
WAVE
WAVE
WAVE
Introduction
Digitalisation is transforming how businesses operate and how they are held to account. As technology becomes increasingly embedded in products and processes, it is changing how businesses operate – often challenging long-held assumptions about responsibility, control and coordination.
This shift introduces new forms of risk, ranging from AI tools that act autonomously to user experiences that raise questions about fairness and control. However, not all this risk stems from fast-moving technologies. Some of the most persistent risks arise from structures which businesses rely on every day. In tech supply chains, operational risk can result from contract terms or technical dependencies that need to adapt to this transformation. In regulatory planning, the challenge lies in managing current fragmentation while anticipating how future legal shifts might disrupt business models. Class actions, meanwhile, are increasingly testing how digital businesses operate – targeting both the outcomes they produce and the design of the interfaces and processes behind them.

The first edition of WAVE brings together insights from senior legal and business leaders to explore the practical implications of this transformation. It examines the governance demands posed by emerging technologies such as agentic AI and hyper-personalised systems, where decisions are made at speed and scale. It also unpacks how structural exposure accumulates through supply chains, contract frameworks and regulatory divergence – and how business and legal strategies must adapt.
From evolving platform liability and cross-border class actions to the future shape of legal teams and shifting M&A priorities in the technology, media and communications (TMC) sectors, WAVE guides you through the new terrain which businesses must navigate.
Agentic AI: Why Governance Can't Wait
A new layer of complexity is emerging as organisations experiment with agentic systems. While they will be transformative, legal and operational risks emerge that are harder to govern.

AI-Driven Hyper-Personalisation: Future Risks and Opportunities
Hyper-personalised systems will reshape how services are delivered and consumers respond. Existing legal risks are amplified, and new risks also arise.
The Legal Operating System: In-House Legal in 2040
What might the in-house legal function look like in 15 years' time? As AI tools take over more tasks, wrangling with technology will become a core skillset for legal teams.
Tech Supply Chains: Rethinking Risk and Resilience
Modern supply chains rarely break where businesses expect; they break in the gaps no one checks. These vulnerabilities often persist because legal, IT and procurement work in silos.
TMC M&A Trends: Resilience, Scalability and Discipline Will Define Success
Technology, media and communications dealmaking is alive but evolving, with investors becoming more selective. Businesses that cannot show resilience under scrutiny risk stalling at the threshold.
How Data Sovereignty is Reshaping Business Strategies
Data sovereignty is a geopolitical reality. A well-articulated and carefully implemented strategy that meets challenges head-on can be a powerful differentiator.

Class Actions: An Imminent Disruptor in European Digital Markets
Class actions are increasingly focused on the structure of digital ecosystems. New procedural rules, faster filings and cross-border momentum are accelerating litigation risk.
Navigating The Next Phases of Digital Regulation
Coming soon in the next wave.
Our digital expertise
Our team at Osborne Clarke has extensive expertise in navigating the complexities of digital transformation. We understand the legal challenges and intricacies of emerging technologies. With deep knowledge of AI, digital regulation, and platform businesses, we provide strategic guidance in all areas of law to help businesses anticipate and manage risks, optimise operations, and achieve their goals amidst digital disruption.
Contact us today to learn how our expertise can help your business.


