FWD Thinking

Regulated firms: get ready for the FCA's new non-financial misconduct rules.

In this episode, financial services partner Sebastian Sayer and employment associate Connie Shaw discuss:

• what NFM means;
• why the FCA is increasing scrutiny in this area;
• how workplace conduct can have regulatory consequences; and
• the practical steps firms should take before 1 September 2026.

With the implementation deadline approaching, firms should be considering how best to prepare for the new requirements.

Visit our website: www.foxwilliams.com

Searchers: think carefully before agreeing to share a solicitor with your investor.

In this episode, corporate partner Bryan Shaw breaks down:

• why early legal engagement matters;
• where investor and searcher interests begin to diverge;
• how conflicts can derail a transaction; and
• why independent representation can actually reduce friction.

A practical discussion for anyone navigating the search fund acquisition process.

Visit our website: www.foxwilliams.com

Connect with Bryan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-shaw-23a2a210/

In the first episode of our new series, The Edit - Fashion and the Law, partner Steve Sidkin and associate Ashkon Camyab dive into how fashion brands are being targeted online through domain squatting and highly convincing imitation websites.

They unpack the scale of the problem, the tactics used by bad actors, from typosquatting to AI-driven replica sites, and the real impact on brand reputation and consumer trust. The episode also covers practical steps brands can take to fight back, including monitoring, takedowns, and legal remedies such as UDRPs.

To celebrate World IP Day 2026 on 26 April, the Fox Williams IP team have launched a special series of episodes on our Forward Thinking podcast, exploring a range of topics.

In our final episode, Lucy Marlow is joined by Rachel Williams from Women in Sport to discuss the evolving landscape of women's sport, highlighting both the progress being made and the challenges that remain.

They cover topics including:

• Emerging innovation in sports products, health tech, and growing trends in sponsorship and visibility.
• The role of Women in Sport and the key barriers still facing women and girls.
• The impact of research gaps on participation, performance and product development.
• The importance of male allyship and what the future of women's sport could look like.

Thank you for following our World IP Day series this week, we hope the episodes have provided valuable insights.

As part of our World IP Day series, we share some the most asked questions and misconceptions.

This short episode covers commonly misunderstood points around IP terminology and everyday brand use, including the difference between TM and ®, what copyright notices do (and do not do), and how these concepts are often applied in real business scenarios.

While these issues may seem straightforward, they can create uncertainty in how brands are presented and managed, particularly in fast-moving businesses where decisions are made quickly across teams.

This episode is designed as a practical reset on the basics that underpin day-to-day IP use.

This podcast is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice.

In this episode, we discuss some of the more substantive misconceptions that can affect how intellectual property is protected, owned and enforced in practice.

The discussion covers a range of issues that frequently arise for growing and established businesses, including:

• Whether registering a company name or domain name provides brand protection
• How trademark rights operate across different jurisdictions
• What can and cannot be protected, including the limits of protecting ideas
• Ownership of IP created by employees, consultants and collaborators
• The importance of confidentiality and managing disclosure
• Risks associated with using third-party content
• How copyright infringement is assessed in practice
• What "patent pending" and registered design rights actually mean

The episode highlights how these misconceptions can lead to gaps in protection, challenges with enforcement, or disputes over ownership if not addressed early.

This is a more detailed look at the legal and commercial realities behind IP, and how to avoid common pitfalls as your business evolves.

This podcast is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice.

To mark World IP Day, we share the 15 practical tips to help businesses manage, protect and extract value from their intellectual property.

The episode covers the full lifecycle of IP, from initial audit through to enforcement and commercialisation. It looks at how businesses can identify gaps in their existing rights, protect brands early, and ensure their IP strategy keeps pace with commercial growth.

Key topics include:

• Conducting an effective IP audit and identifying gaps in protection
• Protecting trademarks early and planning for international expansion
• Securing domain names and social media handles as part of brand strategy
• Maintaining consistent use of brand assets to support enforcement
• Avoiding common pitfalls around ownership, disclosure and third-party content
• Monitoring and enforcing rights, and responding to infringement
• Commercialising IP through licensing, assignment and wider business strategy

The discussion also highlights practical risks that arise in real business scenarios, including diluted brand protection, challenges with enforcing rights, and the impact of inconsistent IP strategies over time.

This episode is intended for in-house counsel, brand teams and business leaders in a commercial context.

This content is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice.

Welcome to our podcast series Founder Stories.

In today's episode, we're joined by Chantal Epp, founder and CEO of ClicknClear, a music rights tech company delivering officially licensed music to athletes, teams, and performing arts ensembles around the world who use music in their routines.

What began as a personal passion for Cheerleading and the challenge of not having the right to use music in performance inspired Chantal to launch ClicknClear. Her mission is to ensure everyone has access to the music they need while solving the complex music licensing issues faced by the sports and performance industries.

Tune in to hear more about Chantal's journey to becoming a founder, her investment experience, and her hopes for the future.

Find out more about ClicknClear at clicknclear.com

Welcome to our podcast series 'Founder Stories'. In today's episode, we speak with Claire Given founder of Equipmii.

Equipmii was founded by Claire Given, who was born with one hand, frustrated by years of buying products—from prams to hair appliances—only to find them difficult to use, she began to challenge to status quo. Equipmii aims to make shopping work for everybody!

Listen to the episode to hear more about Claire's journey to becoming a founder and creating her business.

You can find out more about Equipmii on their website: https://equipmii.com/

You can also watch our podcasts on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gtArAC3doc

Let's Think is a software company with a vision to help the people of the world think brilliantly.

Bridging the gap between Generative AI architectures and breakthrough research in Human Expertise Formalisation, their pioneering Behavioural Science AI technology is evolving legal tech software beyond automation tools that think for you to science-led technology that helps you think.

Listen to the episode to hear more about Wendy's journey to becoming a founder and creating her business. You can find out more about Let's Think on their website: https://letsthink.com/

You can also watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXrSG8yx1bE