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Update: Advocate General advises that the validity of standard contractual clauses is not affected by complaints made in Schrems II

What do I need to know? On Thursday 19 December, Advocate General Saugmandsgaard Øe published his Opinion in Full Article



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Further Judicial Recognition of Bitcoin as “Property” Following Ransomware Attack

The Court in AA v Persons Unknown [2019] EWHC 3556 (Comm) (17 January 2020) ordered injunctive relief against unknown persons accused of extorting ransom payments in the form of Bitcoin worth $950,000 from an insurance company, following a cyber-att...




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Coronavirus - Protecting your company and brand - Global

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Punjab Police Sub Inspector and ASI Jobs 2019 PPSC Apply Online

SUB INSPECTOR (BS-14) (OPEN MERIT) 432 POSTS ON REGULAR BASIS Punjab Police has announced Sub Inspector and Assistant Sub Inspector Jobs 2019




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The EU Court provides guidance on the use of framework agreements by contracting authorities

Case C-216/17, Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato – Antiturst, Coopservice Soc. coop. arl In its judgment of 19 December 2018 (the &ldq...




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Sainsbury's / Asda and the CMA - a statement of intent pre-Brexit

On 21 and 20 February 2019 respectively the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) published its Provisional Findings and a Full Article



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Case C-260/17, Anodiki Services EPE: interpreting the scope of the “employment contracts” exemption under EU procurement legislation

Case C-260/17, Anodiki Services EPE1: interpreting the scope of the “employment contracts” exemption under EU procurement legislation Introduction The judgment relates to a request for a preliminary ruling made by Greece’s Council ...




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UK Competition law – Is it fit for the digital economy?

With the rapid growth of the digital economy, a number of competition authorities, as well as governments1 are in the process of assessing whether their competition enforcement tools are fit for the digital economy. In the UK, the Government commiss...




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US lifts the Cuba secondary sanctions waiver

The United States (“US”) Government announced on 17 April 2019 that it would not renew a waiver to Title III of the US Helms-Burton Act 1996 (“Title III”) that had effectively prevented former owners of property confiscated f...




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Narrow or Wide? Court aligns Germany with other jurisdictions on MFN-Clauses in Bookings.com case

On 4 June 2019 the Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf ruled in favour of Booking.com’s revised “narrow” Most Favourite Nation (“MFN”) clause (Case No. VI-Kart 2/16 (V)). The reactions were predictable. German hote...




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Case comment: Amey Highways Limited v West Sussex County Council

The recent High Court decision in Amey Highways Limited v West Sussex County Council has clarified that abandoning a procurement will not automatically extinguish pre-existing causes of action.  Breaches of the procurement regulations which res...




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FCA’s Market Study into General Insurance Pricing Practices: Pricing interventions proposed to tackle competition concerns

The FCA has published its interim report in relation to its market study into how general insurance firms charge their customers for home and motor insurance (Interim Report). The FCA has provisionally found that the market is not working well for ...




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Government Amends Temporary Tariffs for Lorries, Bioethanol and Clothing Products

On 8 October 2019, the Government announced changes to the UK’s temporary tariff regime for certain products in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Under the proposals, which were first published on 13 March 2019 , the Government intended to introd...




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The Italian Competition Authority’s enforcement against so called “IBAN discrimination” practices

Introduction The Italian Competition Authority (“ICA”) has recently adopted a harsh approach imposing quite significant fines on those operators who accept direct debit payments only to the extent that their customers are holders of an ...




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The new Italian Law on Class actions and its impact on the current private antitrust enforcement regime in Italy

The Italian legislation on private antitrust enforcement (Legislative Decree no. 3 of 19 January 2017 - Decree) has implemented the EU Directive no. 2014/104. The Decree sets out the rules according to which any natural or legal person who has suffe...




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DOJ further aligns Export Control and Sanctions Enforcement Policy with FCPA enforcement practices

On 13 December 2019, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a revised Export Control and Sanctions Enforcement Policy for Business Organizations (Revised EC/S Policy),1 clarifying its prior guidance on voluntary self-disclosure requirements fo...




