29 May 2025
The 2025 ISDA Annual General Meeting, held in Amsterdam, brought together global leaders for insightful discussions on the evolving landscape of the derivatives market. From liquidity constraints and regulatory fragmentation to the operationalisation of cleared digital assets and the rise of 24/7 trading, the conversations were timely and deeply aligned with the challenges our clients are navigating.
As a sponsor and exhibitor, Likezero was proud to be at the heart of these discussions, showcasing how our contract data intelligence solution helps institutions respond with agility to market, regulatory and operational shifts.
We spoke with Khilan Shah, Chief Revenue Officer; Simon Davies, Relationship Management Director and Alastair Ferguson, Client Solutions Consultant, to capture their reflections on the event and Likezero’s role in helping shape the next chapter of the derivatives market.
Simon:
As in previous years, the ISDA Annual General Meeting was a great event. It provided a valuable opportunity to connect with clients, prospects, partners, and the broader industry. It’s always insightful to hear firsthand about the challenges firms are facing with legal documentation digitisation, and equally rewarding to demonstrate how Likezero can support them on that journey.
Alastair:
The major themes at this year’s AGM, liquidity risk, regulatory alignment, and innovation in clearing, really resonate with the work we’re doing with our clients every day. At Likezero, our strength lies in delivering deep, meaningful analytics across a wide range of trading contracts. That means our clients can surface key risk terms quickly and with real confidence.
What we showcased at our stand was a great example of this in action. Whether it’s supporting clients through real-world stress scenarios or helping improve data quality for regulatory exposure, capital calculations, or onboarding processes, we’re focused on enabling faster, smarter decision-making. Ultimately, it’s about helping our clients be more resilient and responsive in a volatile market.
Simon:
A recurring theme in many of my conversations was the complexity firms face in managing their agreements, particularly when it comes to handling amendments and umbrella agreements. Many banks are now beginning to replace legacy systems, all while dealing with increasing regulatory scrutiny.
At the same time, there’s a growing recognition of the value in unlocking data from contracts. Firms are seeing how this data can enhance business functions, strengthen risk management, and enable better integration across the broader ecosystem. It was a great opportunity to show how we can help address these challenges.
Khilan:
It’s actually really fascinating to see how far the industry has come in just the past decade. Early on, it was mainly the big GSIB banks exploring alternative approaches to contract data and documentation intelligence, mostly because regulators were pushing for it. But as regulatory frameworks have become more complex, the operational demands have grown with them.
What’s really interesting now is the shift in mindset: we’re seeing financial institutions of all sizes recognising that this isn’t just about ticking boxes anymore. There’s a real economic advantage to getting contract data right. It’s gone from being seen as a burden to something that can actually drive smarter decisions and better outcomes across the business.
Khilan:
Yes, definitely. One session that really resonated with me was “Managing Derivatives Contractual Terms in a Chaotic Market.” They shared this really striking infographic comparing the collapse of Enron to Credit Suisse. With Enron, it took about 60 days from the first news report to the actual collapse. But with Credit Suisse, that same process happened in just 5 days. It was such a powerful visual, it really drove home how quickly things can unravel in today’s markets. For us, it just reaffirmed why there’s such a strong and growing need for accurate, accessible contract data. The pace of change is faster than ever, and having the right information at your fingertips is absolutely critical.
Alastair:
Attending industry events like the ISDA AGM is incredibly important for us. It’s a great opportunity to stay closely aligned with key market initiatives, especially those led by major trade associations and market utilities. These gatherings allow us to hear directly from our clients and prospective clients about the tools and services that are really making an impact. That kind of insight is invaluable as we shape our product roadmap, explore new partnerships, and fine-tune how we position ourselves in the market.
A good example is the ISDA Common Domain Model (CDM); when we see strong momentum behind initiatives like that, we can respond quickly, such as by developing seamless integration options that add real value for our clients.
