Dezan Shira & Associates recently participated in the ETL GLOBAL International Conference 2026, held on October 1–2 in Warsaw, Poland, bringing together around 250 professionals from more than 40 countries and five continents.
Held under the theme “Time for Good News,” the annual conference brought together members from across the international network to reconnect, exchange experiences, share developments from their respective markets, and explore new opportunities for cross-border collaboration.
Riccardo Benussi, Partner at Dezan Shira & Associates and Member of ETL GLOBAL’s Global Board, represented the firm at the conference, taking part in the plenary program and meeting with fellow members from across the network.
The Warsaw conference continued the firm’s active engagement with ETL GLOBAL, following previous gatherings in Berlin, Rome, and Castelldefels. Earlier this year, ETL GLOBAL also featured Riccardo in a dedicated interview reflecting on his journey and involvement within the network.
He also took the stage to share recent developments at Dezan Shira & Associates, including the firm’s acquisition by Ascentium and the broader capabilities this brings across 27 markets. Alongside fellow members, Riccardo also presented the outcomes of this year’s ETL GLOBAL Future Stars initiative, which continues to support the development of the network’s next generation of professionals through cross-border collaboration and practical advisory challenges.
The event also offered an opportunity to look back at the network’s activities over the past year, including the work carried out through its International Desks. Dezan Shira & Associates contributed to these efforts earlier in 2026 through Patricia Aranguren’s participation in the ETL GLOBAL España International Desk meeting in Barcelona, which brought together members of the Spanish and Italian Desks to discuss international cooperation and cross-border business support.
The first day of the Warsaw conference focused on developments across ETL GLOBAL, welcoming new member firms and highlighting success stories and ongoing projects from across the network. The plenary program concluded with a session by professional speaker Alex Panayotou, followed by an evening gathering that gave members further opportunities to reconnect.
The second day saw the return of ETL GLOBAL’s specialized Working Groups, providing a more focused setting for participants to exchange technical knowledge and discuss areas of common interest. Sessions covered Tax, VAT, Transfer Pricing, Global Mobility, Real Estate, Inheritance Tax & Law, Employment Law, IP Law, Audit, M&A, Innovation, and Payroll.
Riccardo lead the Intellectual Property working group made of 12 IP professionals, from 9 ETL GLOBAL firms covering 9 countries. The topics ranged from individual skillsets’ mapping, agreeing on internal and external awareness campaign, and sharing current AI tools used to enhance IP mandates’ efficiency. “I would say my career started in private comparative law and IP and leading this group is a chance to look back and bring forward accumulated experiences from working with so many professionals in other countries who support their clients in Asia through us. It will be a pleasure to increase the visibility of the IP Desk to promote the network’s capabilities in front of SMEs and bidding for cross-border bids.”
The two-day program concluded with an evening gathering at MOXO, located within Warsaw’s historic Norblin Factory complex, bringing this year’s international conference to a close.
About ETL GLOBAL
ETL GLOBAL is the international business platform of ETL, a Germany-headquartered professional services group with more than 50 years of history and a strong SME focus. The network brings together tax, legal, audit, accounting and business advisory expertise to support clients internationally. Today, ETL GLOBAL comprises more than 24,000 professionals across over 1,600 offices in more than 60 countries, serving more than 660,000 clients worldwide.
Dezan Shira & Associates’ Presence in Europe
Incorporated in Munich in January 2021, Dezan Shira & Associates’ European presence serves as a first point of contact for European companies wishing to do business in Asia. Through its European-based team, the firm works with partners across the region to support companies with market intelligence, investment planning and their expansion into Asian markets.
