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14 December 2020
SFC releases FAQs simplifying compliance with electronic data storage requirements – But is it really as simple as it looks?
The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has released its long awaited FAQs regarding its 31 October 2019 circular on the use of external electronic data storage providers (EDSP Circular). While there are some aspects of the FAQs which we anticipate will create practical challenges and...
09 April 2020
Exploring Opportunities: Managing competition issues whilst allowing businesses to collaborate (Australia)
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a rush of applications to the ACCC seeking to authorise coordination as between competitors which might otherwise contravene provisions of the Competition and Consumer Act ( CCA ) .
18 March 2020
COVID-19 People: Short guide for employers (Australia)
The COVID-19 virus is new, rapidly evolving and having a major impact on workplaces. The virus is giving rise to multitude of employment and safety-related questions in a context which has not previously been contemplated, on topics ranging from an employer’s payment obligations and dealing with...
12 November 2019
Casting the regulatory net over virtual assets – SFC finalises new regulatory framework for virtual asset trading platforms
On 6 November 2019, the Security and Futures Commission ( SFC ) issued a position paper setting out a new regulatory framework for the licensing of centralised virtual asset trading platforms, following the SFC’s conceptual framework issued last year.
01 November 2019
Hong Kong SFC’s new electronic data requirements place MICs and cloud services in the spotlight
Yesterday, the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission ( SFC ) published a circular ( Circular ) on the use of electronic data storage providers ( EDSPs ) by licensed corporations ( LCs ).
10 October 2019
Corporate Crime Update, Autumn 2019
Welcome to the Autumn 2019 edition of our corporate crime update - our round up of developments in relation to corruption, money laundering, fraud, sanctions and related matters. This bumper edition covers a number of jurisdictions, and includes content from the summer break. For the full update on...
01 July 2019
Digital Banking Licences have arrived for non-bank players in Singapore
On 28 June 2019, the Monetary Authority of Singapore ( MAS ) announced that it will issue up to five new digital bank licences, which will effectively open digital banking business to non-bank players in Singapore. Announcing the measures at the 46th Annual Dinner of The Association of Banks in...
24 June 2019
MAS extends AML/CFT requirements to Payment Service Providers
On 6 June 2019, the Monetary Authority of Singapore ( MAS ) issued a Consultation Paper on proposed anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism ( AML/CFT ) requirements which will apply to most payment service providers ( PS Providers ). Submissions close on 5 July 2019. The...
11 June 2019
Product Intervention Powers and Design and Distribution Obligations in Financial Services: A cross-border perspective
Many regulators view their ability to intervene as one of their key supervisory tools to reduce harm in cases where there is a risk of significant consumer detriment or threat to financial markets.
22 May 2019
Disclosure of internal investigations – the Hong Kong SFC’s FAQs fail to relieve industry concerns
The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission ( SFC ) has released frequently-asked questions ( FAQs ) to clarify its Internal Investigation Disclosure Obligation – a measure introduced in February 2019 to stop the “roll” of “bad apples” within the financial industry.
04 February 2019
SFC seeks to halt "rolling bad apples" in their tracks with licensing reforms
On 1 February 2019, the Securities and Futures Commission ( SFC ) announced significant changes to its licensing forms and processes (Licensing Reforms). Included in these changes was the long-awaited arrival in Hong Kong of measures intended to stop the “rolling” of “bad apples” within the...
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10 May 2021
London International Disputes Week 2021
10 – 14 May 2021 Herbert Smith Freehills is a proud founding member of LIDW. London International Disputes Week 2021 comes at a significant period for the UK legal sector, in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, post-Brexit and amid an uncertain global political environment. Through a programme of...
26 February 2021
Private equity investments under the UK’s new national security screening regime
The implications of the UK’s proposed national security investment screening regime have been widely debated since the National Security and Investment Bill ( NSI Bill ) was introduced to Parliament on 11 November 2020.
26 February 2021
Flexible and bespoke bid conditions – protecting against material risks
In E&P Financial Group Limited [2021] ATP 1, the Takeovers Panel has confirmed that bidders have considerable latitude to craft and impose bid conditions that are designed to protect against material risks – subject always to the conditions not being prohibited by law or policy, such as...
25 February 2021
Inside Arbitration: Event report - The threat of legal claims against arbitrators and arbitral institutions
This year marked the tenth edition of the Herbert Smith Freehills – SMU Asian Arbitration Lecture Series. We were privileged to have Ms Loretta Malintoppi from 39 Essex Chambers deliver that lecture, focusing on an often overlooked but growing threat of potential civil liability of arbitrators and...
25 February 2021
Inside Arbitration: Party autonomy prevails Revisiting London after the latest Supreme Court decisions
Against the backdrop of Brexit, there has been an increased interest in London as an arbitral seat, intensifying with the UK’s exit from the EU in January 2020 and over the few months leading up to the end of the transitional arrangements on 31 December 2020. This greater focus on London has...
25 February 2021
Inside Arbitration: The New ICC Rules 2021: What you need to know
The new ICC Rules 2021 (2021 Rules) came into force on 1 January 2021. When released in draft in October 2020 they were announced as “ another step towards even more efficient, flexible and transparent ICC Arbitrations ”. The 2021 Rules came hot on the heels of the release of the new LCIA Rules...
25 February 2021
Inside arbitration: Spotlight interview: Kath Sanger
Born and bred in Yorkshire, UK, Kath has lived and worked in Mainland China and Hong Kong since 2002. She joined our Hong Kong Arbitration Team as a Partner in October 2016, after many years in the Disputes team of Clifford Chance. Kath is a commercial arbitration specialist with a broad practice...
25 February 2021
Inside arbitration: ASIs to the rescue using anti-suit injunctions to protect an arbitration agreement
International, commercial parties overwhelmingly elect to arbitrate their cross-border disputes, rather than taking them to court. As a matter of law, an arbitration agreement ousts the jurisdiction of any national court to decide the substance of the dispute. Despite this, our clients increasingly...
25 February 2021
Inside Arbitration: A new frontier - What does the Brexit deal mean for cross-borderdispute resolution and for London-seated arbitration?
The transition period under the Withdrawal Agreement has now come to an end and, following the last minute announcement of a deal between the UK and EU on 30 December 2020, businesses across the world are assessing the practical implications of Brexit for doing business in the UK and the EU going...
25 February 2021
Inside Arbitration: Spotlight interview: Mike McClure
Mike is a Herbert Smith Freehills world traveller, having spent time in our London, Dubai, Hong Kong and Moscow offices. Now based in Seoul, he heads the office and leads a thriving international arbitration practice in one of Asia’s most up–and–coming arbitral seats. Mike’s practice covers...