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.
Brexit will have an impact on UK merger control and competition law – but it's not as big as you might think, at least in the short term. Here's what you need to know, as well as an update on likely timings.
In July 2018 we circulated a client briefing note outlining the European Parliament's approval of a revised proposal to amend EMIR (also known as "EMIR 2.1", which can be found here). This briefing note outlines a development that has occurred in respect of EMIR 2.1.
This is the second of recent briefing notes we have produced in respect of the speciality finance sector, in which funders lend into financial institutions which themselves makes loans available to companies, partnerships, sole traders and individual consumers ("Customer Loans").
This briefing note is informed by analysis of the transactions on which we advised during 2018, together with other publicly reported transactions and market data.
Is the UK's anti-bribery regime about to be put back in the spotlight? A House of Lords Select Committee has published its long-awaited report on the UK Bribery Act 2010.
Could Brexit allow parties to avoid their contractual obligations? The outcome of the recent dispute between the European Medicines Agency and Canary Wharf suggests that the courts may be reluctant to accept such arguments.
Key employment and business immigration developments for employers
In 2014, the European Union adopted a package of restrictive measures targeting sectoral cooperation and exchanges with the Russian Federation. These controls focus on certain sectors of the Russian economy, initially those specifically linked to Russia's involvement in Eastern Ukraine (the "Sectoral Sanctions"). If the UK leaves the EU with no deal in place, the scope of the Sectoral Sanctions will encompass certain UK entities connected to the 11 in-scope Russian entities.
The judge in the recent case of Canary Wharf v EMA has found in favour of the landlord, Canary Wharf. Brexit will not frustrate the EMA's lease on either of the grounds argued: supervening illegality or frustration of common purpose.
2019 brings with it the second round of gender pay gap reporting figures. The statistics for those firms who have already published their April 2018 figures show that approximately 40% have reported a widening of the gap from the previous year.
If the UK departs the EU on 29 March 2019 without an agreement in place, manufacturers and importers of industrial and consumer goods selling into the UK and/or EU will face a range of compliance and market access challenges. With fewer than five weeks remaining, 'no-deal' contingency plans should be implemented.
The question of which use class applies to a care-home for the elderly or others in need of care has been addressed once more in a recent Cornish appeal decision, in which dwellings for over-55s were classified as C3 rather than C2, despite being intended for occupiers needing a minimum of two hours of care per week. This is subtly distinguished on its facts from a case in Devon last year, and highlights the need for national planning policy to classify care-homes as either a flexible C3-C2 use, or within a use class of its own.
In the briefing below, we consider the Supreme Court's recent decision on contractual interpretation and implication of terms in Wells v Devani [2019] UKSC 4, which provides a timely reminder of the way in which the courts will approach oral contracts and the need where possible to commit such contracts to writing.
The government's Brexit advice urges businesses trading with the EU to review their contracts for the supply of goods – particularly those based on Incoterms – to ensure that they remain appropriate in the event of "no deal". What are Incoterms, why do they matter and what changes should you make in the light of Brexit?
The EU Revised Shareholder Rights Directive (SRD II) is currently required to be implemented by 10 June 2019. It seeks to encourage long-term shareholder involvement through increased transparency and engagement between asset managers and asset owners.
As if 2018 wasn’t eventful enough in terms of data protection, 2019 has certainly started with a bang. On 21 January, Google was issued with a €55 million fine by CNIL, the French data protection regulator - the first major fine to be imposed under the General Data Protection Regulation.