With the end to restrictions in sight, some businesses are preparing for the return to the office while others have moved to hybrid or fully agile models. We explore the considerations of a full or partial return for teams, as well as the evolving landscape for occupiers.

We hear from Nationwide on its approach to allow over 70% of its staff to choose where they want to work from under its new hybrid working model; and discuss the impacts for property owners and investors as some businesses look more favourably at a flexible space over the traditional tenant model.

Hosted by international affairs advisor Matthew Kirk, we are delighted to be joined by James Rowlands, Lead Policy & Public Affairs Manager at Nationwide; Carl Potter, Managing Director at Avison Young Birmingham; and Caroline Noblet, co-chair of our Labour & Employment Practice.

The Future Workplace (28 April 2021)

Fifteen years ago, Clive Humby famously said, “data is the new oil.” But do we really understand how data, the ability to collect and analyse it, and the extent to which an organisation is capable of assimilating technological innovation are drivers of value? What makes a “smart” company? Does being “smart” necessarily deliver greater value? Or do you have to be smart about how you are “smart”?

Is technology no longer just for techies?

Guest Speakers -

·         Hugh Campbell, Founder, GP Bullhound
·         Pinesh Mehta, Investor, BGF
·         Carlton Daniel, Partner, Intellectual Property & Technology

Tony Reed, EMEA chair of the global Corporate Practice, provides an introduction and Matthew Kirk, international affairs advisor, hosts the discussion.

Driving Value - Data, Technology And IP (13 May 2021)

Jennie Galbraith, head of environment, social and governance (ESG) at BAT, talks to Matthew Kirk, international affairs advisor, about all aspects of ESG in her role – from providing insights and tracking developments in the external environment, and working with the business to ensure it becomes more sustainable by understanding the true nature of impacts on nature and society, to managing ESG reporting and engagement with investors.

Leading The Corporate ESG Agenda With Jennie Galbraith, Head Of ESG, BAT

Featuring Caroline Noblet, Malgorzata (“Gosia”) Olech and Patrick Brooks, the two-part discussions focus on sustainability of operations in Russia by multinational corporations, the management of employees (non-Russian and Russian), the movement of people, Russia’s response to the shifting business landscape, and the realities that confront business continuity.

Operations And People (April 2022)

Featuring  Malgorzata (“Gosia”) Grzelak, the discussions provide a view from Poland, the legal and humanitarian considerations for employers, and the implications of Poland’s new Homeland Defence Law in the context of labor and employment.

Employers And Refugees (April 2022)

Featuring Patrick Brooks, the discussions focus on Russia’s legal retaliation to the Western alliance, the effects on multinationals with operations in Russia, the delicate balancing act of sanctions compliance, and the likelihood of self-sufficiencies of some subsidiaries if operations remain in Russian hands.

Russian Counter-Measures (April 2022)

Featuring Malcolm Dowden, the discussion delves into the much speculated cyber threats from Russia, which will certainly elevate the conflict to a new level, and highlights the practical considerations and mitigation steps for businesses to consider and implement.

Data Privacy And Cybersecurity: Protecting Your Digital Assets (April 2022)

Featuring Max Rockall, the discussion offers a look at the current state of the global energy market and near-term outlook on market development, and any potential for complete disengagement from the EU on Russian energy reliance, as well as the feasibility of shifting to alternative energy sources.

Energy Supply And Impact On The Global Gas Market (April 2022)

Featuring George Grammas, the discussion provides an overview of the important features of new US export controls imposed as result of the conflict, general guidance on actions that would run afoul of the new regulations from a contract management perspective, and underscores the importance of understanding the business implications due to the complex global sanctions regime — further complicated by the current conflict — and effective compliance for risk mitigation.

How Can Companies Practically Mitigate Risk In Handling Existing & Prospective Contracts (May 2022)

The first episode in our HR Space podcast series provides an update on the latest employment law developments in Poland regarding remote work. With employers increasingly looking to introduce remote work and hybrid working for their employees, we discuss some of the most pressing changes in legislation for HR directors to consider, including:

- If and when employers in Poland can instruct their employees to work remotely, including the requirement for consultation and internal policies before doing so
- Whether employers are obliged to accept an employee’s request to work from home
- Whether the new remote work provisions apply to full-time remote work or hybrid working, or both

HR Space - Stay on Top of Employment Law Changes in Poland: New Provisions Regarding Remote Work

In the second episode of our HR Space podcast series, we discuss the cost implications for employers in Poland to consider when introducing remote working for their employees, including:

- The type of remote work costs employers are obliged to cover following the introduction of the new remote work draft law in Poland
- How these costs are to be reimbursed to employees, and the proposed minimum and maximum amounts to be paid by employers 
- Whether employers are required to reimburse the costs of employees who request remote work or whether this is applicable only to those employees who are instructed to remote work by employers

HR Space – Stay on Top of Employment Law Changes in Poland: Remote Work Costs

In this episode of our Restructuring & Insolvency podcast Rachael Markham and Helena Clarke discuss a recent court decision that considers the classification of fixed and floating charges, Avanti Communications.  The case moves away from previous thinking that for a charge to be fixed a lender needs total control over an asset, in favour of a more nuanced approach.  How might this case impact lenders and insolvency practitioners moving forward?

