Our knowledge resources reflect the breadth and depth of our expertise, our insight into the issues which matter to your business, and our understanding of the markets in which you operate.
Travers Smith LLP has advised Apera Asset Management (Apera), a pan-European mid-market private debt investor, on debt facilities made available to support the refinancing and the ongoing buy and build strategy of TC Group, a leading business services firm specialising in a wide range of accountancy and other financial planning services.
In late January 2021, the Court of Appeal of the Hague considered in some detail whether to hold Royal Dutch Shell (UK plc) responsible for the actions of its indirect subsidiary, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, in a long-running litigation relating to a significant oil leak in Nigeria.
Travers Smith LLP has acted for Foresight Group on its initial public offering and listing on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange.
Travers Smith LLP has advised longstanding client Canaccord Genuity Group, Inc. (Canaccord Genuity) on the investment by HPS Investment Partners, LLC (HPS), on behalf of investment accounts and funds managed by it, into Canaccord Genuity's UK wealth management division.
Our round-up of recent developments in law and practice for in-house counsel.
The ICO is the UK’s independent regulator who oversees and enforces the UK’s data protection regime. From 1st January 2021 as the ICO’s website states “… the UK General Data Protection Regulation together with the amended Data Protection Act and Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations will comprise the personal data protection legislation in the UK.” The Trade and Co-operation Agreement (ETCA) agreed between the UK and the EU on 24th December 2020 agreed a ‘data-bridge’ which provides for the continued free flow of personal data from the EU and EEA EFTA States to the UK until adequacy decisions are adopted, and for no longer than six months.
Travers Smith LLP has advised Nomura Real Estate Development Co., Ltd. on its acquisition of the property known as 127-133 Charing Cross Road from RDI REIT PLC.
In December 2020, the UK Supreme Court handed down its much-awaited judgment in the case of Mastercard and others v Merricks (2020) ("Merricks"). This is an important ruling because it lowers the bar for obtaining permission for collective actions to proceed. If the Merricks action is allowed to go ahead, Mastercard will face a claim for a pay-out of over £14 billion to approximately 46 million UK consumers - which could open the door to many more incipient collective actions.
The evidence outlined by the UK Government includes allegations of forced sterilisation, extra-judicial detention and forced labour. The proposals are intended to "send a clear message that these violations of human rights are unacceptable, and to safeguard UK businesses and public bodies from any involvement or linkage with them".
Travers Smith LLP has advised long-standing client Ascential plc, the specialist information, data and analytics company, on the sale of Groundsure, to ATI Global Limited, the global legal technology, software and information services group.
Travers Smith LLP has advised long-standing client TA Associates and management shareholders on the sale of a majority stake in ITRS Group (ITRS), a leading global provider of real-time monitoring and analytics software, to Montagu Private Equity LLP. TA Associates will retain a minority stake in ITRS going forward.
Whilst the Covid-19 pandemic and the UK’s relationship with the EU post-Brexit have dominated the recent political and economic agenda, there are a number of important tax developments that those in the real estate sector should have on their radar for 2021.
Head of Incentives and Remuneration, Mahesh Varia, and Senior Associate, Claire Prentice, have contributed to the Legal 500 Country Comparative Guides. These guides set out a series of country-specific Q&As providing an overview of the employee incentives laws and regulations in each jurisdiction.
In Motorola Solutions Inc v Hytera Communications Corp Ltd [2021] EWCA Civ 11 the Court of Appeal provides clarity on the "unambiguous impropriety" exception.
A regular briefing for the alternative asset management industry.
This briefing was updated on 12 February 2021.
As one of the key sticking points in negotiations leading up to the trade deal agreed on 24 December 2020, the future of the UK's state aid regime has been uncertain ever since it was determined that the UK was to leave the EU. However, with terms now agreed between the EU and UK on the control of subsidies in each jurisdiction, some clarity has been provided for UK and EU businesses alike on this contentious issue.
Since 1 April 2020, UK banks issuing new shares and entities applying for banking licences must provide the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) with a legal opinion. We have experience of drafting these, and of other rule changes made by the PRA on the same date.
The Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) between the UK and the EU, which took effect on 1 January 2021, dedicates an entire chapter to digital trade arrangements, such as the supply of goods and services through online channels. This is the first time an EU trade agreement has included a specific chapter of this nature and marks the importance of digital trade between the two jurisdictions.
Travers Smith LLP has advised Bridgepoint Development Capital on its partnership with Prescient Healthcare Group (Prescient), a global product strategy advisory firm serving the pharmaceutical and biotech industries.
As the dust settles on the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, and the majority of businesses have returned after a break of some kind at the end of 2020, the end of the Brexit Transition Period means that UK (and some EU and EEA) users of derivatives find themselves in a new regulatory environment.