The Archive (2020-2023)

COVID-19 has brought unprecedented disruption to normal working arrangements. As businesses adapt to the changing environment, they need to keep in mind the legal framework. In the sixth and final podcast in this series, Dave Rintoul and Clare Fletcher consider the law on flexible working, whether it is fit for purpose in the current climate, and some key practical issues for employers.

In this podcast Razia Khan, a leading Chief Economist for Africa and Middle East at Standard Chartered Bank focuses on the impact of COVID-19 on economies in Africa.

Sickness, self-isolation and shielding are just some of the types of absence employers are grappling with as a result of COVID-19. With holiday season now upon us, and the possibility of quarantine after international travel, the challenges are mounting. In the fifth podcast in this series, Katherine Flower and Clare Fletcher navigate a number of COVID-related absence scenarios and provide practic...

This podcast provides a useful roundup of three pensions law developments over the last month. It covers the latest guidance on GMP equalisation; an important European Court decision on data transfers outside the EEA; and the latest decision concerning the Safeway pension scheme regarding equalisation of normal retirement age.

The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is worsening, and with government support tapering off, businesses need to reassess their options. In this podcast, Phil Linnard and Clare Fletcher explore the impact of the COVID on redundancy planning and implementation, and highlight some key issues for employers to take on board.

In our third COVID-19 employment podcast, Lizzie Twigger and Clare Fletcher discuss the law and guidance on homeworking, how this can impact the workplace culture, and some key takeaways for employers.

Richard Goldstein provides a useful round-up of recent developments in pensions law over the last month. Topics covered included the Pensions Regulator’s guidance on reporting requirements, following the end of its COVID-19 related easements; the deadlines for fiduciary management and investment consultancy compliance statements; and the pensions impact of the Corporate Insolvency and Governance A...

As more businesses resume their operations after lockdown, testing for COVID-19 is at the forefront of measures to prevent a second spike of infections. In our second COVID-19 employment podcast, Philippa O’Malley and Clare Fletcher discuss the impact of testing on employers, and what practical steps can be taken to protect both staff and businesses.

COVID-19 has created new challenges for employers in protecting the health and safety of their employees. In this podcast, the first in a new COVID-19 employment series, Padraig Cronin and Clare Fletcher discuss the legal and practical issues surrounding risk assessments, PPE, commuting, and employee engagement.

In this podcast, David Watkins and Ellie Mackay consider the impact which the COVID-19 crisis will have in the short to medium term, as well as some of the factors that will influence deal structure and terms.

COVID will have a lasting impact on how we work and our requirements for office space. Jane Edwarde, John Nevin and Graham Rounce discuss the effect of COVID on the office letting market and focus on which trends are emerging, from a human as well as a legal perspective.

In this podcast, Jessica Staples, Sarah Jackson, Poppy Smith and Rosalind Kenward from the Competition and Regulatory group, compare the responses of regulators in the UK energy, water and communications sectors to the COVID-19 crisis. They discuss how regulators in these sectors are taking an increasingly pragmatic approach to enforcement and competitor collaboration, where this is necessary to a...

In this podcast, Gillian Fairfield and Ian Brown discuss Executive Remuneration and the issues facing Remuneration Committees in the current crisis.

COVID's impact on cash flows has seen many companies turn to the equity markets to address liquidity problems. In this podcast, Richard Smith,  James Cook and Gillian Fairfield consider which trends are emerging and focuses on what issuers need to know when contemplating an equity raise.

National governments across the world are adopting a range of measures to deal with the economic distress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of these measures seek the tightening of foreign direct investment (FDI) regimes to prevent a sell-off of strategic businesses to foreign investors.   In this podcast, Lisa Wright, a partner in our competition group, examines the EU's existing FDI framewor...

Matthew Tobin and Ed Fife, partners in our Financing Group, discuss the Bank of England’s Covid Corporate Financing Facility (CCFF). From eligibility issues, timing to access the scheme to the potential of business restrictions and how to manage the publicity of receiving CCFF support. Tobin and Fife share thoughts from our experience in advising H.M. Treasury and working with multiple corporates...