The Toulouse conference is a milestone for ESELS – the European Society for Empirical Legal Studies. With more than 130 presentations selected from 180 submissions, and participants representing over 24 countries, this is our most ambitious gathering to date. Thank you all for being here.

Our theme, The Law of the Future, reflects a field in motion. From artificial intelligence to human rights, corporate regulation to new empirical methods, from game theory to personal narratives, this year's program shows the remarkable breadth of our shared project. One development stands out: the strong presence of early-career researchers. Their questions, methods, and energy are advancing and reshaping the field. Their contributions are a sign of growth in scale, direction, and purpose.