FInsight

In this episode, we look at cloud computing in financial institutions. Alessandro Celli (Partner, Zurich), Sue McLean (Partner, London) and Peter George (Partner, Chicago) discuss the global trends we are seeing with reference to Baker McKenzie's multi-jurisdiction Cloud Compliance Center.

In this episode, Dr. Nicolai Behr (Partner, Munich), Lorren Martin (Senior Associate, London) and Lois Rodriguez Ares (Senior Associate, Madrid) take a closer look at the EU Whistleblowing Directive and the key takeaways for financial institutions. The episode also covers specific developments across different jurisdictions and other challenges that global employers need to consider for their respective organizations.

Quantum computing is still in its infancy, but most experts expect it to reach transformational powers in the next decade, bringing massive technological revolution but also new opportunities for early movers.

In this episode, Mark Simpson (Partner, London) is joined by Elena Strbac (Global Head of Data Science Innovation, Corporate, Commercial and Institutional Banking, Standard Chartered) and Peter Chapman (President and CEO, IonQ) to explore how — and why — the finance sector is gearing up for this monumental shift.

In this episode, Jonathan Peddie, global chair of the Financial Institutions group and a partner from our London office and Amy Greer, co-chair of our North America Financial Regulation and Enforcement practice and a partner from our New York office, go through the findings relevant for financial institutions (FIs) from our new report The Year Ahead: Global Disputes Forecast 2023. The episode examines the expected types of disputes and the external risks for disputes throughout the rest of the year.

The growth of the African fintech ecosystem is driven by the creation of value through solving real problems within large user markets, not just the availability of capital. In this episode of FInsight, Ashlin Perumall, a partner from our Corporate and M&A practice in Johannesburg and Sarah Williams, an associate from our financial services practice in London, discuss the fintech landscape in South Africa and other key markets in Sub-Saharan Africa. They take a closer look at investment drivers and opportunities, current and emerging market segments, and key commercial and regulatory developments affecting the fintech ecosystem in the region.

In this episode of FInsight, London partners Sue McLean, Mark Simpson, and David Hart talk about UK Fintech Week 2022. They cover the biggest trends and developments around fintech in the UK, with special focus on the expected topics throughout the event. The episode takes a closer look at the investment landscape (including the UK's position as a fintech hub, active investors and top sub-sectors) and the current and expected regulatory developments that fintech players need to watch out for.

In this episode of FInsight and part of the on-going Sovereigns Series: Worlds in Motion, Pete Chapman and Lucy Shawdon from our Compliance and Investigations team in London take a look at compliance in a changing landscape, specifically in the context of sovereign wealth funds (SWFs). The episode goes through current developments, emerging trends, risks, and other important items that sovereign wealth funds need to consider, as we move to the post-pandemic economy. It also covers topics around due diligence and risk management, focusing on geographic, sectoral, litigation, reputational and regulatory risks.

Baker McKenzie's fifth annual report, The Year Ahead: Global Disputes Forecast 2022, addresses key trends in the evolving disputes landscape. The report includes a new survey of 600 senior legal and risk leaders from large companies across the world.

Amy Greer, a partner from our New York office and co-chair of our North America Financial Regulation and Enforcement practice, and Marc Thorley, a partner from our Dispute Resolution practice in London, talk about the key findings relevant for financial institutions. The episode examines the factors driving the increase in disputes and emerging concerns related to liabilities. It also covers litigation around digital transformation, tax, 'business-as-usual' conduct, and new environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards.

In the latest iteration of our Digital Transformation and Cloud Survey, financial institutions (FIs) identify cost reduction and increased security as top benefits from investment in cloud computing. Conversely, data privacy and cybersecurity issues are identified as top concerns.

In this episode, Alessandro Celli, a partner from our Zurich office and global fintech lead, talk to Peter R. George, a partner from our Chicago office who is familiar with the history of the survey and has seen key developments for FIs over the years. They go through the recent findings relevant to FIs and discuss associated risks and vulnerabilities that respondents highlighted. They also cover cyber liability insurance, investment in private cloud offerings, data privacy, cybersecurity, and future challenges that FIs should prepare for.

In the aftermath of COVID-19 and the resulting low-yielding environment, sovereign actors are looking more than ever to real estate, infrastructure, private equity, private debt and other alternative assets for strategic investment opportunities.

In this second of two episodes, Baker McKenzie partners James Burdett (London), Matthew Legg (London), Guillaume Le Camus (Paris) and Diogo Duarte de Oliveira (Luxembourg) take a close look at sovereign wealth funds — our current observations of our SWF clients' approach to tax governance and structuring. In this episode, we take a closer look at some of the European tax issues currently affecting SWF's investment activity - particularly the increasing volume of tax transparency requirements.