Cornerstone Counsel is pleased to announce that its Founder and Managing Partner, Ceyhun Pehlivan, will participate as a speaker in the upcoming online seminar “AI and Public Accountability: Applying the EU AI Act – Risk and Responsibilities,” organised by the Academy of European Law (ERA) on 26–27 October 2026.
The seminar will examine recent developments in the European Union’s regulatory framework for artificial intelligence, with particular attention to the obligations applicable to AI providers and deployers, the changes introduced by the AI Omnibus, and the allocation of enforcement responsibilities between the European Commission, the European AI Office and national authorities. It will also address recent guidelines and codes of practice, AI regulatory sandboxes, and the practical implementation of AI governance obligations.
Shadow AI in the Workplace: Why AI Literacy Matters
Ceyhun will deliver a presentation entitled “Shadow AI in the Workplace: Why AI Literacy Matters” on 27 October 2026, as part of the session dedicated to obligations for companies using AI.
His presentation will examine the growing phenomenon of shadow AI, whereby employees use AI tools within their organisations without formal authorisation, appropriate oversight or established governance procedures.
As generative AI and other AI-powered applications become increasingly accessible, organisations face new challenges in identifying and managing their use across business operations. These challenges extend beyond regulatory compliance and may involve data protection, confidentiality, cybersecurity, intellectual property and broader organisational risks.
Ceyhun will explore the legal and practical implications of shadow AI, focusing particularly on the importance of AI literacy as a component of effective AI governance. The presentation will consider how organisations can strengthen employees’ understanding of AI-related risks and responsibilities while developing appropriate internal policies, training programmes and oversight mechanisms.
An International Programme of AI Law and Governance Experts
The two-day seminar will bring together legal practitioners, regulators, academics and compliance professionals from across Europe.
Alongside Ceyhun, the programme will feature Madalina Botan, Associate Professor at the National School of Political Science and Public Administration in Bucharest and Vice Chair of the AI Act Code of Practice for Transparency; Margherita Corrado and Maria-Oraiozili Koutsoupia, both from the European AI Office at the European Commission; Diletta De Cicco, Team Leader for Litigation and International Affairs at the European Data Protection Board (EDPB); Nicola Fabiano, Founder and Partner at Studio Legale Fabiano in Rome; Teresa Martínez Sánchez, Deputy Division Director at the Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD); and Michael Staudacher, Chief Compliance Officer at Kwizda Holding in Vienna.
The seminar is organised by Léo Gotarda of the Academy of European Law.
Ceyhun’s participation reflects his continuing involvement in European discussions on AI regulation, digital governance and the practical challenges of implementing the EU AI Act. It also builds on his longstanding collaboration with ERA as a speaker on European technology and regulatory law.
Registration
The seminar will take place online on 26–27 October 2026, with Ceyhun’s presentation scheduled for 27 October at 10:50 CET.
Further information, the full programme and registration details are available on the Academy of European Law’s website.
