The Freshfields Podcast

Keeping you up to date on executive compensation matters. In this podcast series, the Freshfields People & Reward team discusses key topics in the executive reward space for publicly listed and private companies in 2025, including transatlantic considerations, ways to structure executive incentives and the developing trend for democratising equity arrangements. In the fifth episode of this ser...

In our latest podcast episode of "No Worse Off," Freshfields partners Lindsay Hingston, Ken Baird, and Emma Gateaud, along with senior associate Emilio Salice, come together for an in-depth discussion as the Restructuring Plan (RP) turns five. Drawing on their extensive experience, our speakers share valuable insights into the dynamic landscape of restructuring plans. They delve into the powerful...

In episode four of the Eureka series, Former SEC Director of CorpFin and Freshfields partner Erik Gerding is joined by partners Leza Bieber, Heather Brookfield and Sarah Ghulamhussain who unpack the trends this Proxy Season, including: What we are seeing in terms of shareholder proposals, management proposals and early voting results including trends in ISS and Glass Lewis voting recommendations W...

In this episode of the Eureka series, partners and former senior SEC officials Melissa Hodgman and Erik Gerding share insider perspectives on what to expect from SEC enforcement, including: Direction of travel for key areas such as crypto, fraud, individual liability, China, ESG and insider trading Insights into personnel and priorities changes at the agency and what this means for enforcement Adv...

The second Trump administration has made numerous announcements on trade and tariffs, but US tax policy is increasingly woven into the discussion on international trade. This includes the possibility of retaliatory US action against “discriminatory or extraterritorial taxes” imposed by other countries. The US House Budget Reconciliation Bill, officially titled the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act", was...

Listen to the latest episode of our MedTech podcast featuring host Vinita Kailasanath and guest Alya Sulaiman, Chief Compliance and Privacy Officer at Datavant. Vinita and Alya discuss Alya’s unique career path, how AI and machine learning will impact the US’ regulatory landscape, deploying AI in healthcare, and MedTech innovations to watch.  

On 8 May 2025, the European Commission launched a public consultation to review the Merger Guidelines. In this episode, our host Jenn Mellott speaks with Daniele Calisti, Head of the Mergers Case Support and Policy Unit at DG Competition, who is leading the consultation process. They are joined by David Foster, Director at Frontier Economics, and fellow antitrust partner Thomas Janssens , to explo...

Tune in to the latest episode of our EUnpacked podcast series in which we try to untangle the famous or rather infamous ‘Omnibus I’ package unveiled by the European Commission on 26 February this year. The proposal aims to simplify ESG reporting and due diligence obligations, responding to new political and geopolitical imperatives pushing a simplification and burden-reduction drive to boost the E...

In our latest podcast episode of "No Worse Off," Freshfields partners Emma Gateaud and Craig Montgomery are joined by two industry experts for an in-depth discussion on motor finance claims and consumer redress restructuring. Drawing on our extensive experience in recent consumer redress restructurings, we consider the potential impact of the upcoming Supreme Court Judgment on motor finance commis...

In this episode of our Securing the Digital Future podcast series, Freshfields partner Rachael Annear talks with June Lowry and Athina Tsitsou, from the European Commission, about measures in the EU aimed at children’s online safety as well as broader initiatives around accessibility.

In episode two of the Eureka series, Former Director of CorpFin at the SEC and Freshfields partner Erik Gerding and Freshfields partners Calise Cheng and Jacqueline Marino explore IPOs in the face of uncertainty, including alternative paths to capital and liquidity. They discuss: The state of the market and what the SEC might do to help Alternative paths for companies seeking capital and liquidity...

In this episode of the Eureka series, Former Director of CorpFin at the SEC and Freshfields partner Erik Gerding and Freshfields partners Pamela Marcogliese and Leza Bieber discuss how to think about disclosures and governance during a trade war, including: What to do about guidance and meaningful cautionary language under extreme uncertainty? How is this situation similar to COVID and the Russia/...