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Highest EU court confirms pay for delay settlement agreements may be abusive and restrict competition by object or effect

On 30 January 2020, the Court of Justice of the EU (“CJEU”) confirmed that an agreement in settlement of a patent dispute in the pharmaceutical sector may constitute a restriction of competition by object or effect, as well as an abuse o...




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Coronavirus - Communication on relaxation of competition law - Italy

Introduction The coronavirus has forced antitrust authorities both at EU and national level to adopt an exceptional approach on competition rules. At an EU level, on 8 April the European Commission approved specific guidance to guide companies in t...




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The equity surplus-arrangement – clarified

In two recent judgments, both rendered on 16 October 2015 (which can be found here and here) the Supreme Court ruled on the sustainability of a legal construct often used by banks called the equity surplus-arrangement. A variant of the...




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The enforcement of securities connected to a pledged debt by the pledgee

  Pursuant to Article 3:246 paragraph 1 of the Dutch Civil Code (DCC) pledgees have the power to enforce their right of pledge on receivables by claiming (direct) payment of the receivable. This power also includes the right to enforce rights o...




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The position of the right of pledge after bankruptcy on goods that are delivered subject to retention of title

On 3 June 2016, the Supreme Court ruled that a valid right of pledge can be established on goods that are delivered subject to retention of title (of ownership). If the buyer is declared bankrupt, the conditional ownership can become an uncondition...




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Law & Business 2017. Key changes. Trends and challenges

We are pleased to present to you our brochure which reviews the changes in the Polish law that we believe will have a major impact on business in Poland in 2017.



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A commentary on So Sau Lai Connie v DBS Bank (Hong Kong) Ltd

The case of So Sau Lai Connie v DBS Bank (Hong Kong) Ltd [2017] HKEC 29 is a typical letter of credit fraud case. This case illustrates whether certain “red flags” may constitute discrepant presentation or a fraud indication. Background ...




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Regulating firms’ culture - The increasing focus by financial regulators internationally on supervising firms’ culture

Introduction Financial services firms’ corporate governance and risk cultures is a ‘hot’ topic with financial regulators globally. Regulators have noted that serious corporate governance and conduct failings of financial services f...




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Facilitating industry progress

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Banks owe no duty of care to an applicant of an injunction order

The position of banks being served with a Mareva injunction order has been clarified in Hong Kong. In the recent case of Grasberg Capital Asia Limited v Bank of Communications Limited (HCA 2016/784)*, the Court considered the question of whether a b...




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Protecting your interests - A guide to taking security in 21 countries worldwide

Companies trade in an increasingly global market. Despite this, the process of taking security in support of financial obligations remains essentially a question of the national law in the country where the assets over which security is granted are ...




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A guide to taking security in 21 countries worldwide

Companies trade in an increasingly global market. Despite this, the process of taking security in support of financial obligations remains essentially a question of the national law in the country where the assets over which security is granted are ...




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Rescue Culture - MK Airlines Limited (In Liquidation) (the “Company”) - Administration expenses, misfeasance and priority

Key points: • In a judgment supportive of the rescue culture in English insolvency, the court has reaffirmed its flexible approach to the application of insolvency provisions and willingness to look at the practical effect of transactions in re...




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When off-plan doesn’t go to plan – security issues in residential developments

A recent High Court judgment provides a reminder of the rules governing the priority of security interests in an insolvency scenario, and also illustrates some of the potential pitfalls of purchasing apartments off-plan (Williams & Anor v Broado...




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A lender’s right to request a valuation may be limited

Legal background Often, under a contract, one party will have a right to exercise discretion - the contract will give the party the right to take a decision that affects the rights of both parties. In real estate finance an obvious example of this i...




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What is market value and how can officeholders demonstrate it has been obtained? A look at Re One Blackfriars Ltd: Hyde v Bannon

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Do Receivers have overreaching powers? - Stanley v a debtor (2019) (unreported)

Key Points A disposition by a receiver, whether appointed by the court or under a fixed charge, is not a disposition by a mortgagor for the purposes of s284 Insolvency Act 1986 (“IA”). The wider implications of the decision may be to lim...




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Eversheds Harry Elias Enhances Banking and Financial Services Practice with First Lateral Partner Hire since merger

  The Singapore office of global legal practice Eversheds Sutherland today announced the appointment of Gerard Ng as a partner in the Banking and Financial Services Practice group. With over 20 years of experience, Gerard is a specialist in len...




