As ESG remains top of the agenda for many regulators in the UK and across Europe, we wanted our first episode in 2025 to bring you up to speed on some of the main ESG developments in the UK in 2024 from a regulatory perspective, and what we expect to see at the intersection between ESG and competition / consumer regulation in the UK this year. Speakers: Susan Black, Partner, Competition, Regulation and Trade and co-Global Head of Consumer, Sam Tappenden, Senior Associate, Competition, Regulation...
Jan 30, 2025•14 min
In this episode we cross examine Alastair MacGibbon, Chief Strategy Officer at CyberCX and one of Australia’s leading cyber security commentators. Alastair works with corporate Australia to advise on cyber risk, respond to incidents and build cyber resilience. Alastair has had a remarkable career, with 15 years in the Australian Federal Police, where he established Australia’s High Tech Crime Centre. He then went on to hold senior cyber security and safety roles across the private sector, includ...
Jan 21, 2025•53 min
We discuss recent Ombudsman rulings on scams and liberation. The rulings send a clear message to scammers. But they're of wider significance: they explain the Ombudsman's thinking as regards trustee protections and personal liability. Senior associate Henry Saunders shares his thoughts.
Jan 20, 2025•14 min
Join Vanessa Naish, Liz Kantor and new guest Martin Wallace as they delve into the most significant development of 2024: the rise of anti-suit injunctions. In this episode, they explore the legal arsenal available to practitioners in seeking the support of state courts for arbitration agreements, focusing on high-profile cases from the English and Hong Kong courts. They discuss the strategic tools and weapons that are available in these complex legal battles, and offer insights into the practica...
Jan 20, 2025•22 min
In this episode of our public M&A podcast series, we talk about the latest development in the MWB ruling. As we discussed in Episode 26 of our podcast series, the Takeover Panel last year issued an order to members of management in MWB Group to pay compensation to MWB shareholders of up to £33 million (as well as issuing 10 cold-shoulder rulings). The Takeover Panel has now obtained a court order enforcing its order to pay compensation. In the episode, we: • give a brief reminder of the fact...
Jan 10, 2025•6 min
A summary of the most material developments expected in the next 6-12 months which will be of relevance to UK listed companies.
Jan 06, 2025•18 min
The Pensions Ombudsman is overloaded. The determination process can take as long as three years. Now changes are proposed, to cut the backlog and reduce waiting times. Dan Saunders joins us to discuss the changes, and the implications for scheme members and trustees. Subscribe to the HSF Pensions Notes Blog here: https://www.herbertsmithfreehills.com/notes/pensions/subscribe
Jan 06, 2025•14 min
In this first episode of the FSR Brief, Jon Ford and Michael Tan discuss the latest developments with the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) consultation on transparency in investigations (CP24/2 Part 2). They discuss whether the changes to the FCA's "Public Interest Framework" go far enough to address the significant concerns raised in relation to the FCA's proposal to name firms under regulatory investigation.
Dec 18, 2024•29 min
In the last episode for 2024, Tony Damian and Andrew Rich cover off some of the highlights of their 2025 M&A predictions! Read our predictions here: https://www.herbertsmithfreehills.com/insights/2024-12/top-10-australian-manda-predictions-for-2025
Dec 18, 2024•3 min
In this not-to-be-missed final episode of InsideIR for 2024, your favourite IR team has done all the hard work for you, and pulled together a succinct summary of: • the top 5 issues that shaped industrial relations in 2024, and • our predictions on the top 5 IR issues that you will need to get ahead of for 2025. In this bumper end-of-year edition, Rohan Doyle is accompanied by no less than 9 of his HSF IR colleagues from across the country. Rohan Doyle (Partner), Victoria Fijalski (Senior Associ...
Dec 18, 2024•1 hr 22 min
In the final episode of The Third Wheel for 2024, Tim Stutt and Mel Debenham reflect on the year’s ESG developments and look ahead to 2025. They discuss the recent governmental response to the statutory review of the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth); the incoming climate reporting regime; and the future of nature-related disclosures. With elections at both the federal and state levels set for 2025, the episode closes with their thoughts on a possible pendulum swing towards greater scrutiny of propo...
