Our Employment, IR and Safety team hosted a briefing session on the key findings of the Australian Human Rights Commissions’ fourth national survey on Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces. We discuss the key findings of the report, and how employers can be on the front foot to address these issues.

The panel discussion was led by Partner Anthony Wood and included our guest panellists:

• Heather Price, Chief Executive Officer from Symmetra;

• Tamsin Lawrence, Deputy Director - Workplace Relations from the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI);

• Catherine Dixon, Executive Director of the Victorian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission; and

• HSF Senior Associate, Lucy Boyd.

During this discussion our Head Office Advisory Team provide you with practical insights in relation to key governance related issues currently facing companies as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and its broader impacts.

Join Carolyn Pugsley, Quentin Digby, Priscilla Bryans, Garth Riddell and Stefanie Wilkinson as they cover issues including market disclosure, dividends, AGM logistics, remuneration and incentives and top of mind issues for directors.

In this episode of our public law podcast, Andrew Lidbetter, Nusrat Zar and James Wood discuss the possible establishment of a public inquiry into the handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

In doing so, they look at the likely scope of any inquiry and consider the range of individuals and organisations – including commercial entities – who might be involved. In the podcast, Andrew, Nusrat and James also discuss the key implications and risks for those who might be involved, and consider some practical steps which are relevant at this early stage.

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

We welcome feedback so please do contact us (using the details below) if you’d like to discuss any of the topics in this podcast or to suggest topics for future episodes.

Speakers: Andrew Lidbetter (Partner), Nusrat Zar (Partner) and James Wood (Senior Associate)

Carolyn Pugsley (Executive Partner and Joint Global Head of Practice in our Corporate team) is host to a panel of experts discussing digital transformation. Julian Lincoln (Partners in our Telecommunications, Media and Technology team) explores the cornerstones of digital transformation and the opportunities for businesses. Peter Jones (Partners in our Telecommunications, Media and Technology team) discusses key challenges to successful digital transformation, and Mark Robinson (Partners in our Telecommunications, Media and Technology team) provides a perspective from Asia including what he’s seeing from clients.

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. https://www.herbertsmithfreehills.com/latest-thinking/covid-19-webinar-series-global

This episode looks look at what we are beginning, and expect, to see next in terms of bailouts of specific businesses and industries which governments consider to be of strategic importance. Amongst other things, we discuss:

- what the options are for such a next phase of State-backed recapitalisations, including taking equity;

- practical considerations for companies as recipients of financial support or competitors/complainants, including the EU's most recent COVID-19 State aid guidelines; and

- recent bailout proposals for high profile companies in a number of major European jurisdictions.

This episode is chaired by James Palmer, Chair and Senior Partner of Herbert Smith Freehills, who is joined by experts from Herbert Smith Freehills who share their experience from past downturns and the current crisis.

David Barry gives his views on experts' relationships with clients and their lawyers

In the eleventh episode of our Private Wealth and Charities podcast series, Richard Norridge, Susannah Cogman and Daniel Hyde discuss the results of our Trust Companies Survey. As our countdown continues, and we reach second place on the podium of the most significant risks our respondents face, we explore the money-laundering risks faced by trust companies.

Our Private Wealth and Trust Disputes blog is available here.

https://hsfnotes.com/pwtd/

A link to our previous briefing on the 5th Money Laundering Directive is here.

https://hsfnotes.com/fsrandcorpcrime/2020/01/09/happy-new-year-happy-new-money-laundering-regulations/

You can find out more about or Private Wealth and Charities offering here, https://www.herbertsmithfreehills.com/our-expertise/services/private-wealth-and-charities

and our Corporate Crime and Investigations offering here. https://www.herbertsmithfreehills.com/our-expertise/services/corporate-crime-and-investigations

Cut through all the noise of the recent class action reforms, as our expert panel unpacks the headlines and explains the issues and how it might impact you and the future trajectory of class action activity.

Speakers: Jason Betts, Partner

Ruth Overington, Partner

Ante Golem, Partner

In this episode of our public law podcast, Andrew Lidbetter, Nusrat Zar and James Wood discuss the possible establishment of a public inquiry into the handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

In doing so, they look at the likely scope of any inquiry and consider the range of individuals and organisations – including commercial entities – who might be involved. In the podcast, Andrew, Nusrat and James also discuss the key implications and risks for those who might be involved, and consider some practical steps which are relevant at this early stage.

We will continue to develop insights to keep you abreast of legal issues arising from COVID-19 that are affecting your business now and those you may face next. You can find further resources on our COVID-19 Hub. https://www.herbertsmithfreehills.com/latest-thinking/navigating-the-covid-19-outbreak

We welcome feedback so please do contact us (using the details below) if you’d like to discuss any of the topics in this podcast or to suggest topics for future episodes.

Speakers: Andrew Lidbetter (Partner) https://www.herbertsmithfreehills.com/our-people/andrew-lidbetter

Nusrat Zar (Partner) https://www.herbertsmithfreehills.com/our-people/nusrat-zar

James Wood (Senior Associate) https://www.herbertsmithfreehills.com/our-people/james-wood

A lot has been said about the mining industry's current travails and what mining companies must do to survive. The question remains: what do we do after the lockdown? We find ourselves at another kairos moment in the World’s history - an important crossroads where we are afforded a brief opportunity to reflect on what a post-COVID-19 world should look like.

In this podcast, Patrick Leyden (Director, Herbert Smith Freehills) will moderate the discussion between Peter Leon (Partner and Co-chair of the Africa Practice Group, Herbert Smith Freehills), Fiona Perrott-Humphrey (Senior Mining Adviser, Rothschild) and Peter Attard Montalto (Director – Global Lead, Capital Markets Research, Intellidex) who will consider what the sub-Saharan Africa mining sector may look once the current lockdown period ends.

They will also indicate what steps sub-Saharan countries should take now to ensure that their mining sectors are placed on the correct trajectory to maximise future growth and development.

Speakers: Peter Leon, Partner and Africa Co-Chair

Olivier Binyingo, Director

Patrick Leyden, Director

Fiona Perrott-Humphrey, Senior Mining Adviser, Rothschild

Peter Attard Montalto, Director – Global Lead, Capital Markets Research, Intellidex