Expert Analysis

• 7 Pitfalls To Watch In Tech Referral Fee Programs

  

  The recent attempt by FluidStack to recover $10 million in referral fees allegedly promised by software vendor Denvr Dataworks should alert potential participants in so-called partnership programs to seven signs that a proposed technology referral agreement may not equally benefit all sides, says Chris Wlach at Huge Inc.

• Takeaways On Freezing Injunctions After Dos Santos Ruling

  

  The Court of Appeal's recent decision in dos Santos v. Unitel moved the needle in favor of applicants for freezing injunctions in two ways, say lawyers at Cooke Young.

• How The Wirecard Judge Addressed Unreliability Of Memory

  

  In a case brought by the administrator of Wirecard against Greybull Capital, High Court Judge Sara Cockerill took a multipronged and thoughtful approach to a common problem with fraudulent misrepresentation claims — how to assess the evidence of what was said at a meeting where recollections differ and where contemporaneous documentation is limited, says Andrew Head at Forsters.

• Decoding Arbitral Disputes: Cross-Border Contract Lessons

  

  A U.K. court's decision this month in Banco De Sabadell v. Cerberus provides critical lessons for practitioners involved in drafting and litigating cross-border investment agreements, and offers crucial insight into how English courts apply foreign law in complex cross-border disputes, says Josep Galvez at 4-5 Gray's Inn. 

• Rowing Machine IP Loss Waters Down Design Protections

  

  The Intellectual Property Enterprise Court's recent judgment dismissing WaterRower's claim that its wooden rowing machines were works of artistic craftsmanship highlights divergence between U.K. and European Union copyright law, and signals a more stringent approach to protecting designs in a post-Brexit U.K., say lawyers at Finnegan.

• Preparing For The Next 5 Years Of EU Digital Policy

  

  The new European Commission appears poised to build on the artificial intelligence, data management and digital regulation groundwork laid by President Ursula von der Leyen's first mandate, with a strong focus on enforcement and further enhancement of previous initiatives during the next five years, say lawyers at Steptoe.

• Can Romania Escape Its Arbitral Award Catch-22?

  

  Following a recent European Union General Court decision, Romania faces an apparent stalemate of conflicting norms as the country owes payment under an International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes award, but is prohibited by the European Commission from making that payment, say attorneys at Orrick.

• Key Takeaways From EU's Coming Digital Act

  

  The European Union's impending Digital Operational Resilience Act will necessitate closer collaboration on resilience, risk management and compliance, and crucial challenges include ensuring IT third-party service providers meet the requirements on or before January 2025, says Susie MacKenzie at Coralytics.

• State Immunity Case Highlights UK's Creditor-Friendly Stance

  

  The English Court of Appeal's decision in a conjoined case involving Spain and Zimbabwe, holding that the nations cannot use state immunity to escape arbitral award enforcement, emphasizes the U.K.'s reputation as a creditor-friendly and pro-arbitration jurisdiction, says Jon Felce at Cooke Young.

• Looking Back On 2024's Competition Law Issues For GenAI

  

  With inherent uncertainties in generative artificial intelligence raising antitrust issues that attract competition authorities' attention, the 2024 uptick in transaction reviews demonstrates that regulators are vigilant about the possibility that markets may tip in favor of large existing players, say lawyers at McDermott.

• When Investigating An Adversary, Be Wary Of Forged Records

  

  Warnings against the use of investigators who tout their ability to find an adversary’s private documents generally emphasize the risk of illegal activity and attorney discipline, but a string of recent cases shows an additional danger — investigators might be fabricating records altogether, says Brian Asher at Asher Research.

• New Offense Expands Liability For Corporate Enviro Fraud

  

  The Economic Crime Act's new corporate fraud offense — for which the Home Office recently released guidance — underscores the U.K.'s commitment to hold companies accountable on environmental grounds, and in lowering the bar for establishing liability, offers claimants a wider set of tools to wield against multinational entities, say lawyers at Bracewell.

• Decoding Arbitral Disputes: State Immunity And ICSID Awards

  

  In a landmark decision in cases involving Spain and Zimbabwe, the English Court of Appeal grappled with the intersection of state immunity and the enforcement of arbitration awards, setting a precedent for future disputes involving sovereign entities in the U.K, says Josep Galvez at 4-5 Gray's Inn.

• Inside The Premier League's Financial Regulation Dilemma

  

  The Premier League's arbitration award in its dispute with Manchester City Football Club has raised significant financial governance concerns in English football, and a resolution may set a precedent in regulatory development, say consultants at Secretariat.

• What UK Procurement Act Delay Will Mean For Stakeholders

  

  The Procurement Act 2023’s delay until February 2025 has sparked debate among contracting authorities and suppliers, and the Labour Party’s preference for a broader reform package demonstrates the challenges involved in implementing legislative changes where there is a change in government, say lawyers at Shoosmiths.