Sort by
29 May 2020
HKMA publishes report on bank culture self-assessment
On 22 May 2020, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority ( HKMA ) published a report on its review of self-assessments on bank culture. This is part of the HKMA’s bank culture reform supervisory measures, where 30 authorised institutions ( AIs ) were selected in the initial phase to conduct self-...
15 May 2020
COVID-19: Governance: Competition Authorities’ Response (Asia)
Across Asia, the Covid-19 outbreak has had a significant impact on the activities of the region’s competition authorities. Where policy changes have been made, authorities have had to balance issues carefully, demonstrating flexibility towards potentially anti-competitive conduct that may be...
13 May 2020
A Special, Global, Edition of the European Energy Handbook
We are delighted to present an update to our European Energy Handbook. The European Energy Handbook usually reports on regulatory, legal and market developments in the European energy sector. However, these are not usual times as the COVID-19 pandemic is creating significant health, social and...
12 May 2020
Hong Kong Monetary Authority proposes mandatory reference checking scheme to address “rolling bad apples” phenomenon
On 8 May 2020, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority ( HKMA ) commenced a three-month industry consultation on a proposed framework for a mandatory reference checking scheme ( MRC Scheme ) to address the phenomenon of “rolling bad apples” moving between financial institutions without disclosing previous...
11 May 2020
COVID-19: People: Return to work and labour cost management – a checklist (Hong Kong)
The COVID-19 crisis continues to create significant health, social and economic challenges world-wide. Impacted businesses are facing decrease in demand, financial distress as well as supply chain difficulties
27 April 2020
Hong Kong Safety Snapshots: The role of Directors
Safety compliance is under increasing scrutiny in Hong Kong. As workplace accident rates remain high, the adequacy of Hong Kong’s health and safety laws is under question and greater penalties are called for. At the same time, amendments to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange Environmental, Social and...
22 April 2020
COVID-19: Pressure Points: Company directors – dealing with financial distress (Hong Kong)
During the COVID-19 crisis, many companies are facing unexpected financial distress, and taking steps to stabilise their business and bolster their finances. Many directors will not have experienced these issues before, and should be aware of how their duties are impacted when the company is in...
16 April 2020
COVID-19: Governance: Summary of financial regulators' response and measures (Hong Kong)
Since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak in Hong Kong, financial regulators have stressed the importance of ensuring that the city's markets stay open and continue to function in a fair and orderly manner.
27 March 2020
HONG KONG SAFETY SNAPSHOTS: NOTIFICATION OBLIGATIONS FOLLOWING A WORKPLACE ACCIDENT
Responding to a workplace incident presents particular challenges to organisations as a number of complex actions must be commenced, often immediately and often simultaneously. While the health and safety of the injured person and others is the most immediate concern, organisations need to be aware...
25 March 2020
COVID-19: PRESSURE POINTS: DOES COVID-19 IMPACT THE TIMING OF YOUR CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS? (GLOBAL)
Finance documents typically use the concept of “Business Days” to count how much time a party has to fulfil certain obligations, including payment and notification obligations. In light of recent approaches by various governments in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, this briefing...
Loading Results
Loading
Hubs
Featured
Recent Articles
07 September 2020
London International Disputes Week 2020
We are pleased to announce that London International Disputes Week (LIDW) is returning for a second year in September 2020. Herbert Smith Freehills is proud to be associated with this key event, which celebrates London as a global centre for dispute resolution. 7 – 11 September 2020 For more...
01 June 2020
COVID-19: Pressure points: Workplace pensions – 4 cost saving steps for employers (UK)
As the economic impact of Covid-19 and the measures introduced to restrict its spread continues to be felt, many employers are inevitably looking for ways to reduce costs and preserve cash. As far as pensions are concerned, the primary focus to date has been on the scope for employers with defined...
29 May 2020
COVID-19: Pressure Points: Summary of Key Support And Guidance for Charities and Social Enterprises (UK)
This note sets out a high-level summary of key announcements regarding funding, support, and guidance available for social enterprises and charities as of 29 May 2020. Please note that changes and announcements are made regularly; updates should be monitored on an ongoing basis.
29 May 2020
Clearer guidance provided: the takeovers panel’s new equity derivatives guidance note
The Takeovers Panel has finally issued its updated guidance on the public disclosure of equity derivatives. This update guidance was published almost a year to the day after the Panel’s public consultation process closed. This article outlines what has changed.
29 May 2020
HKMA publishes report on bank culture self-assessment
On 22 May 2020, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority ( HKMA ) published a report on its review of self-assessments on bank culture. This is part of the HKMA’s bank culture reform supervisory measures, where 30 authorised institutions ( AIs ) were selected in the initial phase to conduct self-...
29 May 2020
COVID-19 exposes M&A risks
Each time our markets experience a major downturn we see bidders trying to extricate themselves from previously announced transactions. If there is a breach of a bid condition, this may be possible, but it typically gives rise to disputes and uncertainty, particularly if the bidder is proceeding...
28 May 2020
COVID-19: People: Post-lockdown issues for employers (UK)
On 11 May 2020 the UK Government published its roadmap for coming out of lockdown, providing for a (conditional) phased return of schools and businesses over the coming months and subject to continuing social distancing requirements. Employers who shut down or reduced their operations at the start...
28 May 2020
ПРАВОВОЕ РЕГУЛИРОВАНИЕ ВТОРИЧНОГО РЫНКА СИНДИЦИРОВАННОГО КРЕДИТОВАНИЯ ПО РОССИЙСКОМУ ПРАВУ
Правовое регулирование вторичного рынка синдицированного кредитования играет важную роль в создании условий для привлечения на вторичный рынок максимального количества участников и, соответственно, развития российской банковской системы и экономики России в целом.
27 May 2020
Tax Treaty Interpretation: The Limits of Fiction
In Fowler v HMRC [2020] UKSC 22, the Supreme Court determined that a statutory fiction created by a deeming provision of UK tax law did not affect how the terms of a bilateral tax treaty should be applied. In particular, the Supreme Court held that although the UK deeming provision in question...
27 May 2020
COVID-19: Governance: Changes to UK insolvency law undermine position of DB schemes and the PPF (UK)
The Government on 20 May 2020 published the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill , which contains the most far-reaching reforms to UK insolvency law in over 30 years. The Bill has been introduced on an emergency basis in an attempt to ensure that otherwise financially viable companies survive...
27 May 2020
COVID-19: Pressure Points: Opportunities to acquire IP assets in a changing world (Global)
As governments around the world take the first tentative steps to ease lockdown measures, people and businesses are beginning to focus on a return to work or at least a resumption of more normal business processes. However, it is clear that a large number of businesses, sadly, will not survive in...
27 May 2020
COVID-19: Pressure Points: Sector update: Infraestructuras y Contratación pública nº 1 Mayo 2020 (Spain)
Bienvenido a la primera edición de nuestro update de infraestructuras y contratación pública. Aquí encontrarás algunas de las principales novedades más destacadas del sector. Esperamos que te sea de utilidad.
