For leaders, the challenge is clear: how to prepare for a disputes landscape that is shaped as much by 'black swan' events as by predictable trends such as ESG, AI, and rising activism. Without losing sight of those disputes catalysts that businesses are expecting – we are seeking to look further ahead to explore the risks our clients might not have identified or prepared for as we reimagine the disputes of the future.

We surveyed 700 business leaders and conducted forward-looking legal analysis based on a look back at historical trigger events to devise three powerful scenarios which could be sources of disputes – Pervasive Protectionism, Healthcare Delivery Revolution, and Activism Amplified. Our intention in releasing these scenarios is not to provide ready-made answers, but to start the conversation about what general counsel (GCs) and business leaders should be doing now to prepare for the challenges of the changing disputes landscape in the decade ahead.

This report combines insights from our research and scenario analysis with a future-focused podcast series to examine and explore the three novel scenarios with experts in different fields. By reimagining how geopolitics, advancements in healthcare technology, and rising activism might evolve and trigger disputes, we aim to give business leaders clarity, confidence, and legal foresight to navigate uncertainty. Businesses that embrace agility and resilience will be better prepared to navigate future disputes risks.

As part of our podcast series, we will also be exploring whether the dispute resolution framework is equipped to meet the demands of the future disputes landscape and what changes, if any, need to be made. We will be asking questions such as:

• Should businesses be considering alternative methods of dispute resolution?
• How is AI impacting dispute resolution strategies?
• Is the UK's group action regime fit for purpose?

Each scenario and the aligning series of podcast episodes we publish will take you into that future disputes landscape, assessing whether organisations are ready or if they are underestimating the business and legal implications of future risk, and examining the potential consequences. Across the scenarios, common threads emerge. Disputes are becoming increasingly global, overlapping with regulatory enforcement (and divergent regimes) and reputational risk, and being driven by a wider range of stakeholders including NGOs, consumers, shareholders, and governments – and legal costs are rising. Our podcast episodes will probe these issues in more detail, asking the questions that boards need to be grappling with and putting informed foresight at the centre of the debate.

Some of the findings our research revealed surprised us, and we look forward to continuing the conversation with you to understand and explore how your perception of litigation triggers connects with our insight, and to helping you prepare for what’s next. By working together, we hope to help you address the litigation risk challenges you face and support you in strengthening your resilience and agility for the disputes of tomorrow.