Ashurst Legal Outlook Podcast

Many companies are adapting their governance and reporting processes in response to the UK’s new Cyber Governance Code of Practice. In this episode, we explain some of the main implications for board directors and in-house legal teams. It’s often said that there are two types of companies: those that have been hacked and those that are going to be. With cyber threats constantly evolvin...

In this episode of Industrious Conversations, Ashurst Employment partners, Kathy Srdanovic and Jon Lovell , discuss the implications of the recent federal election for Australian employers in industrial relations. Together, they pinpoint the issues to watch out for including: Restraint of trade reforms Security of employment and enhanced safety net (NES) protections Bargaining; Long service leave...

In the latest episode of our World@Work series, we discuss several nations’ contrasting approaches to workplace investigations relating to whistleblower reports and sexual harassment issues. An expert panel from around the globe explains what is prompting the surge in internal investigations and how employers in various jurisdictions are rising to the challenges. Along the way, they discuss...

With investor interest rising by the day, our latest podcast explores the data centre market in Spain. This wide-ranging discussion covers everything from finance structuring to lease agreements, and from zoning challenges to power connection issues. When it comes to Spain’s data centres, how can domestic and overseas investors put themselves in pole position? Which financing options are mos...

In the wake of corporate scandals, Provision 29 of the UK Corporate Governance Code has been revamped with implications for risk management and internal controls in many UK companies. With new rules set to apply for financial periods beginning on or after 1 January 2026, this podcast looks at how companies can prepare. In today’s episode Ashurst’s  Will Chalk is joined by two peop...

In this first episode of the series, Ashurst colleagues  Tom Mercer ,  Harry Thimont  and  Jade Jack  endeavour to unpick the year to date and the impact that geopolitical upheaval has had on the public markets. The tumultuous start to the year has seen significant market volatility and the trio describe how this has affected, and how they expect it will continue to affect...

Ashurst recently brought together key stakeholders from across the data centre ecosystem to explore the many opportunities and challenges in the industry. In this episode, we share the key takeaways about investing in and financing of data centres . Experts at a recent Ashurst seminar dived deep into the funding issues associated with data centres. Among the participants were Ashurst’s Ruth...

Players from across the data centre ecosystem gathered recently to debate everything from planning and power to investment and financing. In this episode, we report on the opportunities and challenges that were identified, and some of the solutions that were uncovered. Ashurst’s recent Data Centre Seminar featured some of the brightest minds and latest innovations. Fresh from attending the e...

This episode marks the first in a new Ashurst series on Employment and Safety law  developments in Australia. After collaborating on a landmark psychosocial risk court case, Ashurst partner Scarlet Reid and State Chambers barrister Bruce Hodgkinson AM SC reflect on what employers might learn. Along the way, Scarlet and Bruce discusses the threshold for psychosocial harm and whether stress mee...

In this episode, we report on the changes to the UK’s consumer law regime (made by the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (the DMCC Act) . With enforcement action expected to ramp up in the UK, we consider how similar approaches have played out in Australia and Italy. While consumer protection jurisdictions in Australia and Italy have seen strong and active enforcement, the...

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has begun SMS investigations under its new digital markets regime – with tech giants like Apple and Google already in its sights. In this episode, we cast the spotlight on the CMA’s early investigations under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (the DMCC Act) . The UK’s new digital regime came into force i...

An expert panel explains how the corporate sustainability landscape is shifting and what directives in the first EU Omnibus package mean for non-EU business reporting. In this first episode of this new mini-series, Ashurst colleagues   Will Chalk and Becky Clissmann are joined by Falcon Windsor’s Claire Bodanis to explain the impact of the EU’s Omnibus package and how non-EU compa...

In this episode, our special guest is Miles Bake, the former Head of Enforcement at the Bank of England and the Director of Governance at the FCA. In a fascinating discussion, he offers a glimpse into the inner workings of the UK’s financial services regulators. Special guest Miles Bake shares his take on what makes financial services regulators tick. This is something he’s uniquely pl...

