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Tag Archives: UK

Investing in UK CCUS Projects — Opportunities and Challenges

With the recent UK “Green Day” announcements confirming the government’s support for CCUS, interest in UK CCUS projects is expected to continue to grow. While there are significant opportunities for investors, careful consideration will be needed to navigate a number of industry specific issues to achieve a successful CCUS project. By Beatrice Lo, JP Sweny, Simon … Continue Reading

HM Treasury Publishes Draft Legislation to Regulate BNPL Lending

A consultation that will remain open until 11 April 2023 offers further clarity on the proposals to regulate buy-now-pay-later products. By Rob Moulton, Becky Critchley, Ella McGinn, and Dianne Bell On 14 February 2023, HM Treasury published its consultation and accompanying draft legislation on the regulation of buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) lending. The consultation follows the proposals … Continue Reading

Consumer Duty Update: FCA Issues Dear CEO/Director Letters Setting Priorities for Sectors

The letters ask senior management to prioritise implementing the Duty. By David Berman, Nicola Higgs, Rob Moulton, Becky Critchley, Ella McGinn, Jaime O’Connell, and Dianne Bell On 3 February 2023, the FCA published Dear CEO/Director letters underscoring the immediate (i.e., during the implementation period up until 31 July 2023) and longer-term expectations, priorities, and demands … Continue Reading

FCA Publishes “Areas for Improvement” for Firms on Consumer Duty Implementation

The FCA has reviewed firms’ progress to embed the Duty into their businesses, providing good and poor practice examples for firms to improve and direct their implementation work. By Nicola Higgs, Becky Critchley, Jaime O’Connell, and Dianne Bell The Consumer Duty (Duty) rules (as set out under the FCA’s Policy Paper (PS22/9) and guidance document … Continue Reading

PE on Red Alert for Greenwashing in Light of UK Developments

PE firms face growing regulatory and litigation risks from greenwashing claims as they navigate a fragmented anti-greenwashing landscape. By Tom D. Evans, Nell Perks, Anne Mainwaring, David J. Walker, and Catherine Campbell Amid concerns of exaggerated or misleading sustainability claims, the UK Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) recent proposal for new labelling and disclosure rules to … Continue Reading

Further Evolution of the UK Online Safety Bill Removes “Legal, But Harmful” Content Obligations and Increases Children’s Safety Measures

The amended bill aims to safeguard freedom of expression whilst still protecting children and adult users in the online environment. By Gail E. Crawford, Deborah J. Kirk, Alain Traill, and Victoria Wan The Online Safety Bill (the Bill) was introduced by the UK government on 17 March 2022. The Bill aims to impose obligations on … Continue Reading

The Rise of the Competitive Scheme and Other Developments for Private Equity P2P Bidders

Private equity’s growing appetite for UK-listed targets comes with the need for Takeover Code-savvy dealmakers. By Doug Abernethy, Richard Butterwick, Tom Evans, David J. Walker, and Catherine Campbell Amid stiff competition for attractive private targets, PE firms are competing more regularly against corporates and rival sponsors for listed targets, requiring skillful navigation of the dynamics … Continue Reading

What Rules Will Apply to Jurisdiction and the Enforcement of Judgments After Brexit? Part Four

The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement has now been agreed. So what rules will apply to jurisdiction and foreign judgments in the UK from 1 January 2021? By Oliver Browne and Tom Watret Introduction It has been a long time in the making, but the UK and EU have finally reached an agreement (the EU-UK … Continue Reading

COVID-19: DHSC and MHRA Pave the Way for Increased Ventilator Production

UK companies interested in producing ventilators and other critical equipment may benefit from regulatory exemptions and use government product specifications. By Frances Stocks Allen and Oliver Mobasser On 16 March 2020, Prime Minister Boris Johnson called on the UK’s leading manufacturing businesses to help the UK step up production of vital medical equipment to combat … Continue Reading

What Does Brexit Mean for the Copyright Directive in the UK?

Companies may face a challenging regulatory environment following the EU-wide implementation of the Copyright Directive by 7 June 2021. By Deborah J. Kirk and Rachael Astin On 21 January 2020, the UK government confirmed that the UK will not be required to implement the Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market 2019/790 (Copyright Directive) … Continue Reading

Will the Increase in Cross-Channel Deals Require an Anglo-French Approach to Management Equity?