As part of his predictions for 2025, Ethan Klingsberg focused on the expected dominance of the fund secondaries market. Listen in as he speaks with Private Funds and Secondaries partner Ivet Bell about the phenomenal rise of these transactions—including market drivers, key terms, impact on the market, and where secondaries growth may be headed in both up and down markets.  

On 6 April 2025, key consumer protection provisions set out in the landmark UK Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCCA) entered into force. In addition to introducing some significant substantive changes to the law, the DMCCA provides the CMA with powers to directly enforce consumer protection law for the first time, and the ability to fine businesses up to 10% of global turnover for...

In our latest "No Worse Off" podcast episode, Freshfields partner Lindsay Hingston and Tabasam Faqir, Head of Restructuring and Capital Solutions for MENA, welcome special guest Naveen Sabharwal, Managing Director at Davidson Kempner. Together, they explore the key themes shaping the restructuring landscape in the Middle East. Drawing on their extensive market experience, they examine the evolving...

Join Nathalie Kupfer and Rosie Jiang as they sit down with Val Jacob to explore her remarkable career in the legal industry. With decades of experience in Big Law, Val has navigated the complexities of the legal world and emerged as a respected leader. In this episode, Val will share her journey, from her early days as a young attorney to her rise through the ranks.

In this episode of our Securing the Digital Future podcast series, partner Rachael Annear is joined by Lorna Christie from the UK’s data regulator, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), to discuss how the ICO is collaborating with Ofcom to ensure a coherent approach to regulation where online safety and data protection intersect.

As you may already know, our three new London Private Credit and Capital Solutions partners joined us last month.  We are very excited to introduce you to them in the latest episode of our “No Worse Off” Podcast series! Paul, Mark and Nick tell us about their practice, what Private Credit and Capital Solutions really means, as well as revealing a few interesting facts about themselves! Listen now

As the world intensifies its efforts toward Net Zero, Asia stands at the forefront of the global energy transition, representing half of global energy demand and emissions. With heavy dependence on fossil fuels across most large Asian economies, the path to Net Zero will be both challenging and full of opportunities for forward-thinking companies. In this episode, Ninette Dodoo is discussing the e...

In our latest podcast episode of Securing the Digital Future, Freshfields partner  Rachael Annear  is joined by Suzanne Cater and Amy Jordan from the UK’s communications regulator, Ofcom, for an in-depth look at how online safety legislation is being applied in the UK and what businesses and organizations need to know. 

In this episode of our MedTech podcast series, partner Vinita Kailasanath sits down with Nada Hanafi , Co-founder of MedTech Color, to discuss Nada’s career, how diversity impacts the MedTech industry, and advice for future MedTech leaders.

Join partners Lindsay Hingston, Jonathan Kelly, and associate Madeleine Wall in our first "No Worse Off" episode of 2025. In this episode, they explore the intersection between international sanctions and restructuring and insolvency, covering UK and EU developments while providing practical guidance on implementing restructuring solutions within sanctions frameworks. Stay tuned for more insights...

The recent and upcoming changes to the heads of key antitrust agencies, and in particular the Chair of the UK Competition and Markets Authority, may signal a shift in approach to merger control. In our latest Essential Antitrust podcast, our host  Jenn Mellot  is joined by fellow partners  Thomas Janssens ,  Martin McElwee  and  Colin Raftery  to discuss how this and other recent developments will...

The transitions taking place across agency leadership will maintain competition law and policy at the forefront of regulatory developments in 2025. In particular, antitrust policy will be shaped by political influences and growing pressure to consider domestic growth, security and economic resilience concerns, alongside other industrial policy goals. In our latest Essential Antitrust podcast, our...

In our latest podcast episode of Securing the Digital Future, Freshfields partner  Rachael Annear is joined by Michelle Ramsden from the US Department of Justice for an overview of the status of online safety regulation in the US. They discuss the complex patchwork of laws and regulations at both the state and federal levels, as well as how civil liberties and freedom of expression are impacting t...