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A case study in receivership practice: Devon Commercial Property Limited v Robert Adrian Barnett, Robert John Blecher

Key Points • The self-dealing rule does not extend to a sale by a receiver to a party in which the mortgagee has an interest. • Although the duties of a receiver and a mortgagee are similar as to the Property, a receiver, unlike a mortgage...




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Coronavirus - German Federal Government plans legislative package to mitigate consequences of COVID-19 - Germany

Changes to the insolvency, civil and criminal procedural law The German Federal Government is currently planning various support measures for entrepreneurs, sole traders, other small, medium and large companies and credit institutions to mitigate t...




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Coronavirus - Economic Stabilisation Fund - Germany

State recapitalisation aid to companies in the Covid 19 crisis 1. Overview | within a very short time, the German legislator passed a law to establish an Economic Stabilization Fund (ESF) | the aim is to stabilize the companies in the real economy a...




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Coronavirus - Insolvency and extraordinary moratorium – Czech Republic

Coronavirus and the related restrictive measures directly affect not only insolvency proceedings that are already in progress, but can also cause or accelerate financial problems that will lead to bankruptcy and subsequent beginning of insolvency pr...




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To (Re)pay or Not to (Re)pay

Hong Kong banks have been asked to provide small and mid-sized businesses with a 6 month repayment holiday. Who is eligible and what will the relief cover? COVID-19 is affecting valuations, disrupting cash-flows and causing financial distress for ma...




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Coronavirus - Judicial comment on temporary ban on Statutory Demands and Winding-up Petitions... and opportunism! - UK

In Re Saint Benedict's Land Trust ...




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Coronavirus – What makes debt buy-backs an option right now?- UK

In light of the recent market events, the trading prices of many loans have fallen dramatically. As a result, companies (or their private equity sponsors) may consider utilising the debt buy-back mechanics in their credit agreements. A debt buy-back...




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Coronavirus - A snapshot of the insolvency process - UAE

Whilst the UAE Government has launched economic stimulus packages to minimize the disruption, the financial and social cost of the virus will be felt for many months, if not years, to come. In light of this severe economic disruption, companies of a...




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Coronavirus – Impact on the medical device industry – Europe

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Coronavirus - Impacts on clinical trials - Germany

Implications of Covid-19 on the conduct of clinical trials The current Covid-19 pandemic’s impact on European healthcare systems, such as limited or no patient contact; restricted site access; shortage of investigational medicinal products; t...




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Our Clean Energy and Sustainability Strategy in Africa

Eversheds Sutherland’s Africa Group has recently announced a number of new leadership roles for John Kemkers (Head of the Africa Group), Wesley Pydiamah (Deputy Head of the Africa Group) and Farès Koussay El Heni (Deputy Head of the Afr...




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Afghanistan: The Ministry of Energy and Water (“Procuring Authority”) has launched a request for qualification (“RFQ”) for a 40 MW solar photovoltaic energy project in the Herat region ("Project")

Background The Procuring Authority has engaged the International Finance Corporation, acting through its Public Private Partnerships Transaction Advisory Services division, to act as lead transaction advisor in relation to the Project. The RFQ will ...




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UK: European Commission (Re) Approves GB Capacity Market

The European Commission (“EC”) has now completed its in-depth investigation of Britain’s capacity market scheme (“CM scheme”), which was introduced in 2014 following EU state aid approval to help safeguard security of e...




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Latam: Renewable Energy is Looking Good in Latin America

The Energy & Infrastructure team is delighted to launch its third edition of the Renewable Energy is Looking Good in Latin America brochure. Latin American countries represent 4 of the top 20 most attractive renewable energy markets in the world...




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Electronic waste - The toxic legacy of our digital age

Rapid innovation and decreasing production costs have dramatically increased our access to electronic products and digital technology and, together with humankind’s unquenchable demand for electronic devices, the unintended consequence of this...




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Does the mining industry have a future in Zimbabwe?

The announcement of the intention to repeal the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act by the Zimbabwe government in March 2019 was driven by various factors, including investor, political and legal motivations. The Act, implemented by former Z...