As management terms converge, deal teams must still navigate cross-border differences in ratchets, put and call options, and management warranties. By Alexander Benedetti, Tom Evans, David Walker, Neil Campbell, Catherine Campbell, and Eric Loubet French and UK private equity firms are increasingly looking across the Channel for attractive buyout opportunities. Cross-border transactions involving French and UK … Continue Reading

FCA Warns of ‘Significant Weaknesses’ in Firms’ Implementation of the Conduct Rules

All firms should take note of the FCA’s latest feedback on SMCR implementation. By Rob Moulton, Charlotte Collins and David Berman In its latest piece of feedback on firms’ implementation of the SMCR, the FCA indicated that firms must improve their implementation of the Certification Regime and, most particularly, the Conduct Rules. While the FCA’s … Continue Reading

Brexit Progress Report: 1 of 10 Key Regulatory Focus Areas for UK/European Wholesale Markets in 2019

By David Berman, Carl Fernandes  Nicola Higgs, Rob Moulton and Charlotte Collins In our January publication, we highlighted what we were seeing as the top regulatory focus areas for our clients during the year ahead, focusing on wholesale market structures and conduct risk. In a series of 10 blog posts, we will take a closer look at … Continue Reading

Fraud Unravels All – Even Post-Judgment

English Supreme Court rules that there is no reasonable diligence requirement barring a fresh action to set aside a judgment obtained by fraud. Oliver E. Browne and Alex Cox Introduction In Takhar v Gracefield Developments Limited and others [2019] UKSC 13, the English Supreme Court considered whether a party applying to set aside an earlier … Continue Reading

UK’s Proposed “Online Harms” Compliance and Enforcement Regime Will Target Platforms

UK publishes White Paper with hard-hitting regulatory proposals to tackle online harms. By Alain Traill, Stuart Davis, Andrew Moyle, Deborah Kirk and Gail Crawford On 8 April 2019, the Home Office and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) published an “Online Harms White Paper”, proposing a new compliance and enforcement regime intended to … Continue Reading

Sections 68 and 69 of the Arbitration Act 1996 Have Bite!

A rare example of the English High Court varying an arbitral award. By Oliver E. Browne and Eleanor M. Scogings In Dakshu Patel v. Kesha Patel [2019] EWHC 298 (Ch), the English High Court upheld an appeal under section 69 of the Arbitration Act 1996 (the Act) against an arbitral award. The court concluded that … Continue Reading

MHRA Releases No-Deal Brexit Guidance for Life Sciences Companies

The guidance provides helpful clarity on key regulatory changes impacting life sciences companies in the event of a no-deal Brexit. By Frances Stocks Allen, Oliver Mobasser, Héctor Armengod, Gail E. Crawford, Christoph W.G. Engeler, Robbie McLaren, and Henrietta J. Ditzen The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has published a significant volume of … Continue Reading

Directors Beware: UK Court of Appeal Ruling Clarifies Creditors’ Abilities to Challenge

The court offers guidance on reversing lawful dividend payments and when directors need to take into account creditors’ interests. By Simon J. Baskerville, Daniel Smith, Anna Hyde, Lisa Stevens, and Vanessa Morrison On 6 February 2019, the UK Court of Appeal published a judgment in BTI v. Sequana that will impact both creditors and directors … Continue Reading

Italian Investor Compensation Scheme Under the Brexit Law Decree

CONSOB notice 8/2019 details the requirements under the Italian investor compensation scheme applicable to UK banks and investment firms operating in Italy. By Antonio Coletti and Isabella Porchia On 29 March 2019, the Italian Securities Commission (CONSOB) issued a notice detailing the terms and requirements applicable to UK banks and investment firms operating in Italy … Continue Reading

Bank of Italy Issues Instructions for Brexit Law Decree

The instructions clarify the requirements applicable to banking and financial intermediaries under the Brexit Law Decree. By Antonio Coletti and Isabella Porchia On 28 March 2019, the Italian central bank (Bank of Italy) published two notices detailing the requirements for Italian banks and financial intermediaries operating in the UK, and for UK banks and financial … Continue Reading

Italy Issues Regulatory Instructions for Brexit Law Decree

The notice details the requirements applicable to UK investment firms operating in Italy, and Italian investment firms operating in the UK. By Antonio Coletti and Isabella Porchia On 26 March 2019, the Italian Securities Commission (CONSOB) issued a notice detailing the requirements applicable to UK investment firms operating in Italy and Italian investment firms operating … Continue Reading

English High Court Upholds Privilege Claim Over Client Instructions to Provide Confirmations

The decision clarifies how lawyer-client privilege applies in the context of transactions. By Daniel Smith and James Fagan The recent English High Court decision Raiffeisen Bank International AG v Asia Coal Energy Ventures Limited and Ashurst provides guidance on the application of legal advice privilege in a transaction context, confirming that confidential client instructions can … Continue Reading
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