Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Podcasts

In this episode, we step back from our case study (covered in Episode 1 Parts One and Two) to address a key question: how does GenAI compare to technology-assisted review (TAR)?   David Beck (Head of eDiscovery UK & EMEA), Meghan Ryan (Senior Manager, eDiscovery) and Danbee Kim (Head of Digital Legal, US) cut through the hype to explore how these technologies work in practice. They examine why...

This is the third episode of "Cross-examining AI", HSF Kramer's podcast series on disputes and AI where we unpack the key developments that are shaping litigation. In this episode we look at the use of AI by public bodies following a recent judgment on the lawfulness of the Metropolitan Police’s live facial recognition technology, as well as discussing some of the key IP issues that...

In this July wrap up edition of the public law podcast, Jasveer Randhawa is joined by HSF Kramer partners Nusrat Zar and James Wood. They start with an update on ECHR and proportionality, examining recent developments in A1P1 property rights, following the decisions in Dana Astra and BYL. The discussion then turns to practical takeaways for those advising on contentious regulatory matters, includi...

This podcast focuses on dawn raids and how businesses can prepare for and respond to them. Dawn raids are unannounced inspections carried out by regulatory and investigative authorities to gather evidence of suspected legal breaches. In this episode, we discuss: 1) what dawn raids are and the authorities that conduct them; 2) recent trends in dawn raid activity, including the growing challenges po...

In this fifth episode of the Employment Espresso Pods mini-series on the Employment Rights Act 2025, Jenny Andrews and Sian McKinley , both Of Counsel, together with Knowledge Counsel Anna Henderson , focus on the changes to the law on harassment due to come into force in October 2026. These reforms extend the new preventative duty first introduced in October 2024, turning it into a duty to take &...

In this episode of On Just Terms , HSF Kramer partners Cameron Hanson and Tania Gray speak with Mark Rigotti, Managing Director and CEO of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, about the evolving governance landscape.   The discussion explores governing culture beyond compliance, the growing influence of AI in the boardroom, and the impact of private capital on transparency, accountabilit...

This is the 38th episode of our series of commercial litigation update podcasts. In this episode we discuss privilege, including a recent case on privilege and litigation funding, disclosure, court organisation, and the question of when a third party's fraud will break the chain of causation. This episode is hosted by Maura McIntosh, a knowledge counsel in our commercial litigation team, who...

In this episode Andrew Rich , Nanda Lau , Sophie Thompson and Adi Herman explore the evolving global landscape of consumer M&A, where strategic break-ups, portfolio optimisation and sharper deal “matchmaking” are reshaping the market. Drawing on insights from the Global M&A Report 2026: Consumer Sector , they examine key trends playing out across regions, from shifting capital flows and bu...

In this follow-on episode, Caoimhe Powell (Director, Disputes - Digital Legal Delivery) and Ariel Wiebe (Associate, Disputes) focus on one of the most critical aspects of applying GenAI in legal review: prompting.   Building on a live High Court disclosure exercise, they explore how prompt design directly shapes the quality, consistency and defensibility of outcomes—framing prompting as a core leg...

Partners Lyn Harris (Digital Legal Delivery) and Ajay Malhotra (Disputes) move beyond the hype to examine a live English High Court litigation matter, where Relativity aiR for Review was used to support first-level document review. They explore how the technology was applied in practice, the governance and human oversight underpinning defensibility, and the key lessons from deploying GenAI at scal...

In this episode of Inside IR, Rohan Doyle and Mitchell Brennan use the recent Full Federal Court decision in AMWU v Opal Packaging Australia (May 2026) to explore the real-world implications of complexity in enterprise agreements. With four decision-makers across three forums arriving at four different interpretations of a relatively common status quo clause, the case is a stark illustration of en...

In this episode of On Just Terms , Jason Betts and Harry Edwards are joined by Lucinda McCann, Group Executive, ASX Supervision, for a candid conversation on the organisation’s approach to its supervisory and enforcement responsibilities.   Lucinda discusses ASX's shift to risk-based supervision, effective engagement during its inquiries, continuous disclosure obligations, trading halts, and...

