As cross‑border lending grows more complex, global lenders face an increasingly challenging landscape shaped by regulatory change, geopolitical risk, technology disruption, and heightened scrutiny of credit structures. Against that backdrop, SFNet’s International Lending Conference 2026, taking place May 19–20 at DLA Piper in London, offers a timely opportunity for secured finance professionals to sharpen their global perspective, strengthen cross‑border relationships, and gain practical insights that can be applied immediately to international transactions.

The conference brings together lenders, advisors, and service providers from North America and Europe for two days of focused discussion on the realities of international secured lending. Designed as a highly interactive forum, the program emphasizes real‑world case studies, regulatory developments, and emerging risks affecting global deal structures.

This year’s conference features several interconnecting themes involving women in secured finance, emerging leaders and technology.

“I was getting feedback that we needed more engagement and participation from our European Chapter,” said International Finance Committee Chair, and head of International Asset Based Finance, Bank of America, Alister Bazaz.

 “I want us to focus on topics that are timely and relevant to the evolution of our industry. So, we were very deliberate in seeking feedback and guidance from Mike Roth, director, Asset Based Finance at Deutsche Bank AG and SFNet’s Europe President, as well as the European Chapter Committee chairs, into the planning process for this year’s Conference. To foster diversity of thought and perspective, I invited Alex Dunn and Paula Langridge, the Women in Secured Finance Committee chairs, to lead and participate in a panel that resonated with their cohort and did the same with the Emerging Leaders committee chairs.”

This year’s conference will feature a Keynote session with Nicole Bearne,  the founder of The Comms Exchange and the former head of Internal Communications with the Mercedes Formula 1.   Drawing on her experience leading communications and culture, Bearne will share insights into building engaged, high-performing teams that thrive under pressure. She will be joined for this fireside chat by Bazaz.

Bazaz, who has been a huge Formula One fan since he was seven, said Bearne will discuss a variety of topics that will demonstrate the intersection of secured finance industry and F1.  

“We will discuss the growth of women in F1, the impact of technology on the sport and why it is considered to be the forerunner of not just engineering, but also data analytics and AI,” Bazaz said.

“There are real parallels between our industries — where we're emerging and evolving. And Nicole will share her experience of excelling in a traditionally male-dominated industry and working with people with large egos, among other questions.”

Bazaz also plans to discuss the cutting-edge technology used in Formula 1, such as how it is used to predict the outcomes of races in real-time during the middle of a race.

“What does technology mean for asset-based lending?” Bazaz said. “How are we going to use data and manage it faster and better, like Formula One does? What can we learn from Formula One to adapt our business?”

The Keynote Session with Nicole Bearne, sponsored by Bank of America and Norton Rose Fulbright, will kick off the second day of the Conference on May 20.

An Interview with Reporter Robert Smith from the Financial Times will kick off the first day of the Conference. Smith will share an intimate perspective on several recent high-profile cases of alleged financial fraud, examining how these situations unfolded, the lessons they offer, and what they mean for the future of asset-based lending. His observations, informed by his reporting on the First Brands and MFS cases, will underscore the need to get back to basics by leaning on fundamental lending principles and exploring best practices that will be shared over the following two days. He will be joined onstage by Bethani Oppenheimer, shareholder, Greenberg Traurig, LLP.

Receivables Purchase Facilities and Asset-Based Lending: Insights from First Brands, sponsored by White Oak Commercial Finance, will immediately follow.
Experts will discuss the rigorous diligence, disciplined monitoring and careful documentation that a lender has to consider when dealing with the risks of the “double pledge” and other types of fraud that may arise when a company has debtors in a supply chain program, its own supply chain program or factors its receivables. Panelists, consisting of Ranajoy Basu, partner, Squire Patton Boggs; Andrea Beirne, partner, KPMG US; Adam Clancy, chief operating officer, Atlantic Risk Management Limited; Parvaiz Dalal, global head Payables Finance, Citi; and Joye Lynn, head of Underwriting, Wells Fargo Capital Finance, will offer perspectives from field exam, supply chain finance, structured finance and asset-based lending.  David Morse, member, Otterbourg P.C., will be the moderator.

SFNet’s Europe Chapter’s NextGen Committee will then present AI & Technology, with a focus on cross-border applications and alignment with SFNet's tech conference in New York City on June 2. (Editor’s Note: This event is currently at capacity, but will be available virtually). Floor van Heijst, partner, Bird & Bird will moderate.  Panelists include Peter Bousquet, partner, D3T Capital; Pieter de Kok, head of Clients & Data, Finterface; Ian Fredericks, CEO - Capital Solutions (Americas), Hilco Global; Kishore Patel, head of Product, FIS Supply Chain Finance; and Sameer Sehgal, CEO, Traydstream.

“The panel explores how mature AI is in secured finance now, what developments the panel sees in the market and how AI can further add value in the future for all market participants,” added van Heijst. “Will AI transform secured finance and make secured finance more accessible?”

Diversity in Credit Rooms, sponsored by Gordon Brothers, is the Women in Secured Finance-presented panel that will explore diversity in credit room decision-making, examining how cultural and institutional differences influence outcomes. Paula Langridge, head of UK Asset Based Lending, Bank of America, will be the moderator. Panelists will include Amanda Alushani, CFA, investment director, Gordon Brothers; Gina Flynn, portfolio manager, Wells Fargo Capital Finance UK; Marjorie Lapras, principal–Debt Financing & Capital Markets, AURELIUS; Guelay Mese, head of Asset Based Lending, BNP Paribas; and Katharine Weeden, regional sales director, Leumi ABL.

The Germany & France Case Study will explore a real life cross-border restructuring in Germany and France for a U.S. parent ABL borrower group, where compromises for a PE sponsor relaxed an optimal lending structure. Dr. Andreas Kemper, managing director, Gordon Brothers will be the moderator, and panelists will include Daniel Arends, counsel, Norton Rose Fulbright LLP; David Katz, senior managing director, FTI Consulting Adam Rauch, senior managing director, FTI Consulting; and Guillaume Rudelle, counsel, Norton Rose Fulbright LLP.

In Unlocking the Mystery of EU Directive CRD VI, panelists will examine how lending to European subsidiaries could land lenders in hot water under this new regulation.

“The EU Directive in CRD VI poses some real issues for US and UK regulated institutions in how to approach international secured transactions where borrowers or guarantors are located in members of the EU,” said panelist David Morse, member, Otterbourg P.C.  “As with EU directives, there is the particular challenge of sorting through the transposition of the Directive into the various national laws and any nuances that may lead to for US lenders to understand what will be needed to comply.  There will also likely be very different strategies between the most active arrangers of cross-border financings and the US financial institutions that participate in those transactions.  We will have a very interesting discussion in sorting through what lenders can do—whether it involves using EU passported subsidiaries or unregulated affiliates that are not within the scope of the directive or developing internal procedures to satisfy the requirements so as to use one of the exemptions.”

Alister Bazaz will moderate and additional panelists will include Bobbi Acord Noland, partner, Parker, Hudson, Rainer & Dobbs LLP, and Frans van der Eerden, partner, NautaDutilh. 

For more information and to register for this year’s International Lending Conference, please click here.