Dec 17, 2024•22 min
In our latest episode, Camille Puech-Baron is joined by Angeline Woods, Senior Director for Global Antitrust, Artificial Intelligence and EU affairs at Uber, where she talks openly about the fast-paced environment of a tech company and the need to be dynamic and adaptable. Angeline also shares her views on leveraging the challenges and setbacks you face as a woman in the tech industry, and to remain open to learning new skills and spotting new opportunities.
Dec 17, 2024•19 min
In this special pre-Christmas podcast episode, Nusrat Zar, James Wood and Jasveer Randhawa take a look back at some of the key developments from the last few months of 2024, with a particular focus on novel cases and cases which show the extent (and limits of) public law. Please find links to our blog posts on the cases covered in this podcast below: Human rights in climate litigation – thoughts from the Dutch Court of Appeal https://www.herbertsmithfreehills.com/notes/publiclaw/2024-posts/human...
Dec 16, 2024•13 min
Six years have passed since the first Lloyds ruling. How far has the industry got with GMP equalisation? Cathryn Marson discusses the current state of play, and the issues which she comes across when advising trustees. Speakers: Richard Evans, Professional Support Lawyer and Cathryn Marson, Senior Associate
Dec 16, 2024•14 min
In this episode of our public M&A podcast series, we discuss Primary Market Bulletin 52 where the FCA reminds companies that they need to consider the UK Market Abuse Regulation, as well as the Takeover Code, if they receive an approach about a possible takeover offer. In the podcast, we discuss: • when an approach about a possible offer will be inside information; • why it matters; and • what happens if the target rejects the approach.
Dec 13, 2024•21 min
In true Christmas spirit, we decided to deliver what many have been asking for….in this episode we cross examine Lieutenant General Michelle McGuinness, Australia’s National Cyber Security Coordinator. As the Coordinator, she leads national cyber security policy, the coordination of responses to major cyber incidents, whole of government cyber incident preparedness efforts, and the strengthening of Commonwealth cyber security capability. If you experience a major cyber incident, you will invaria...
Dec 11, 2024•47 min
In this FESTIVE SPECIAL edition of our banking litigation podcast, we consider some recent cases that will be most relevant to in-house lawyers at banks and financial institutions. This episode is hosted by John Corrie, a partner in our banking litigation team, who is joined by Ceri Morgan and special guests Mark Tanner, Harriet Tolkien, Scott Warin, Catherine Bagge, Ariel Wiebe and Nora van Meerwijk. You can find links to our blogs on the cases covered in this podcast below: • High Court consid...
Dec 10, 2024•37 min
In this edition of our Public Law Podcast series, Nusrat Zar and Jasveer Randhawa are joined by Lord Charles Banner KC, who is a leading authority in planning, environmental, and public law, with a focus on infrastructure and energy developments. We discuss Lord Banner's review into the planning and delivery of nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs), which was commissioned by the previous Conservative Government. The review examines the causes of legal challenges against the NSIP...
Dec 09, 2024•23 min
It is now just over one year since the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) commenced operations and Partner Jacqueline Wootton and Solicitor Caitlin Philp explore how the NACC has developed in that time and how our Australian clients can be prepared for the Commission’s activities moving forward. This episode deep dives into the NACC’s priorities, performance and future focus as it actively works to achieve its mandate to enhance public sector integrity.
Dec 09, 2024•22 min
Cyber risk is a major issue for pension schemes. Antonia Pegden, a commercial disputes lawyer at HSF who focuses on insurance, pensions, and professional negligence, joins The Pensions Exchange to discuss cybersecurity. We consider the steps which trustees should take, to guard against cyber attacks and to be ready should the worst occur. You can follow our latest thinking on our UK pensions blog https://www.herbertsmithfreehills.com/notes/pensions and Cyber and Data Security blog https://www.he...