In this fourth episode of the Employment Espresso Pods mini-series on the Employment Rights Act 2025, Jenny Andrews and Sian McKinley, both Of Counsel, together with Knowledge Counsel Anna Henderson, turn to one of the most significant changes - certainly the most controversial in terms of its progress through parliament - the Unfair Dismissal changes landing on 1 January 2027.

This is the 37th episode of our series of commercial litigation update podcasts, which is a special edition focusing on force majeure. As well as outlining the legal landscape for force majeure under English law, it gives practical guidance on both drafting force majeure clauses and dealing with force majeure scenarios. This episode is hosted by Maura McIntosh, a knowledge counsel in our commercia...

In this episode of Deal Talk , partners Kam Jamshidi and Andrew Bradley  explore the opportunities for M&A in the Australian financial services sector.   Sharing insights from their recent experience advising on the sale of Insignia Financial, Andrew and Kam work through the key issues facing dealmakers in this sector, including: The themes driving financial services M&A and private equity...

In this follow-up episode to Part 1: The Star Decision - Lessons for Directors, HSF Kramer Chair and Senior Partner Rebecca Maslen-Stannage and Head Office Advisory Partner Carolyn Pugsley , turn to the broader governance lessons from the Star decision — including Justice Lee's pointed observations on AI in the boardroom, the growing impracticality of modern board papers, and the role of gene...

HSF Kramer Chair and Senior Partner Rebecca Maslen-Stannage and Head Office Advisory Partner Carolyn Pugsley , unpack the Federal Court's landmark decision and draw out practical takeaways for NEDs in this two-part podcast series. In this episode, they discuss the facts and basis of ASIC's allegations, as well as the key outcomes and contributing management and board dynamics (drawing co...

Export controls and sanctions risk are now a day-to-day issue across the Defence ecosystem - from primes and OEMs to technology and dual use innovators, defence infrastructure contractors and defence focused investors - particularly where programs involve US origin technology, third country collaboration or dual use components. In this special podcast episode, we share a recent client webinar were...

In Episode 2 of Deal Talk, partners Kam Jamshidi and Nicole Pedler explore what the 2025 NBIO market reveals for bidders and targets in Australian public M&A. HSF Kramer has deeply analysed non binding indicative offers in public deals to extract the key lessons for bidders and targets when formulating their M&A strategy. Drawing on this proprietary data, the episode examines when NBIOs mo...

In the latest episode of On Just Terms , HSF Kramer partners Jason Betts and Rebecca Maslen-Stannage are joined by The Honourable Michelle Rowland MP, Attorney-General of Australia, for a wide-ranging discussion on the government's legal priorities.   The Attorney-General shares insights on Privacy Act reform, the government's position on copyright and AI and why there is no text and dat...

This podcast focuses on the pharmaceutical industry and, in particular, M&A activity in the sector and the recent surge in licensing deals involving Chinese biotechs. There are a lot of interesting topics related to the pharmaceutical sector which we could discuss but today we will be covering the following: 1) First, we will begin with an overview of M&A deal activity in the sector; 2) we...

It has been a busy time for the Prudential Regulation Authority ("PRA") Enforcement team. In two firsts for the PRA, its decision against U K Insurance Ltd saw the first reported use of the Early Account Scheme leading to a settlement discount of 50%, and the decision against Bank of London Group Limited and Oplyse Holdings Limited involved the first breach of Fundamental Rule 1 by a fir...

This is the second episode of "Cross-examining AI", HSF Kramer's podcast series on disputes and AI where we unpack the key developments in AI that are shaping litigation. In this episode we give an update on privilege and AI in the US, find out why not to use ChatGPT to develop a corporate strategy, and finally discuss how AI is being used in the world of international arbitration....

In this episode of On Just Terms, Jason Betts and Melissa Gladstone continue their conversation with Stuart Price, CEO of CASL, focusing on the practical realities of litigation funding.   The discussion examines how funders balance commercial returns with fairness to group members, manage competing stakeholder interests, and respond to evolving market dynamics, including contingency fees, legal f...

This is the 36th episode of our series of commercial litigation update podcasts. In this episode we discuss class actions, AI, a number of privilege cases including one of the most important decisions in that area in the past few years, and an interesting decision on service of proceedings. This episode is hosted by Maura McIntosh, a knowledge counsel in our commercial litigation team, who is join...