Thursday, November 26, 2026

Interdisciplinary Conference on Law, Economics, and Society

The Berlin Forum is the annual conference of Tax & Legal Excellence—an interdisciplinary networking event where top decision-makers from politics, academia, and business discuss the major issues of the year. This year’s focus is on the escalating geopolitical risk landscape, the economic outlook for Germany and Europe—and what this means for our society.

The Latest Economic Issues as Reflected in Business, Law, and Society
Food for thought and statements from renowned "Excellence" speakers
Orientation for your corporate business
Networking among top decision-makers from politics, academia, and business

CONFERENCE AT THE ADLON KEMPINSKI HOTEL

We warmly welcome you to our conference in Berlin, held in the ballroom of the Hotel Adlon Kempinski! The ballroom provides a setting for the event that is both prestigious and stylish. The elegant architecture, the festive ambiance, and the special atmosphere of this historic hotel create the ideal venue for high-caliber insights, thought-provoking discussions, and personal encounters.

As in previous years, the Berlin Forum —the annual conference of the Tax & Legal Excellence network—serves as a bridge between representatives from politics, government, academia, and business, facilitating the exchange of their diverse perspectives, and functions as an overarching, international platform for networking among top decision-makers.

STRATEGIC PARTNERS

We are pleased to welcome the Aspen Institute Germany, the German Atlantic Society, and the German Council on Foreign Relations as strategic partners of the Berlin Forum. Together, we will address the significant geopolitical shifts and their far-reaching implications for the economy, the legal system, and society. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to gain valuable insights and networking opportunities offered by our partnership.

SALON EVENING AT THE ADLON

We look forward to welcoming you to our Salon Evening in the Bundeszimmer at the Adlon following the conference. The highlight of the evening will be an interview with Sigmar Gabriel: “What Can Germany Still Do? On Leadership, Prosperity, and Responsibility in a Harsher World.” Participants in the Berlin Salon will benefit from an in-depth dialogue between the worlds of politics and business, as well as networking on an equal footing.

Sigmar Gabriel has been chairman of Atlantik-Brücke e.V. since 2019. As Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vice Chancellor, Federal Minister of Economics and Federal Minister of the Environment, as well as Minister-President of Lower Saxony, he has shaped German politics for over two decades; from 2009 to 2017, he served as chairman of the SPD. Today, he serves on the supervisory boards of Deutsche Bank and Rheinmetall AG, among others.

In this interview, Sigmar Gabriel explores how leadership, prosperity, and international responsibility need to be reimagined—and what politics, the economy, and we as a society can do to ensure that Germany remains capable of taking action.

The conference day

Against the backdrop of heightened geopolitical risks, the central theme of this year’s annual conference focuses on the current economic outlook and the resulting options for action in legal practice. The program thus bridges the gap between a geopolitical assessment, business prospects for the future, and the legal framework within the European context.

Held in the heart of the capital, this event combines professional excellence with exclusive hospitality. The Adlon’s ballroom provides a space for focused discussions as well as for those informal conversations that give rise to new perspectives, valuable contacts, and lasting connections. An exceptional venue for a select group of decision-makers.

Programme

Geopolitics, Geoeconomics, and Systemic Conflict

Topics

Europe in a Chaotic World: How Well Can the West Defend Itself?
Germany's Economic Expansion Faces a Reality Check
China and the New World Order: Europe's Balance Between Dependence, Competition, and Security
Between Washington and Beijing: Europe's Economy in the New Trade Conflict
Is Democracy on the Defensive? The Open Society in the Age of Authoritarian Power Politics
Panels on Geopolitics, Geoeconomics, and Systemic Conflict
...

Statements

More than four years after the so-called “turning point” was declared, Germany and Europe face a lasting test. Security, energy supply, economic strength, and technological sovereignty are more closely intertwined than ever before. Resilience and strategic capacity to act will determine whether Europe can maintain its prosperity and political self-determination. Interdisciplinary dialogue among decision-makers provides guidance and fosters sustainable solutions for shaping our shared future.

Oliver Holzinger

Lawyer & tax consultant,
CEO / Founder, Tax & Legal Excellence

The world is in a state of upheaval. Led by Russia and China, autocratic regimes are preparing to challenge the West. At the same time, Europe and Germany must prepare for security and geo-economic threats without the United States as a reliable partner. The only response to this global turning point is to become more independent—and thus more self-reliant in foreign policy—and to invest heavily in economic and technological capabilities as well as defense capabilities.

Prof. Dr. Stefan Fröhlich

Professor emeritus of International Politics and Political Economy, FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg and board member of the DAG e.V.

Conference