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.
"Significant progress has been made for working mothers in terms of provision for maternity leave and flexible working (although there is still work to be done). However, genuine career parity can only be achieved if taking time out to care for children becomes the norm for fathers too."
On 22 July 2021, the House of Commons International Trade Committee ("ITC") launched an inquiry targeting the international trade aspects of COP26 ("Trade Inquiry").
Alongside a raft of other recent proposals, the UK Government is consulting on plans to introduce tougher competition oversight over major players in the digital technology sector.
On 5 July 2021, the Court of Appeal handed down its judgment in Victorygame Limited, Surjit Singh Pandher v Ahuja Investments Limited [2021] EWCA Civ 993 concerning whether a party can maintain litigation privilege over information, in circumstances where it has misled the party providing that information as to the purpose for which it is required.
Head of Incentives and Remuneration Mahesh Varia and Senior Associate Claire Prentice have contributed the UK chapter to the latest edition of The Legal 500: Employee Incentives Country Comparative Guide.
On 9 August 2021, Working Group I of the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change ("IPCC") presented its report on the physical science basis of climate change (the "Report"), the first of three parts that will together form the IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report ("AR6"), due to be released in full in spring 2022.
In their contribution to the International Comparative Legal Guides, Travers Smith Funds Partner Jeremy Elmore and Senior Associate Andrew Benson discuss GP-led transactions from the investor's perspective.
In their contribution to the International Comparative Legal Guides, Travers Smith Funds Partner Jeremy Elmore and Head of Tax Emily Clark discuss alternative investment funds in England & Wales.
In this session from the PLSA's inaugural ESG Conference (July 2021), Pensions Partner Andy Lewis, Partner and Head of Financial Services and Markets Tim Lewis and Senior Consultant Simon Witney discuss key questions that can arise for pension schemes looking develop their ESG policies and beliefs and translate these into practical action. How can schemes fit these specific regulations into the bigger picture of their overall duties and operations without getting lost in the detail?
The recent judgment of the High Court in Josiya & Ors v British American Tobacco PLC & Ors [2021] EWHC 1743 (QB) is the latest in a series of cases in which the English Courts have refused to strike out novel claims against UK companies in respect of alleged unethical conduct in their overseas business operations.
On 6 August 2021 the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published CP21/26: A new UK prudential regime for MiFID investment firms.
Facial recognition technology relies on the process of identifying or verifying a person's identity using their facial features. Software known as facial verification can be used to establish someone’s identity, for instance as a way to unlock electronic devices and to help with passport checks at airports.
A regular briefing for the alternative asset management industry.
This consultation is on the second "tax measure" announced by the Treasury ("HMT") in the March Budget – a new Gateway 2 Levy on high rise residential developments during the pre-construction stage. This is part of a package of measures intended to help pay for the remediation of certain buildings impacted by the cladding crisis, following the Grenfell Tower tragedy (the "Building Safety Levy").
In a dispute between two partners to a joint venture (JV) agreement, the Court of Appeal ruled that despite not having performed all of its obligations under the agreement, a JV partner was still entitled to its share of the profits. What lessons does this hold for businesses when drafting and negotiating JV agreements, particularly where the JV partners are acting both as investors and suppliers to the JV?
On 2 August 2021 various amending measures were published in the EU Official Journal which will require EU Alternative Investment Fund Managers, EU UCITS management companies and EU MiFID investment firms (including portfolio managers and adviser/arrangers) to integrate sustainability risks and factors into their policies and procedures.
While in recent months the approaching COP26 has been occupying the bulk of government and media attention, the 15th meeting of the UN Conference of the Parties ("COP15") to the Convention on Biological Diversity ("CBD") is also due to take place in 2021, which is seen by many as being just as critical to the future of the planet.
The FCA, the PRA and the Bank of England have issued a joint Discussion Paper on diversity and inclusion in the financial sector.