In a bid to root out harm before it occurs, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is stepping up its use of intervention tools as an alternative to formal investigations. In this episode, we explain some quite draconian FCA powers – ‘voluntary requirements’ (VREQs) and ‘own initiative requirements’ (OIREQs) – and how these are impacting financial services firms....

How effective have new Consumer Duty protections been since being introduced by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in 2023? How have financial services firms responded? And what kind of enforcement risks should firms be concerned about? Now that the dust has somewhat settled, this podcast looks at the impact of new consumer protections introduced by the FCA in 2023. For many financial services...

In this episode, we pinpoint the business trends and legal issues that will shape the UK’s construction landscape in 2025. From challenges and risks to opportunities and innovations, our expert panel covers a range of ground. Insolvency risk. Legislative developments. Labour shortages. Difficulties like these made 2024 a challenging year for many in the UK’s construction sector. So wha...

Last year, financial services firms were left reeling by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)'s transparency proposals (aka "naming and shaming" firms that are under investigation). Since then, the proposals have been amended by way of a second consultation. In today’s episode, we explain what’s changed, what’s been clarified, and what all this could mean for regulated firms and...

Explore the pivotal legal challenges and anticipate risk areas that are set to define the UK real estate disputes in 2025, from sustainability mandates to tenant insolvency and landmark legislative changes. The UK real estate sector is poised for significant legal developments in 2025. Ashurst’s specialist real estate disputes lawyers Alison Hardy, Joe Perry-Courtade, and Debbie Eliad unpack...

In this episode, our expert panel weighs up potential changes to the way that the UK's Financial Ombudsman Service resolves customer complaints, with a view to clearing up uncertainty and creating a more consistent framework for firms to follow. Our panel for this episode includes host Nathan Willmott , his Ashurst colleague Adam Jamieson and special guest Adam Temple , a barrister at 3 Verulam Bu...

In the wake of the government’s recent infrastructure announcements, we pinpoint the legal issues to watch out for in real estate. The coming year will see widespread activity in the UK’s real estate asset classes, from logistics to the living sector (in its broadest sense), and from data centres to office space. In this episode, we discuss the legal changes, risks and trends to keep o...

Season 2 of our regulatory enforcement mini-series kicks off by considering what the 2025 priorities are (and should be) for the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA). With a busy year ahead for the PRA and FCA, this episode highlights some of the issues and trends that financial services firms should watch out for. For this episode, host Nathan Willmott...

In the seventh and final episode for 2024 of our Industrious Conversations series, Ashurst’s Ian Humphreys and Peter McNulty explain how Closing the Loopholes changes are shifting the enterprise bargaining landscape under the Fair Work Act. Drawing on insights from Ashurst's soon to be released 2024 Bargaining Trends Survey , Ian and Peter cover key reforms to the bargaining process, including the...

In this episode, we hear from employment lawyers in Australia, Singapore, Indonesia and the UK. Together they describe and compare the industrial relations landscapes in their respective countries – and reflect on what UK employers can learn from these. Host Crowley Woodford reflects on the potential impacts of the UK’s long-awaited Employment Rights Bill , which is shaping up to be one of the mos...

Ashurst Employment partners  Stephen Woodbury and Tamara Lutvey discuss the expanded single-interest employer authorisation bargaining stream, also known as multi-employer bargaining. Together, they explain how Fair Work Act amendments have broadened the criteria for multi-employer enterprise agreements, and they explain why uptake by unions has so far been low. The conversation delves into the Fa...

In the fifth episode of our Industrious Conversations series, Ashurst’s Jane Harvey and Elissa Speight explain how Closing The Loophole changes are strengthening protections for workers who are not employees, and extending the scope of the Fair Work Commission to intervene in workforce matters. As Jane and Elissa point out, the reforms impact independent contractor arrangements in several ways. Th...