Disputes Day 2026 offers practical insights on navigating settlements – Register now!
While disputes are an inevitable part of business, deciding whether to pursue litigation or seek a settlement is always an important strategic choice. This decision is affected not only by legal and commercial risks, but psychological factors and human dynamics also play a significant role. These themes will be explored in this year's Disputes Day on 11 March, where leading experts and academics will provide practical insights for navigating the landscape of settlements.
Date and time: Wednesday, 11 March 2026 from 12 noon till 7 pm
Venue: Finlandia Hall, Mannerheimintie 13 e, Helsinki
Krogerus Disputes Day is our annual live conference offering practical insights to help companies manage the complexities of legal disputes. The event is hosted by Partners Kirsi Kannaste, Thomas Kolster and Tatu Jaarinen, as well as other Krogerus’ dispute resolution practitioners.
Disputes Day highlights settlement as more than just an alternative to litigation
"Settlement strategies, discussions and considerations are, or at least should be, a crucial part of dispute resolution. Yet they might receive less structured attention than preparing for court litigation or arbitration. That is why we wanted to dedicate this year's Disputes Day to the theme of 'Navigating Settlements'. The event will examine risk assessment, decision-making and the practical execution of settlements from diverse perspectives", summarises Partner Tatu Jaarinen.
In an age of uncertainty and increasingly complex disputes, settlement represents more than just an alternative to litigation. It offers a way to retain control over the outcome since the parties only settle for what they decide is acceptable.
"We believe that Disputes Day will generate new ideas on daily conflict management, offer valuable perspectives when considering settlement and negotiation tactics, and explore captivating themes, such as, human flaws and decision-making in situations where the stakes are high", says Associate Hanna Lehmonen and continues: "We are excited about our prominent speakers who will be sharing both academic insight and practical experiences, and look forward to connecting with our international and domestic guests."
Deciding between litigation and settlement forms an important strategic choice
"One key question to ask is: what does success actually look like? Sometimes we get so focused on "winning" that we forget to define what winning means for the business. A settlement that delivers 70% of what you want next month might be far more valuable than a court victory two years from now. But not always", explains Tatu.
There are also multiple other factors to consider when deciding whether to seek settlement or pursue litigation, including:
- the nature of the dispute itself,
- the relationship with the counterparty,
- regulatory implications,
- reputational risks, costs, timing, and
- the emotional toll litigation takes on everyone involved.
What to expect during Disputes Day: The event offers real-life insights on settlement decisions and discusses experiences from aiming to settle in an interview with Krogerus' experts and Thomas Heinonen, General Counsel at Anora Group. The event will also dive into daily conflict management in a panel discussion with Ulrika Nirkkonen (Nordea), Dennis Spritzell (Philips) and Michaela Skrabb (Veho) as panelists.
Psychological factors and human dynamics are an inseparable part of settlement decisions
Psychological factors and human dynamics often play a key role in whether parties move towards settlement or litigation. The decision to settle is rarely purely rational, since it is made by humans, who also take into account, for example, emotions, reputation and personal dynamics with the counterparty.
"Underlying psychological – and sometimes unconscious – drivers may push us towards what feels right, rather than what a pure risk-and-outcome analysis might suggest. In many cases, cooperation with the counterparty has become exceedingly difficult, and mutual trust has suffered. Some within the organisation may feel frustrated or even personally offended, and the desire to send a message to the counterparty may push away from settlement. A lack of trust in the counterparty may even render settlement impossible", explains Associate Saara Lahtinen.
What to expect during Disputes Day: These psychological themes will be explored through our two keynotes: Psychologist Jan-Ole Hesselberg from Dam Foundation will speak about cognitive bias in judicial risk assessments, whereas Associate Fellow Suzanne Williams from University of Oxford will discuss how skills from hostage-negotiation scenarios can be transferred onto the business scene of settlements.
The tools and tactics used in settlements can change the negotiation dynamics
Successful settlement negotiations depend on a sufficient level of trust and a shared analysis of risks. Knowing when to bring in a mediator, how to frame proposals, and even when to stay silent are all tactical choices that can shift the entire dynamic of a negotiation.
There are also concrete tools that can help with preparation. For instance, decision tree analysis can help map out potential outcomes and their financial implications, providing clarity on the true value of different settlement scenarios. If the decision weighs more towards exploring the negotiation path, successful settlement negotiations will also depend on many factors, including the right tools, tactics, and mindset. Ultimately, the decision of whether to settle or not comes down to whether the party would be worse off than if there was no settlement at all.
What to expect during Disputes Day: During the event, we will explore different tools that can provide guidance for future settlement considerations in a panel discussion focusing on decision trees and risk analysis tools with Hans-Patrick Schroeder (Freshfields), Tiina Lencioni (Lidl Suomi), Fredrik Ringquist (Mannheimer Swartling) and Pirita Virtanen (Private Mediator) as panelists.
Register by 24 February
Registration is open until Tuesday, 24 February or until the event is fully booked. The event is intended for General Counsels, other in-house lawyers, senior executives and colleagues from international law firms. Read more about the event and register on the Disputes Day's website!
