Quantum leaps in technology, as well as rising cost pressures, are prompting many leaders to take a fresh look at how their organisations are structured and resourced. However, restructures and redeployment are notoriously tricky processes to manage well. In this episode, we reflect on lessons learned from the High Court’s recent Helensburgh Coal vs Bartley decision.

Ashurst Employment partners Peter McNulty and Julia Sutherland explain why and how Australia’s employment laws require a more nuanced approach to restructuring than in years gone by. Together, they tackle everything from redeployment and penalties for late payment of entitlements to contractor arrangements and employee consultation. They also discuss health and safety matters, including psychosocial risk, and they emphasise the importance of robust, documented plans.

To listen to this and subscribe to future episodes, search for “Ashurst Legal Outlook” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcast player. To find out more about the full range of Ashurst podcasts, visit ashurst.com/podcasts.

The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our globetrotting podcast mini-series pays a visit to India, to take in the data centre landscape there. In less than 25 minutes, we highlight the market dynamics, trends, policymaking, infrastructure, and incentives that investors need to be across in this fast-growing market.

There’s a lot of excitement around India’s data centre in market and with good reason. India already has around 1.2 gigawatts of live IT load capacity. In 2025 alone, the nation has already added roughly 250 megawatts and experts predict capacity will rise to 1.8 gigawatts by 2027, before reaching 4.5 - 5 gigawatts by 2030.

In this episode, podcast host Ruth Harris is joined by Ashurst colleague Kalpana Unadkat to explain what is driving India’s extraordinary surge in data demand, how the government is responding, the types of facilities being built, and who the movers and shakers are among investors. Along the way, Kalpana offers an assessment of how mature the market is, and picks out some notable joint ventures and occupiers. She also reflects on the trends that will shape data centre activity in the years ahead.

To listen to this and subscribe to future episodes about data centres, search for “Ashurst Legal Outlook” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcast player. To read more about data centres, head to Ashurst's data centre insights hub. To find out more about the full range of Ashurst podcasts, visit ashurst.com/podcasts.

The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we explain how the Data (Use and Access) Act changes marketing practices and the use of cookies in the UK.

Host Rhiannon Webster is joined by Ashurst colleagues Nicolas Quoy and Shehana Cameron-Perera to discuss how the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 amends Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) and changes marketing practices and uses of cookies.

Shehana provides a snapshot of the amendments to PECR and what these mean for marketing practices. She also runs through the list of what cookies are categorised in PECR as being "strictly necessary cookies” and explains that, for analytics and appearance cookies, there are additional exceptions from obtaining consent.

Nicolas draws some constructive comparisons between French and UK marketing and cookies practices and regulatory approaches and describes the EU’s enforcement approach which attracts substantially higher fines. Whilst the Data (Use and Access) Act appears to bring the UK in line with France from a cookie perspective, there are probably still differentiations across Europe which will require a country-by-country approach when looking at cookie compliance.

Rhiannon explains how the Data (Use and Access) Act has aligned enforcement powers under PECR to the UK GDPR, and how this might inform compliance efforts and impact the ICO's approach to fining, particularly for marketing infringements.

To listen to this and subscribe to future Data Bytes episodes, search for “Ashurst Legal Outlook” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast player. To explore more from Ashurst’s podcast library, visit ashurst.com/podcasts.

The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we delve further into the UK’s Data (Use and Access) Act – this time exploring how the Act will impact organisations developing and deploying artificial intelligence (AI).

Ashurst partner Rhiannon Webster has assembled an expert team to unpack what the Data (Use and Access) Act means for AI, including data protection and IP-related matters. This includes Rhiannon’s Digital Economy team colleagues Will Barrow and Tom Brookes alongside Ashurst IP expert Aaron Cole.

Together, they explain what’s changed and what lies ahead for organisations developing and deploying AI. Aaron lays out the copyright policy options the government is weighing up in the coming months, and highlights pertinent court cases over how copyright protected materials are used by AI platforms.

Tom summarises data protection changes relating to automated decision-making and AI. He explains why this could prompt organisations to expand the way they use such AI tools, and what the impacts might be of rules splintering between the EU and UK. Tom also describes the more permissive environment for taking automated decisions using personal data, which has implications for HR and Finance leaders in particular.

To listen to this and subscribe to future Data Bytes episodes, search for “Ashurst Legal Outlook” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast player. To explore more from Ashurst’s podcast library, visit ashurst.com/podcasts.

The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode in our Industrious Conversations series, Partner Tamara Lutvey is joined by Mackenzie Small, Relationship Manager at the Australian Disability Network, to explore how organisations can better accommodate neurodivergent employees in workplace investigations.

Drawing on Mackenzie’s extensive experience in disability inclusion and workplace strategy, they unpack why traditional investigation models often overlook the needs of neurodivergent participants and what simple, practical steps employers can take to change that.

Tamara and Mackenzie discuss key issues like preparing participants for interviews, designing inclusive meeting environments and framing questions with clarity. The conversation also covers the importance of process flexibility and why offering adjustments should be standard practice for all participants.

To listen to this and subscribe to future episodes, search for “Ashurst Legal Outlook” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast player. To explore more from Ashurst’s podcast library, visit ashurst.com/podcasts.

The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we take a closer look at how the UK’s new Data (Use and Access) Act will regulate non-personal data, in particular through the framework for smart data schemes.

Ashurst colleagues Rhiannon Webster and Dr Alexander Duisberg join the podcast from London and Munich respectively to discuss the Data (Use and Access) Act’s framework for smart data schemes.