Dec 05, 2024•14 min
While Artificial Intelligence has been a part of our technological landscape for years, it is getting a lot of attention thanks to the rise of Generative AI, which has captivated the public’s imagination. Director of Generative AI, Susannah Wilkinson is joined by Professor Nicholas Davis, Co-Director at the UTS Human Technology Institute and Anna Gudkov, Senior Policy Advisor at the Australian Institute of Company Directors to get their insights on how directors can navigate AI responsibly. Read...
Dec 04, 2024•1 hr
In this episode, we explore some of the current talking points for policyholders in the energy sector which were explored at a session we co-hosted with Airmic (the UK association of Insurance and Risk) at the Onshore Energy Conference in London in November 2024: • LEG clauses – which we cover in detail in Episode 1 of Insurance Bites https://soundcloud.com/herbert-smith-freehills/insurance-bites-ep1 • A recently certified competition case – Spottiswoode v Nexans France SAS & others [2024] C...
Dec 04, 2024•16 min
Heat networks have a crucial role in decarbonising the supply of heat in urban areas and are undergoing a major transformation as the Energy Act 2023 put in place a framework for the regulation of heat networks as well as for heat network zoning. In this episode, David Evans, Gabrielle Coppack, Kate Laidlow-Singh and Chloe Taylor explore: (i) how the forthcoming regulations, which will implement the regulation of heat networks and heat network zoning, will impact real estate investors and develo...
Dec 03, 2024•16 min
When launching its General Code of Practice, The Pensions Regulator laid down a challenge for trustees: they should take the opportunity to ensure that their scheme is "fit for the 21st century". What changes may trustees need to make in the light of the Code? And, faced with a document which runs to 170 pages, where should they start? Trustee adviser Caroline Curran joins us to discuss. Subscribe to the HSF Pensions Notes Blog here: https://www.herbertsmithfreehills.com/notes/pensions/subscribe...
Dec 02, 2024•11 min
This podcast explores how ESG is impacting both the UK and wider EMEA real estate investment market – firstly looking at a fund level and then considering the impact on different sectors (including office, data centres, industrial and logistics).
Nov 28, 2024•20 min
In this episode of Inside IR, Natalie Gaspar and Adam Ray discuss the impact of generative AI on industrial relations and bargaining. They explore how AI technologies, particularly generative AI, are transforming workplaces by performing tasks that typically require human input, such as content creation and decision-making. The episode delves into the responses from Australian unions, including the ACTU's formal policy on AI, which emphasises the need for genuine consultation, transparency, and ...
Nov 28, 2024•27 min
In this 28th episode of our series of commercial litigation update podcasts, we give updates on developments relating to representative actions and litigation funding, a couple of interesting contract law cases, on waiver of contractual rights to terminate and the interplay between a liability cap and set-off, and a Court of Appeal decision relating to liability for secret commissions in the motor finance context, which has potentially broader implications. This episode is hosted by Maura McInto...
Nov 27, 2024•17 min
Our experts unpack some of the critical legal considerations to navigate the complexities of AI-related issues and disputes. The discussion touches on the current and future legal framework, some of the regulatory, enforcement and litigation risks associated with the use of AI including IP, AI washing, data and privacy, and consideration of how to insure against those risks.
Nov 22, 2024•31 min
In this episode of Going for Green on Real Estate Transactions, Nick Hew, a senior associate in the Real Estate practice at Herbert Smith Freehills, is joined by Carolyn Milligan, a partner in the same group, and Neal Scambler, a Corporate Real Estate Advisor. They discuss the current market trends and some of the key considerations regarding green lease provisions and how landlords and tenants can seek to achieve their ESG objectives by including tailored green lease provisions.
Nov 21, 2024•14 min
In this episode, Cam is again joined by Kaman Tsoi and, together, they continue the cross-examination of Privacy Commissioner Carly Kind. In this podcast, we talk about the role of the board, the OAIC’s enforcement approach and the Cyber Security Strategy, including the Commissioner’s view on the extortion demand ‘conundrum’. Commissioner Kind also offers some wise words on what it takes to be a good lawyer in the cyber space…courageous! Commissioner Kind is a very impressive individual. She bri...
Nov 20, 2024•21 min
