November 2026

Session 1

Technology, AI and Professional Services: Opportunities and Risks

Technology is transforming the way professional services firms and corporate tax functions operate, creating new opportunities for efficiency, insight, and innovation. At the same time, rapid adoption of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, automation, and data analytics, can introduce significant risks if not implemented effectively.

This interactive session will explore where technology projects and digital transformation initiatives can go wrong, and what professionals can learn from those experiences. Participants will be encouraged to share examples from their own organizations, highlighting both successes and challenges.

Drawing on perspectives from across the EMEA and APAC regions, the discussion will examine how organizations are leveraging technology while balancing governance, data security, regulatory requirements, and stakeholder expectations.

20:00: Sydney
17:00: Singapore
14:30: Delhi
09:00: London

Friday, 20 November 2026

Session 2

20:00: Sydney
15:00: Singapore
14:00: Delhi
12:00: London

US Tax

Join this interactive session for US tax professionals to discuss regulatory developments and practical issues affecting US tax planning and compliance. Share knowledge, exchange perspectives and explore the challenges and opportunities facing clients and advisers in an increasingly complex tax environment.

Monday, 16 November 2026

15:00: New York
14:00: Chicago
12:00: Los Angeles

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