The conference brand previously known as Information Governance and eDiscovery or, more colloquially, just “IQPC”, is this year called IICE – Information Management. Investigations. Compliance. EDiscovery.

It takes place in London on 18 and 19 May and, as its predecessors have always done, it covers a very wide range of topics which fall under the related headings in its title.

The speakers come from a wide range of businesses – corporations facing problems providers offering solutions, lawyers both internal and external, and Independent experts.

It is not just panels and podiums. There are round tables, discussions and other ways of bringing people together with a common interest in the subjects. Providers of software and services will be on hand to talk about their solutions; they include Relativity, UBIC, Epiq, NightOwl Discovery, and Recommind.

I am opening the show with a panel called Comparing and contrasting eDiscovery in the UK and US in the light of Pyrrho with a panel drawn from both sides of the Atlantic: US Magistrate Judge David Waxse, well known for his strong views on cooperation and lawyer competence, will represent the US alongside Hal Marcus of Recommind; for the UK we have the veteran Vince Neicho of Allen & Overy, with the young thrusters represented by Ed Spencer of Taylor Wessing, one of the lawyers involved in Pyrrho.

I have always been disdainful of the US idea that the US is “two years ahead of the rest of the world” in eDiscovery, while giving credit for its technology and for the very high level of thoughtful engagement available from US judges like Judge Waxse. We are, perhaps, entering a period in which these two similar but different jurisdictions are actually learning from each other.

A session called Technology, data and regulation at a crossroad: key trends in the industry will be presented by Andrew Shimek, Global Managing Director, eDiscovery Solutions at Epiq in the company of Adi Elliott, VP of Market Planning at Epiq.

UBIC will talk about the pre-emptive benefits of information governance as a way of heading off or mitigating eDiscovery issues.

Kate Greenwood of the Financial Conduct Authority will bring us up to date on the eDiscovery International Standard. Nigel Murray will talk about conducting business while the Privacy Shield stutters towards becoming a replacement for Safe Harbour. Alison North, an eloquent advocate of information governance, gives us two sessions on the value of IG, with particular focus on outputs.

There is plenty more. You can get the full agenda from the website here.