Expert Analysis

• UK And EU Crawl Toward Virtual Currency Regulation

  

  The lack of a harmonized approach to regulation of initial coin offerings in the EU is leading to a piecemeal approach across member states that will hamper blockchain developments, say Jacqui Hatfield and Rebecca Kellner of Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP.

• Is Equifax Data Breach Penalty A Sign Of Fines To Come?

  

  Recently, the U.K. Information Commissioner's Office fined Equifax £500,000 for falling victim to a cyberattack — the highest penalty available. Some speculate that this decision is a sign that the ICO is already assuming a tougher stance following the commencement of the General Data Protection Regulation, say James Castro-Edwards and Eaven Prenter of Wedlake Bell LLP.

• Ensure That Dispute Resolution Mechanisms Are Brexit-Proof

  

  With only five months remaining for the U.K. to make a deal with the EU and the possibility of a "no-deal" Brexit looking increasingly plausible, now is the time to take proactive steps to protect your clients’ positions and to make sure that their contracts are effective and enforceable, say Claire Stockford and Caitlin McLean of Shepherd & Wedderburn LLP.

• 5 Cyber Insurance Pitfalls To Avoid In The UK

  

  Faced with the opportunity to purchase cyber risk insurance to mitigate the damage caused by cyber events, prospective policyholder companies need all the help they can get in order to navigate this increasingly complex part of the U.K. insurance market, says Richard Mattick of Covington & Burling LLP.

• UK Unexplained Wealth Orders: More Bark Than Bite So Far

  

  This month, the U.K. National Crime Agency successfully resisted a challenge to its first unexplained wealth orders. This is a victory, but the agency has some way to go to show that UWOs will be a meaningful tool in the U.K.'s anti-money laundering arsenal, says Fred Saugman of WilmerHale.

• GDPR Compliance Questions For Blockchain Firms

  

  The General Data Protection Regulation applies to blockchain networks that directly store personal information. However, blockchain technology can make compliance challenging, and also raises questions regarding who bears responsibility for compliance, say attorneys at Covington & Burling LLP.

• Knowledge Management: An Unsung Hero Of Legal Innovation

  

  As technology evolves, law firms are increasingly looking for ways to improve communication, transparency and service for their clients. Firms should put knowledge management at the core of their value proposition to create a competitive advantage, says Rob MacAdam at HighQ.

• Uncertainty Concerning The UK's Proper Purpose Rule?

  

  The U.K. Supreme Court's judgment in Eclairs v. JKX seemingly opened the door for a broad interpretation of the proper purpose rule, but despite the confusion, the rule will continue to operate as a useful legal safeguard for shareholders, say Nick Hoffman and Conal Keane of Harney Westwood & Riegels LLP.

• How Europe's AML Regime Is Tackling Virtual Currencies

  

  The use and provision of virtual currency services have remained largely unregulated in the European Union, but its newest anti-money laundering directive could be the first step to tougher regulation, say Chris Warren-Smith and Paul Mesquitta of Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP.

• UK Ruling Signifies Greater Cross-Border Sharing Of Data

  

  In KBR v. SFO, the U.K. High Court confirmed that the Serious Fraud Office can require foreign companies to produce documents held outside the U.K. as long as there is a sufficient connection between the company and the jurisdiction. This judgment will embolden other agencies with similar compulsory document production powers, says Andrew Smith of Corker Binning.

• Why Law Firms Should Monitor The Dark Web

  

  Dark web monitoring allows law firms to see what sensitive information may have made its way onto the thriving global underground marketplace where cybercriminals buy and sell exposed data. It can also help lawyers advise clients on a wide range of legal and business matters, say Anju Chopra and Brian Lapidus of Kroll.

• Lessons From UK's Data Backlash

  

  Tesco Bank and British Airways are the latest British icons to find themselves in legal difficulties regarding data breaches, exemplifying the breadth of breach-related risks beyond the established route of the Information Commissioner's Office, says Kim Roberts of King & Spalding LLP.

• Tech, Media, Telecom Investor-State Arbitration Is On The Rise

  

  Disputes between foreign investors from the technology, media and telecommunications sector and host states are a substantial feature of the investor-state claims landscape. The recent growth of investor-state arbitrations in this sector could be explained by several factors, says Florencia Villaggi of Herbert Smith Freehills LLP.

• Treat GDPR Compliance As A Marriage, Not A Wedding

  

  Earlier this year, many businesses were so focused on ensuring that their privacy notices and customer lists were compliant by May 25 that they forgot that General Data Protection Regulation D-Day was just the first day of a new regime, rather than a one-day event, say Ben Pilbrow and Joanna Boag-Thomson of Shepherd and Wedderburn LLP.

• New UK And US Regimes May Deter Foreign Investment

  

  Newly proposed U.K. rules and the amended regime for the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States will radically change how the two governments review sensitive transactions, which will affect the likelihood of deal clearance, deal timing and the drafting of appropriate contractual provisions, say Robert Bell and Jennifer Mammen of Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP.