From policy to product: compliance by design - Platform Leaders 18 November 2025

Digital regulators in Europe and the UK are rewriting the rules of the game. The session explores how tech organisations translate fast-evolving digital market rules into practical product decisions—balancing innovation, due process and measurable outcomes. In particular, the panellists touch upon the move from ex post to ex ante models of competition, the differences between UK and EU approaches and explore how firms can embed compliance into product design from the outset — not just to avoid penalties, but to build fair, interoperable, and trusted platforms.

How can regulators ensure clarity, proportionality, and predictability while still safeguarding consumers and competition? How can regulatory requirements be turned into user-friendly features that build trust? What are the trade-offs when embedding compliance into early product design, particularly in fast-moving areas like AI?

Speakers in order of appearance:
Brian Williamson, Partner, Communications Chambers
Oliver Bethell, Head of Competition, EMEA, Google
Alexander Waksman, Partner, Competition Law, gunnercooke
Prof. Annabelle Gawer, Chaired Professor in Digital Economy, Director CoDE, Surrey University

Platform Leaders brings together entrepreneurs, policy makers, academics and practitioners to exchange insights and best practices on the future of digital platforms and ecosystems.