Expert Analysis

• Comparing EU And UK Proposals To Regulate ESG Ratings

  

  Ferdisha Snagg and Andreas Wildner at Cleary examine the key aspects of the EU proposal for regulating environmental, social and governance rating activities and draw comparisons to the U.K. proposal regarding scope, substantive provider obligations on regulated providers and the likely timeline for adoption and implementation.

• Digital Assets Consultation Offers First Step In Regulation

  

  The recently published International Organization of Securities Commissions consultation intending to establish coordinated international regulation of cryptocurrency and digital assets, will benefit and protect retail investors against financial crime risk, also allowing legitimate market entrants to distinguish themselves from less scrupulous participants, says Fred Saugman at WilmerHale.

• ESG Litigation May Move Toward Untrue Statement Claims

  

  As the environmental, social and governance agenda has gained significant momentum, and more activists and investors hold businesses accountable to their commitments, the Financial Services and Markets Act provides a legal vehicle for shareholders to exert pressure on listed companies, say Rupert Lewis and Ceri Morgan at Herbert Smith.

• EU And UK Crypto-Asset Consumer Rights Look Set To Differ

  

  The U.K. government's recent consultation paper lacks an extended cooling off period to cancel crypto-asset purchases, which notably deviates from the European Union Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation, but depending on feedback, the U.K. may eventually adopt similar consumer protection measures, say Felicity Forward and Matt Green at Shoosmiths.

• What's Proposed For EU Industrial Design Protection Reform

  

  The proposed revision of EU laws governing the protection of designs would bring an alignment with technological advancements, and in preserving the importance of design rights as a tool for protecting creativity and innovation, would result in much- needed change, say Robert Mallin and Sander Vogt at Crowell & Moring.

• What The Collective Interests Bill May Mean For Irish Litigation

  

  As multinational corporations continue to increase their presence in Ireland, the forthcoming Collective Interests of Consumers Bill is expected to significantly alter the Irish litigation landscape and provide fertile ground for consumer-led group actions, backed by a gradual edging toward wider third-party litigation funding reform, say lawyers at Kennedys.

• EU Sustainability Initiatives Will Affect Emissions Trading

  

  The measures recently adopted by the EU in its "Fit for 55" legislative package to revise its emissions trading system and establish a carbon border adjustment mechanism have far-reaching implications for companies needing to implement changes to offset the potential effects of their business operations, say Melanie Bruneau, Giovanni Campi and Annette Mutschler-Siebert at K&L Gates.

• Successfully Implementing AI Rules Requires A Cultural Shift

  

  Recent positive use cases of artificial intelligence demonstrate the potential benefits it can bring to the legal profession, and while the development of AI rules is essential, their effectiveness depends on user adoption, behavioral change and human acceptance, say Charlie Morgan and Salman Dhalla at Herbert Smith.

• The Benefits Of Uniformity In EU Anti-Corruption Proposals

  

  The proposed directive requiring European Union member states to incorporate uniform anti-bribery measures would bring greater harmony and consistency, doing much to facilitate the prevention of bribery and drive common standards in the compliance culture of companies, say lawyers at White & Case.

• What To Know About 'Prior Obligations' Sanctions Exemption

  

  The U.K. Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation recently issued a "prior obligations" general license authorizing U.K. persons to receive funds or economic resources owed to them by any person targeted by U.K. asset freeze sanctions, and it is novel for its scope but by no means a panacea, say Jane Shvets and Konstantin Bureiko at Debevoise.

• Recent Cases Mark Maturation Of CAT Class Cert. Approach

  

  The Competition Appeal Tribunal's recent refusal to grant collective proceedings applications against Visa and MasterCard in the Commercial and Interregional Card Claims case shows that the tribunal takes its role as a gatekeeper seriously, and that it will likely continue to be difficult for defendants to defeat certification first time around, say lawyers at Linklaters.

• Key Changes In EU's New Regs For Competition Agreements

  

  The European Commission’s new competition law regulations aim to clarify guidance, and will include important changes reflecting recent case law and policy developments to help businesses assess compatibility of their cooperation agreements with EU law, say lawyers at Eversheds Sutherland.

• Why The UK Needs Tougher Fraud Enforcement

  

  The Crown Court's recent conviction of Anthony Constantinou for running a Ponzi scheme is a rare success for prosecutors, highlighting the legal system's painfully slow course when it comes to complex fraud, and the need for significant funds and resources in the fight against financial crime, says James Clark at Quillon Law.

• Workplace Neurotech Requires A Balance Of Risk And Reward

  

  The U.K. Information Commissioner's Office's recently released a report on neurotech, and while such technologies could unlock a stubbornly low productivity stagnation, they pose employer data compliance questions and potential employee discrimination risks, say Ingrid Hesselbo and Ben Milloy at Fladgate.

• What New FCA Management Will Mean For Enforcement

  

  Therese Chambers’ first speech since becoming the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority’s joint executive director provided insightful observations about the expected behaviors of firms and their legal advisers during investigations, indicating the advent of a proactive, prosecution-minded enforcement agency trying to do the right thing, says Richard Burger at WilmerHale.