8:30 – 9:00 Registration & Check-In
9:00 – 9:30 Welcome & Introductions:
9:30 – 10:15 The Trade Finance Industry - Lawyer’s View
Starting the day with a legal perspective on the latest trends in LCs and trade finance. What’s driving SBLC increased usage and CLCs decreased usage right now, and what should those trends tell you? This opening panel unpacks the drivers reshaping demand: shifting risk appetite, evolving treasury and working capital priorities, and the operational pressures pushing banks and corporates to rethink how they issue and manage LCs.
- Bank Mergers: best practices to clean up dual portfolios
- SBLC issuance escalation: amounts, terms, or risk
- Community Bank SBLC issuance best practices
- UCP SBLCs and how to not issue them
- Geopolitical risk management
10:15 – 10:45 Auto Extension and Evergreen Clauses
The recent Starr Indemnity case shows the effect that ambiguous wording will have on your SBLCs. Are you sure your SBLCs say what you want them to say? Let’s have a frank conversation on best practices, including ISP98 Form 2 “successive one-year periods plus backstop date“ approach to protect your FI clients and their customers.
10:45 – 11:15 Coffee & Networking Break
11:15 – 12:15 LCs on Trial: What the Courts are Telling Us
Jurisdiction
- Olam Global Agri Pte. Ltd. v. Social Islami Bank (Prejudgment attachment suit filed in NY by Singaporan beneficiary against Bangledesh bank issuer which maintained correspondent account in NY)
Independence
- Universal Property Services, Inc. v. Lehigh Gas Wholesale Services, Inc. (LCs with condition that Issuing Bank would only honor demands if Applicant first furnished indemnification to it)
- Moeve Trading SAU v. Mael Trading FZ LLC (LC as a conditional payment instrument, permitting seller to claim against buyer if issuing bank refuses to pay)
LC Fraud
- Porch.com v. Gallagher Re, Inc. (Alleged breach of duties under reinsurance agreement; agreement was collateralized by forged SBLC purportedly issued by China Construction Bank, NY Branch)
Wrongful Dishonor
- MNA Gloves SDN BHD v. London Luxury LLC (payment refused because beneficiary’s presented certificate of origin did not identify applicant as the originator of the goods)
12:15 – 12:45 The Chinese Court Docket: LC Cases
Hear from Chinese legal experts as they give examples of LC cases decided in China and what it could mean for you.
12:45 – 1:45 Lunch Break
1:45 – 2:30 The FinCrime Files: Sanctions Disputes
A review of recent court decisions involving trade and sanctions including:
- Unicredit v. Celestial
- Litasco v. Der Mond Oil & Gas
- The Catalan Sea
- Kuvera v. JPM
- A (Russian) Company v. The (Canadian) Bank
2:30 – 3:00 Real Estate Transactions: Darlin’ Stand . . . by me
SBLCs are widely used in real estate to secure leases, back construction obligations, and support development deals–but they come with legal complexity. This panel explores key issues in structuring and enforcing real estate standbys, from demand wording and fraud risk to cross-border enforcement and landlord-tenant disputes. With capital tightening, we’ll also look at impact it is having going forward.
3:00 – 3:30 Coffee & Networking Break
3:30 – 3:50 ISP98 & SBLC Educational Initiatives
Education seems to be the word of the year from the ICC and BAFT as they have both launched educational initiatives for SBLCs. Hear from members of the various committees what is happening and how we as a community can help.
3:50 – 4:30 Signed, Sealed, Digitized: What eB/Ls Mean for You
Electronic B/Ls are quietly becoming the new standard in trade docs, and this panel looks at what that shift actually means in practice. We’ll cover the benefits, the risks, and the legal protections, like MLETR, shaping how eB/Ls get adopted and enforced. Whether you’re already using them or just catching up, here’s what you need to know.
4:30 – 5:00 Sale, Loan or Fraud: The Real Legal Risks in SCF
From payables to receivables, SCF creates legal exposure beyond credit risk. Last year’s First Brands collapse put that exposure on full display. Our experts examine the issues raised in First Brands and others, and recommend best practices to protect your clients.
