The international conference Law – Business – Economics has held its 15th edition (14–16 October 2026). Fifteen years of expert meetings, scholarly debate and exchange of knowledge mark a significant milestone for an event that provides a forum for academic dialogue on the interrelations between law, business and economics.
The Law – Business – Economics conference revived, in 2011, a tradition of academic meetings dating back to the 1970s. These meetings sought to provide a forum for the exchange of scholarly knowledge, the confrontation of expert opinions and the discussion of current issues at the intersection of law and economics. The revival of this tradition made it possible to build on a valuable academic legacy while developing it further in the light of new social, legal and economic challenges.
Since its revival in 2011, the conference has gradually developed into an international forum that connects the academic community with legal and business practitioners. Its continuity has been defined by a commitment to addressing topical legal and economic questions, confronting theoretical approaches with practical experience, and fostering academic debate beyond the boundaries of individual legal systems.
From Initial Debates to an International Academic Forum
From its very first edition in 2011, the revived conference established itself as a platform for discussing current issues at the interface of law and economics. The programme of the first edition, held on 26–28 October 2011 at Hotel Patria in Štrbské Pleso, covered the contractual system of private law in the context of recodification efforts, the role of public and private law in the regulation of the economy, and international trade law and commercial arbitration.
A key factor in the conference’s further development was the cooperation between the Department of Commercial and Business Law, the Institute of State and Law of the Czech Academy of Sciences and the Institute of State and Law of the Slovak Academy of Sciences. Over time, both the circle of participating experts and the thematic scope of the conference expanded, strengthening its international character and its standing in the academic community.
The publication of scholarly outputs has also become an integral part of the conference. The proceedings of individual editions document expert opinions, research findings and debates that together trace the development of law and economic relations over the past fifteen years.
Fifteen Years of Changing Legal and Economic Challenges
A review of past conference programmes shows that the conference has consistently responded to the changing needs of both legal scholarship and practice.
In the early years, the discussions were dominated by the recodification of private law, the legal regulation of the economy, company law, contractual relations and international commercial arbitration. Later, the focus shifted to corporate law, creditor protection, the financing of companies and legislative changes affecting the business environment.
Digitalisation and technological development gradually gained particular prominence. As early as 2017, the Digital Single Market featured among the main topics, and in subsequent years the debate expanded to include the legal and technical aspects of artificial intelligence. The legal regulation of business in times of economic and social uncertainty also played an important role, as illustrated by the 2021 edition, which addressed, among other things, the consequences of the pandemic.
In recent editions, the discussions have also focused on the legal regulation of artificial intelligence, current challenges in commercial and insolvency law, arbitration, business restructuring, and the impact of EU legislation on national legal frameworks.
This thematic diversity confirms one of the conference’s defining characteristics: its continuity lies not in unchanging topics, but in its ability to respond to current challenges and to provide space for their scholarly examination.
People Behind a Successful Conference
The fifteenth edition offers an opportunity to look back, to acknowledge what has been achieved and to thank all those who have contributed to building the conference.
We would like to thank the speakers and discussants for their expert contributions, and the participants for their active involvement and stimulating discussions.
Special recognition is due to the entire team of the Department of Commercial and Business Law, whose work, commitment and sense of responsibility are essential to the successful organisation of each edition.
Organising an international academic event requires thorough preparation, the coordination of numerous activities and the cooperation of people who share the goal of creating a high-quality academic and social environment. It is precisely the continuity of this cooperation that enables the conference to develop and to maintain its place in the academic calendar.
Our thanks also go to the conference partners (the Institute of State and Law of the Czech Academy of Sciences, the Institute of State and Law of the Slovak Academy of Sciences and Slovenská sporiteľňa), who support the conference’s academic direction and help create the conditions for organising an event of high quality.
Special thanks are due to the Slovak Research and Development Agency (APVV), which, through the research projects carried out at the Department of Commercial and Business Law (current projects: APVV-24-0171, VV-MVP-24-0038 and APVV-23-0331), contributes to the development of research activities and creates the conditions for organising academic events such as the Law – Business – Economics conference. This support makes it possible to develop academic cooperation, present research results and provide a forum for the exchange of knowledge and discussion of current scholarly questions.
A Tradition that Continues
Fifteen editions of the Law – Business – Economics conference represent more than a chronological milestone. They testify to long-standing cooperation, sustained academic interest and a continued effort to create a space where diverse perspectives, experiences and approaches can meet. At the same time, the conference builds on a tradition of academic meetings that, since the 1970s, have fostered the exchange of knowledge and the development of legal and economic thought.
The history of the conference shows that the need to connect law, business and economics remains relevant in every era. Legislation, the business environment and technologies change, but the importance of academic dialogue, critical reflection and mutual cooperation endures.
We thank everyone who has been part of the fifteen-year history of the revived Law – Business – Economics conference. We greatly appreciate the trust of the participants, the support of our partners and the work of all our colleagues, thanks to whom this tradition can continue.
We look forward to future meetings, new academic challenges and the 16th edition of the Law – Business – Economics conference.
