PCC Issues Motu Proprio Merger Review Guidelines for Digital Markets On 21 August 2023, the Philippine Competition Commission (“PCC”) issued the Guidelines for the motu proprio review of Mergers and Acquisitions in Digital Markets (the “Guidelines”) to provide greater transparency and predictability over the PCC’s power of motu proprio review of mergers and acquisitions (M&As) within the digital market ...
The UAE Cabinet recently approved a scheme for the establishment of savings and investment funds for employees primarily in the private sector (including free zones). This scheme is an alternative to the current system of payment of end-of-service benefits (gratuity) to an employee at the end of his employment. Participation in the scheme will be optional for employers. Under this scheme, the participating employer will be required to make a monthly contribution to the selected fund ...
Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionising the global real estate landscape. In the United States alone, AI companies are predicted to have a 1.6m sq m real estate footprint by the end of 2023, according to JLL ...
The new biodiversity net gain (BNG) requirements are set to come into force from November 2023. This will legally mandate securing a minimum 10 per cent biodiversity net gain from new commercial and residential developments in England, with a few exceptions. While the requirements - part of the Environment Act 2021 – will have financial and operational implications, the real estate industry has had several years to prepare for BNG ...
Activity levels in the residential development market remain lower than developers, lenders and other real estate professionals have become accustomed to over the last 15 years. With 14 base rate rises implemented by the Bank of England (BoE) in the last 18 months - now at 5.25% - the UK is currently subject to the highest base interest rate since 2008 ...
Blockchain litigation lead, Matt Green will be hosting our latest podcast series, 'In Early - The Crypto Podcast' - Listen to episode 18. This week Matt speaks to the man claiming two names - Dr Craig Wright and Satoshi Nakamoto ...
On August 23, 2023, the extracts from the minutes of the meeting of the Sub-commission of the Government Commission for Control over Foreign Investments in the Russian Federation No. 182/5 dated August 09, 2023, were published. (“Extracts No. 182/5”). The said Extracts No ...
Dan Sharman and Craig Thomas take a look at the tax treatment of salary sacrifice arrangements. Background HMRC has always had a difficult relationship with salary sacrifice arrangements. On the one hand it acknowledges that such arrangements are a legitimate way of employees and employers reducing their tax liability, whilst on the other hand it has looked for ways in which to reduce the amount of tax leakage occurring from such arrangements ...
On August 21st, 2023, Law No. 21,592 was published in the Official Gazette, establishing a protection statute in favor of the person who complains – or reports – facts constituting disciplinary infractions or administrative misdemeanors ("Law No. 21,592") ...
The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans upheld parts of a Texas District Court ruling by restricting the use of Mifepristone, while allowing Mifepristone to remain on the market.[1] This is the latest ruling in an ongoing legal battle that has left the future of abortion medications in a state of flux. Dinsmore previously discussed the original April 2023 ruling that led to the most recent development ...
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has published its proposed regulations to implement the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) in the Federal Register. The PWFA, which became effective on June 27, 2023, requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees and applicants suffering limitations from pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions ...
General aspects The Chilean Agency for Economic Development (Corporación de Fomento de la Producción - "CORFO") has announced a series of amendments to its venture capital investment fund financing programs: Early Technological Stages Fund ("FET"), Early Stages Fund ("FT"), and Development and Growth Fund ("FC"). The most significant changes approved by CORFO are listed below, distinguishing between amendments common to all programs and those specific to each one ...
In the latest edition of our HR Improve series, we consider the steps employers can take to improve diversity, equity and inclusion within the workplace ...
A recent case has seen trustees apply for and obtain court approval for a trustee petition to wind-up the scheme's sponsoring employers. This is a relatively unusual case, but the trustees had reached a point where no other options were available to them ...
On 9 August 2023, U.S. President Joe Biden signed the Executive Order on Addressing United States Investments in Certain National Security Technologies and Products in Countries of Concern (the "Executive Order"), to regulate U.S. persons engaged in transactions or investment activities in China (including mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau) that involve certain technologies and products. The U.S ...
In the aftermath of some highly-publicised social dumping cases in the media, the Flemish government has proposed a zero tolerance policy for bogus posting set-ups involving illegal employment, especially if they involve exploitation and “smart” contractor chain constructions. To achieve this aim, the Flemish government has adjusted some already existing chain liability schemes and is seeking to introduce, amongst other things, a duty of care obligation for certain contractors ...
The MFSA published a Circular on the 13th of July 2023 regarding a Public Statement issued by the European Securities and Markets Authority (hereinafter referred to as “ESMA”) outlining sustainability disclosure expectations in prospectuses. This was addressed to issuers and their advisory teams in the process of drawing up prospectuses ...
For the second time in three years, amendments to the False Claims Act have been proposed in the U.S. Senate. If enacted, the amendments would create uncertainty for FCA defendants and expand the scope of the FCA’s anti-retaliation provision to cover post-employment retaliation. In late July, a group of senators proposed the False Claims Amendments Act of 2023.[1] Championed by Sen ...
Legal Property Due Diligence In a property transaction, whether that is buying, leasing, or financing, a legal property due diligence exercise may be required to assess the potential risk to a client before committing to the transaction. The potential for AI to be used to review and digest legal property DD documentation with speed and accuracy is clear ...