Danielle Kelly, our global Head of Diversity & Inclusion, interviews Sue O’Dea, Leadership Advisor with McKinsey & Company as well as with Cultivating Leadership, on how we can cultivate psychologically safe cultures not only now when many of us are working from home during the pandemic but also when we return to more “normal” ways of working.

In this podcast, Sarah Pollock, Emma Schaafsma and Julie Farley consider the force majeure implications of a potential second wave of COVID-19 infections and the resulting re-imposition or tightening of lockdown measures.  

Many contracting parties have already been affected by force majeure events arising out of the pandemic and the associated restrictions.  As the focus starts to shift toward the gradual easing of lockdown measures, those parties who have claimed force majeure relief will be preparing to resume performance as soon as the impact of the force majeure event comes to an end.  However, it is also important for contracting parties to prepare for any second wave force majeure situation, and the podcast will share some practical tips of actions that can be taken.

Note: This is an audio recording of a live webinar in our series of webinars covering the business challenges presented by the COVID-19 outbreak. To watch the webinar on demand and access the resource materials, please visit our dedicated COVID-19: Webinar Series (Global) page.

This episode looks at the legal and practical considerations for employers and landlords as we exit the quarantine and prepare for the easing of lockdown restrictions across the UK and EMEA region. Amongst other things, we consider key questions, including actions in relation to:

• Government requirements and practical recommendations to protect health and safety at work - how to implement the back to work strategy;
• The data protection implications of measures which may be implemented to facilitate the return to work (e.g. contact tracing apps, public/private data sharing, temperature testing);
• Balancing risk and obligations - identifying potential pressure points;
• Potential issues for employers and landlords putting in place measures which exceed recommended guidance; and
• Reporting obligations.

This episode is chaired by Jeremy Walden, regional head of Herbert Smith Freehills' real estate practice (UK and EMEA), who is joined by experts from Herbert Smith Freehills who share their experience and views on these issues.

Nusrat Zar and Rachel Lidgate discuss the potential impact of the COVID-19 crisis on disputes and litigation in the field of public procurement in the UK, in particular the kind of procurement issues which might be the subject of litigation and how procurement trials are currently faring in the courts under the current remote hearing regime. 

Speakers: Nusrat Zar and Rachel Lidgate

Tim and Adrian discuss the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on public procurement procedures and consider whether the procurement legislation leaves enough flexibility for contracting authorities and their suppliers to adapt to the emergency.

Speakers: Tim Briggs and Adrian Brown

Drew Pearson (Partner in our Employment, Industrial Relations and Safety team) is host to a panel of experts discussing preparing businesses to return their people to work. Nerida Jessup (Special Counsel in our Employment, Industrial Relations and Safety team) explores safety first – planning the transition back to the workplace.  Catherine Pase (Senior Associate in our Employment, Industrial Relations and Safety team) discusses returning to the physical office - navigating ‘the new normal’ and Alan Peckham (our Chief Administrative Officer) closes with a real life case study – how HSF is approaching return to work. 

We are pleased to share with you this podcast which looks at the international investment law protections that are relevant to investors and states in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.  We also touch on the key considerations for both states and foreign investors when assessing whether state action taken in response to the pandemic could infringe those protections.  

This podcast is chaired by Senior Associate, Hannah Ambrose, who is joined by the co-heads of our Public International Law Practice, Christian Leathley and Andrew Cannon.

Note: This is an audio recording of a live webinar in our series of webinars covering the business challenges presented by the COVID-19 outbreak. To watch the webinar on demand and access the resource materials, please visit our dedicated COVID-19: Webinar Series (Global) page.

This episode looks at how the virus is accelerating digitalisation and the cyber and data challenges it has brought into sharp relief. We consider the following key questions and actions for management:

• The cybersecurity risks made more acute by the current disruption, including fraud and ransomware attacks, and the steps you need to take to deliver cyber and data security and operational resilience;
• Data protection issues, including the tension between balancing competing rights of data privacy and public health; and
• Incorporating the learnings from recent disruption into business and digital strategies going forward.

This episode is chaired by Paula Hodges QC, head of Herbert Smith Freehills' global arbitration practice, who is joined by experts from Herbert Smith Freehills who share their insights from the current crisis.

In this special episode of our Public Law Podcast, Andrew Lidbetter and Nusrat Zar discuss the UK's legislative response to the COVID-19 crisis.

You can read more about the topics discussed in this episode in the following blog posts:

• COVID-19 Pressure Points: Coronavirus Act formally on the statute books
• COVID-19 Pressure Points: The Right to Property

We will continue to develop insights to keep you abreast of legal issues arising from COVID-19 that are impacting your business now and those you may face next. You can find further resources on our COVID-19 Hub.

Speakers:
Andrew Lidbetter, Partner
Nusrat Zar, Partner
Sahil Kher, Associate

Danielle Kelly (Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion) interviews Dr Chris Stevens on how we can cultivate a mindset which will best serve us not only during these challenging times but also as we navigate the future.

Dr Chris is a clinician and organisational psychologist whose PhD explored the connection between creativity, innovation and the state of mind which we commonly refer to as being “in flow”. Now, more than ever, people want to work for organisations where purpose and values are at the centre of their work. Dr Chris will talk about the link between purpose and flow and the freeing-up of discretionary effort and innovative practices that this enables.