They’ve long been used by oil companies to protect against foreign governments seizing their assets. But could bilateral investment treaties also insulate big tech from punitive tax charges, hastily introduced regulations – and even cyber attacks? Elliott Friedman and Tom Walsh in New York, and Annie Pan in London, explain all to Freshfields’ head of US tech, Boris Feldman

Further resources: You can view the US model BIT here; explore every current BIT in place around the world here; find information on US trade agreements, many of which include investment chapters that provide for arbitration, here; discover more about structuring your investments to achieve treaty protection here; and read a related blog here.