Restructuring Round-up: Classification of Fixed & Floating Charges – Taking a More Nuanced Approach

In March 2023, the Italian data protection authority sparked headlines by imposing a temporary ban on ChatGPT. Although Italy’s ban was lifted after only a few weeks, the European Data Protection Board established a joint taskforce to investigate continuing privacy concerns relating to the use and development of ChatGPT and similar services. In this episode, Bartolomé Martín, who leads our Data Privacy, Cybersecurity & Digital Assets team in Madrid, explains why data protection authorities are so concerned about the development and deployment of generative AI.

Privacy Law Podcast: Why Are Data Protection Authorities so Concerned About ChatGPT

In this episode, we hear from accredited legal technologist and AI expert Jonathan Bowker on the controls and safeguards that you need to build in to ensure that your deployment of generative AI is properly managed and free from “hallucination,” “overreliance” and bias.

Privacy Law Podcast: Is Generative AI Safe For Use by Enterprise Customers?

In this episode, Rachael Markham and John Alderton discuss the signs of business stress and distress and why it is important for directors and business owners to know what to look out for.  They explore what the difference is between stress and distress, how to identify where a business might sit on the stress/distress scale - including practical examples of what to look out for - and steps that a business can take to avoid moving towards or further down the stress/distress scale.

Restructuring Round-up: Identifying Business Stress and Distress

In this episode, Rachael Markham and Ololade Saromi from Five Paper Chambers discuss a recent unreported decision that concerned whether an administration had been validly extended where the administrators had used the deemed consent procedure to obtain the consent of unsecured creditors to the extension.  The discussion covers what the court decided and in what circumstances administrators can use the deemed consent process.

Restructuring Round-up: Administration Extensions and Using the Deemed Consent Procedure

The European Union is making progress towards what it describes as the world’s first comprehensive law governing artificial intelligence (the “AI Act”). What does that mean in practice?  Does the lack of a comprehensive law mean that AI is currently unregulated? How will the AI Act affect the design, risk assessment and deployment of AI systems?  Hear from Charles Helleputte, Brussels-based partner and head of our  EU Data Privacy, Cybersecurity & Digital Assets Practice.

Privacy Podcast: What Steps Should Organisations Take To Prepare for the EU AI Act?

Lawmakers and regulators around the world are grappling with the challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI). 

In some regions, including the European Union, the direction of travel is towards comprehensive legislation. In others, the preferred approach relies on guidelines, codes of practice and frameworks for ethical development. Singapore has applied characteristic drive and focus to meet the challenge, with plans to “deepen our use of AI technologies to transform our economy, going beyond just adopting technology, to fundamentally rethinking business models and making deep changes to reap productivity gains and create new areas of growth”.  

In the latest episode of our Privacy Law Podcast Singapore-based partner Charmian Aw examines the latest developments and looks forward to the next steps towards fulfillment of the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy.

Privacy Law Podcast: How Will Singapore's Open Source Toolkit Benefit the Financial Sector?

After a five-year legislative process, India’s new data protection law has passed and will be coming into force over the next 10 months. Although similar in many ways to GDPR, India’s law includes some significant exceptions and sector-specific rules. It brings a new compliance challenge but also significant opportunities for business in India, and for any organisations looking to do business in India.  Join us as we unpick the complexities and explore opportunities with data law expert Arjun Khurana.

Privacy Law Podcast: India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act

Our UK Business Immigration team are kicking off the series with a discussion on the changes to UK visa rules expected to apply from Spring 2024 including a significant increase to the salary threshold for Skilled Worker visas and a re-vamp of the Shortage Occupation list.  With the finer details still to be confirmed, Annabel Mace and May Cheung provide insight and clarity on the impact for UK employers.

Workforce WorldView: Planned Immigration Changes

The Home Office has been phasing in ETA for visitors to the UK since November 2023. This currently only applies to a few nationalities but will eventually apply to anyone who does not usually require a visa to visit the UK, for example, US and EU nationals. In this episode, May Cheung and Magali Ferreyra discuss the impact of ETAs for businesses and their employees.

Workforce WorldView: Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) Plans

Understanding planning law can often be an arduous process, not helped by the inter-relation of statute, planning policy and guidance, which can lead to complexities and uncertainties for developers, planning consultants and local planning authorities alike.

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