Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly becoming part of our everyday lives. Ranging from speech-to-text recognition, translation software, chatbots to automated stock trading, AI is helping us with decision-making.

The Libralex Global Conference took place week in Central London where Managing Partner and arbitrator, John Abbott and Partner, Paddy Kelly gave talks at the working session on Ukraine.

On Friday 6 May London’s Christie’s hosted the second Libralex Art Law Conference in collaboration with The International Art Market Studies Association (TIAMSA) and Christie’s Education: “Blockchain and the Art Market: Hype or Revolution?” with a Keynote Speech from, Christie’s Deputy Chairman of 20th & 21st Century Art EMEA, Dirk Boll.

The number of listed companies in the UK has fallen by approximately 40% since the peak in 2008. During the past 5 years, the UK has only accounted for roughly 5% of global IPOs. It is clear that there has been a need to make the UK more attractive for listing fast-growing companies.

On 2 December 2021, the FCA published Policy Statement PS21/22 which sets out a series of changes to the Listing Rules to remove barriers to listing in London. The changes seek to reduce barriers to companies listing in the UK and encourage private companies to consider listing at an earlier stage, while still retaining high standards for investors.

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (the “Act”) has introduced a number of reforms to Companies House in March this year. One of the Act’s aims is to improve corporate transparency and enhance the role of Companies House.

In our latest review we reflect on some notable developments and trends in UK corporate and commercial law.

It is very likely that you will have heard of such terms as ‘crypto-currency’, ‘blockchain’ and ‘bitcoin’. Despite a growing awareness of the sector, there are many who do not understand what crypto-assets entail or, perhaps more pertinently, its applications and implications.

With the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, many regular office goers are adapting to remote working for the foreseeable future. This rapid, unprecedented shift has highlighted multiple ways companies are struggling to maintain not just business continuity, but also their data security and privacy obligations.

UK insurance and financial services businesses operating in the EU are due to lose their right to passport their Regulatory authorisations to another EU State on 31st December 2020.

It is vital that you review the key terms of your business or organisation’s existing contracts and those which it may be planning to enter into in preparation for Brexit.

A secondary buyout (SBO) involves the sale of a group (the target) by a private equity fund and the target’s management team to a company (newco) funded by a new private equity investor in conjunction with the management. The SBO has become a popular exit route for private equity funds.

There has been much speculation on what will happen to European IP rights in the UK following Brexit. Rights holders now have greater clarity following the publication of the draft withdrawal agreement under negotiation between the UK and the EU. Here is a brief synopsis of the main points agreed so far.

The enhancement of e-commerce is one of the important policy issues within the European Union. This guide examines the laws covering e-commerce across multiple jurisdictions including the options to resolve disputes should they arise. 

If you discover that your business has fallen victim to a payment scam, it is essential you act quickly.  We provide guidance on immediate practical steps to take and summarise the main options for legal action to try to recover misappropriated funds.