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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...
10 March 2020
Yes Minister - Proposed New powers to derogate from the NER
The National Electricity (Victoria) Amendment Bill 2020 ( Bill ) introduced by the Victorian Government on 18 February seeks to make it easier for the Minister to derogate from the National Electricity Rules ( NER ). So how will the Minister use their proposed new powers?
24 October 2019
ACT Renewable Energy Reverse Auction
Following on from the four reverse auctions held between 2012 to 2016, the ACT Government has announced a new renewable energy reverse auction (the Reverse Auction ) to “safeguard the delivery of sourcing 100% renewable electricity by 2020 from within the ACT or across the National Electricity...
20 March 2019
Developing Green Hydrogen projects
In the lead up to this year’s federal election, both of Australia’s major political parties have released announcements regarding the establishment of an Australian hydrogen industry. A key focus of these announcements is the commitment to investing in ‘green’ hydrogen technologies, which through a...
12 February 2018
Syndicated facilities institute obtains legislative acknowledgement in Russia
On 31 December 2017 the President of the Russian Federation signed one of the laws which has been most discussed by the Russian banking and legal communities – Federal Law No. 486-FZ "On a syndicated facility (loan) and amendments to certain legislative acts of the Russian Federation" (the " Law...
24 January 2018
China's Belt and Road Initiative: Projects pave the way
Unveiled in 2013, China's Belt and Road Initiative is a massive stimulus for infrastructure development across over 60 countries. In this article, Hilary Lau, Monica Sun and Jie Li from our Greater China offices provide an overview of the initiative to date.
06 December 2017
Queensland Election: What happens to the Sunshine State’s renewable energy projects?
A second term Palaszczuk Labor government purports to remain committed to renewable energy development in Queensland and is likely to face limited opposition from independent and minor party members, conditional upon renewables assisting in reducing the cost of energy. Uncertainty surrounding the...
20 November 2017
Victorian Renewable Energy Target (VRET) Auction Scheme now taking bids
In response to Victoria becoming the first state to legislate for its renewable energy targets, the Victorian Renewable Energy Target 2017 Reverse Auction (the Reverse Auction ), will award commercial contracts which enable up to 650 megawatts ( MW ) of large-scale renewable energy generation (with...
06 October 2017
Reform of French Securitisation Law and Creation of Specialised Financing Vehicles
The reform of the French securitisation legislation announced by the Government throughout the implementation of 'Sapin 2 Law' has been published on 5 October 2017. This reform is coupled with the introduction into French law of specialized financing vehicles and a new reform of the banking...
31 August 2017
Addenda: Further details on the Victorian Renewable Energy Auction Scheme released
The Victorian Government has released further information regarding the Victorian Renewable Energy Auction Scheme ( VREAS ), confirming that the VREAS will be a key strategy contributing to the Victorian Renewable Energy Targets ( VRET ) legislated in the Renewable Energy (Jobs and Investment) Bill...
08 June 2017
Renewable Energy Package for Queensland presents further investment opportunities
On 5 June 2017, the Queensland Government announced the $1.16 billion ‘Powering Queensland Plan’ ( Plan ). Among other measures, the Plan contains numerous initiatives to further stimulate investment in renewable energy projects in Queensland. Queensland will hold a state election on or before 5...
13 April 2017
Environmental laws trump Linc Energy creditors
Today the Queensland Supreme Court held that an insolvent company’s environmental obligations under State law were unaffected by the liquidators’ disclaimer of related property and resource tenures. This decision changes the previous understanding of liquidators’ powers and the order of priority in...
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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...
12 August 2020
Victoria’s Stage 4 restrictions: Navigating the current rules for employers
Victoria’s Stage 4 restrictions came into proper effect from 11:59pm, Wednesday 5 August 2020. Although the restrictions significantly impact a substantial number of businesses across metropolitan Melbourne, attempting to navigate the framework involves reviewing a myriad of sources, including...
11 August 2020
People: Job Retention Scheme (UK)
Updated 11 August 2020 On 29 May 2020 the Chancellor confirmed the extension of the HMRC's Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme ("CJRS"), with new flexibility added for employers to partially furlough employees from 1 July 2020. Employees can now work for any proportion of their usual hours and any...
11 August 2020
UPC Structure – local, regional and central divisions
The UPC will have a Court of First Instance (divided into local, regional and central divisions) and a Court of Appeal (Luxembourg). Cases will commence in any one of these divisions according to the subject matter and the prescribed division set out in the UPCA and the UPC Rules. The main seat of...
05 August 2020
Inside tech Asia webinar series
Our Inside Tech Asia Webinar Series covers a range of topics including fintech and digital banking, digital infrastructure, healthtech, and growth and investments in Asia Pacific. New themes and episodes will be added regularly. To join a live webinar session, please register and save the calendar...
04 August 2020
Comparing the fault standards in Australian and UK shareholder class actions
Continuous disclosure obligations applicable to shareholder class action claims have been the subject of much debate in Australia in recent years. Recent amendments to the continuous disclosure provisions of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) are intended to reduce opportunistic shareholder class...
03 August 2020
Governance: CORPORATE INSOLVENCY AND GOVERNANCE ACT 2020 - SOUNDBITE SERIES (UK)
Welcome to our soundbite series on the new Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 which came into effect on 26 June 2020. The provisions of the Act are complex and could have significant impact on companies in distress and their creditors, particularly landlords, suppliers, financial services...
30 July 2020
Funded class actions under the spotlight: Australian Federal Government introduces new regulations
On 24 July 2020, the Australian Federal Government introduced new regulations, removing the ‘managed investment scheme’ ( MIS ) and other financial services regulatory exemptions that apply for litigation funding schemes used in class actions.
30 July 2020
Human rights arguments increasingly deployed in climate change litigation
There has been a significant rise over the past five years in the number of climate change claims that have been based (at least in part) on human rights principles, according to the latest report from the London School of Economics Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment...
29 July 2020
Pressure points: Trustees and administrators prepare for what’s ahead: Ombudsman to see a rise in complaints due to Covid-19 (UK)
The Pensions Ombudsman recently published both its Corporate Plan 2020-2023 and Annual Report for 2019/2020, which reveal that the number of enquiries the Ombudsman received has significantly increased in the last year. In addition, the Ombudsman expects the number of complaints to “undoubtedly”...
28 July 2020
UK autonomous sanctions underline importance of human rights due diligence
The importance of human rights and robust human rights due diligence was underlined earlier this month, by the UK government’s introduction of the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations 2020 (the “ Sanctions Regulations ”). The Sanctions Regulations are the UK’s first autonomous sanctions...