“Smart data schemes are seen by the UK government as a way to increase competition and create greater opportunities for innovation, save time for consumers, reduce costs, and increase the quality of services,” explains Rhiannon. “They also look to improve the security of data sharing and increase the trust in data sharing mechanisms.”

Together, Alex and Rhiannon describe the contrasting approaches of UK and EU regulators and what can be learned from these. This includes a comparison of the key provisions and limitations of the UK’s Data (Use and Access) Act and the EU Data Act – from trade secrets and data usage to innovation and competition. And there’s discussion of what might be covered in secondary legislation in the UK and EU.

Alex also outlines how proactive EU companies have prepared themselves for September’s implementation, going beyond compliance to enhance data strategy and pursue new business opportunities.

To listen to this and subscribe to future episodes, search for “Ashurst Legal Outlook” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast player. To explore more from Ashurst’s podcast library, visit ashurst.com/podcasts.

The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.

 

 

 

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In this second episode of the series, Ashurst colleagues James Fletcher, Harry Thimont and Jade Jack review the year to date and the ongoing impact that geopolitics is having on the public markets.

There has been no lessening of the volatility which marked the start of the year but, where broader global M&A appears to have dropped off, there has been a flurry of UK public M&A. The trio describe the trends they are seeing in the market, recent publications by the Panel and what to expect for the rest of the year.

The episode is intended to sit alongside, and complement, our quarterly publication which is available on our website. The publication looks at key highlights and market developments in the second quarter, as well as relevant legal and regulatory developments. The publication also includes tables summarising the key features of firm offer announcements made during the quarter.

To listen to this and to subscribe to future episodes in our governance mini-series, search for “Ashurst Legal Outlook” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcast player. You can also find out more about the full range of Ashurst podcasts at ashurst.com/podcasts.

The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK government has launched three consultations to shape its new sustainability reporting framework, while a new private share trading platform 'PISCES' offers companies an alternative route to liquidity for private companies.

In the fifth episode of Ashurst’s Governance and Compliance mini-series, Will Chalk is joined by Becky Clissmann and Marianna Kennedy to unpack two major developments in the UK corporate environment, which includes a trio of new government consultations on sustainability reporting, and the introduction of ‘PISCES’ (Private Intermittent Securities and Capital Exchange System), a new trading facility for private company shares.

Becky breaks down what the three UK consultations mean in practice, including the move to adopt international sustainability standards (IFRS), potential new requirements around climate-related transition plans, and proposals for auditing sustainability disclosures. She outlines what companies can do now, including conducting gap analyses, checking scoping criteria, and preparing for eventual legislative changes.

Marianna explains how PISCES is set to open up liquidity options for private companies. She describes how the system works, who it applies to, and what the benefits are, including potential tax advantages and tighter control over trading.

The discussion also reflects on whether the UK is diverging from the EU in its approach to sustainability, how the PISCES regime fits into wider capital markets reform, and what all this means for boards, legal teams and company leadership in the months ahead.

To listen to this and to subscribe to future episodes in our governance mini-series, search for “Ashurst Legal Outlook” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcast player. And to follow these unfolding issues, subscribe to Ashurst’s regular Governance and Compliance Updates. You can also find out more about the full range of Ashurst podcasts at ashurst.com/podcasts.

The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK’s Data (Use and Access) Act is now law, and it brings targeted but important shifts in data protection, enforcement and digital regulation that every organisation needs to track.

In this brand new Legal Outlook series, DataBytes, Partner Rhiannon Webster is joined by Senior Associates Shehana Cameron-Perera and Tom Brookes to break down what’s in (and out) of the legislation, and why it matters. With Royal Assent now granted, this new law marks a shift in how UK organisations manage data compliance, privacy rights, and digital operations.

In this launch episode, they cover:

• The provisions that survived, and those that didn’t
• Changes to complaints, and individual rights
• Impacts on scientific research, data transfers, and legitimate interests
• Why this Act goes beyond privacy to touch AI, IP, and smart data schemes.

The team also outlines implementation timelines, regulatory guidance to watch for, and what steps organisations should start taking now.

To listen to this and subscribe to future episodes, search for “Ashurst Legal Outlook” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast player. To explore more from Ashurst’s podcast library, visit ashurst.com/podcasts.

The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From Riyadh and Abu Dhabi to Dubai and Jeddah, the Middle East has emerged as a global hotspot for data centre development. In this episode, we assess the investment opportunities and highlight trends to watch out for.

In this episode, we bring together a panel of Ashurst experts with many years’ experience working in corporate transactions and technology in the Middle East. Together, they discuss where the data centre landscape is today—and where it’s heading tomorrow.

Host Ruth Harris is joined by Ashurst colleagues Simon Rahimzada and Vasi Papadopoulos who serve Ashurst’s Middle East practice across offices in Riyadh, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Jeddah. Simon and Vasi paint a vivid picture of data centre growth in the region and what is fueling the surging demand. They also explain investment flows, emphasise the importance of government backing, and discuss how AI is changing the game.

Simon provides a snapshot of changing regulatory priorities, where ESG fits into the investment equation, which international and regional players are investing in the region, and how collaborations and joint ventures can accelerate speed to market. And Vasi adds that regional entities (e.g. Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Saudi’s Public Investment Fund, etc) are diversifying into global markets, too.

The panel also pinpoints the challenges to watch out for in the Middle East region, including the need for the necessary infrastructure and environment to support data centres.

To listen to this and subscribe to future epsiodes about data centres, search for “Ashurst Legal Outlook” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcast player. To read more about data centres, head to Ashurst's data centre insights hub. To find out more about the full range of Ashurst podcasts, visit ashurst.com/podcasts.

The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.