Expert Analysis

• Creating A Safe Workplace Goes Beyond DEI Compliance

  

  The Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority recently proposed a new diversity and inclusion regulatory framework to combat sexual harassment in the workplace, and companies should take this opportunity to holistically transform their culture to ensure zero tolerance for misconduct, says Vivek Dodd at Skillcast.

• How UK AI Agency Will Affect Regulatory Landscape

  

  The U.K. government recently unveiled plans for its new Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum AI and Digital Hub, which is poised to be influential in the U.K.’s emerging artificial intelligence landscape through effective collaboration and synchronization between regulators, says Ludovico Lugnani at BDB Pitmans.

• Asset Managers Should Prepare For Nature-Related Reporting

  

  Although it is doubtful that the U.K. nature-related task force’s recent recommendations for mandatory nature reporting will come into effect imminently, it is likely that investors will begin to use them to assess risks and will request asset managers to shift capital flows to more sustainable outcomes, say lawyers at Macfarlanes.

• Firms Should Prepare For New DEI Reporting Requirements

  

  While the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority's recent proposals on diversity and inclusion in the financial sector are progressive, implementing reporting requirements will pose data collection and privacy protection challenges for employers, say lawyers at Fieldfisher.

• What The UK Digital Markets Bill Will Mean For Businesses

  

  The new investigatory and enforcement powers conferred by the U.K. Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill mean that although businesses may be aware of their market status due to existing EU law, they should ensure they are mindful of the changes to consumer law and the implications for digital markets, says Richard Hugo at Burges Salmon.

• 5 Takeaways From ICO's Biometric Recognition Guidance

  

  Recent guidance from the U.K. Information Commissioner’s Office is a helpful reminder of key data protection principles and obligations stemming from the U.K. General Data Protection Regulation that organizations should consider when implementing biometric recognition technology, say lawyers at Dechert.

• TikTok Fine Highlights EU Approach To Children's Data Rights

  

  Following the Irish Data Protection Commission's recent fine against TikTok for breaching children's data protection rights, organizations should adopt a proactive approach and implement measures aiding compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation, says Carla Murray at Myerson.

• A Case For The Green Investment Regime Under The ECT

  

  The EU and U.K.'s potential plans to exit the Energy Charter Treaty, which has been criticized as protecting fossil fuel investments to the detriment of energy transition, ignore the significant strides taken to modernize the treaty and its ability to promote investment in cleaner energy forms, say Amy Frey and Simon Maynard at King & Spalding.

• Considerations For Fund Managers Seeking Retail Investment

  

  With recent legal developments, including a revised Long Term Investment Funds Regulation effective in 2024, supporting the market trend of retailization, there are several practical considerations for alternative fund managers embarking on a European fundraise for retail capital, say Zac Mellor-Clark and Kate Downey at Fried Frank.

• FDI Considerations For UK Venture Capital Transactions

  

  With the U.K. National Security and Investment Act highlighting foreign direct investment matters for venture capital transactions, investors dealing with companies connected to the U.K. should be alive to how the act's requirements can affect deal timelines, structures and terms, say lawyers at Covington.

• What The Anti-Coercion Instrument Will Bring To The EU

  

  Vassilis Akritidis and Jean-Baptiste Blancardi at Crowell & Moring discuss why the European Union recently adopted a report on the anti-coercion instrument to reform its trade legislation, how the instrument will be used to respond to unfair economic pressure from third countries, and how businesses can impact the EU's decision making.

• Why FCA Crypto Rules Need To Align With UK Gov't Aims

  

  There is a critical need for cryptocurrency regulations that protect consumers while supporting the government's aim to make the U.K. a crypto hub, but the Financial Conduct Authority’s recently effective rules on financial promotion of crypto-assets bring an unintended risk that legitimate firms will be driven out of the market, says Laura Navarathnam at the Crypto Council for Innovation.

• What To Consider When Making Brand Sustainability Claims

  

  A recent KMPG report shows that while consumers are actively seeking out sustainable products, most will also avoid brands caught misleading customers about their sustainable credentials, meaning companies must walk a fine line between promoting and exaggerating sustainability claims, says Iona Silverman at Freeths.

• In Balancing Commerce And Privacy Interests, Consent Is Key

  

  Although the European Commission's recent adoption of the EU-U.S. data privacy framework will make the use of tracking services with pixels easier, it highlights the significance of website visitor consent and the need for enterprises to provide users with complete and transparent information while adhering to all data protection regulations, say Áron Hegyi and Máté Dura at Schönherr.

• CMA Report On AI May Lead to Greater Competition Control

  

  The U.K. Competition and Markets Authority’s recent report on artificial intelligence foundation models is a sign that developers could face increased merger control and antitrust enforcement, and businesses should be mindful of these views to ensure that their models do not come under investigation, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.