Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Podcasts

In this episode, we continue our director series with part two of our cross examination of Catherine Brenner and John Mullen. In our last episode, we left you on a cliffhanger. We now pick up where we left off. We also discussed the value in good communications, the human factor in cyber incident response, a values-led approach as compared with a compliance-led approach, AI, of course, and board simulations. This is Cross-Examining Cyber. It's part of our director series, the cross-examination of Catherine Brenner and John Mullen, part two. Here we go.

Recorded 22 June 2026

In Part 2 of our latest episode of Inside IR, industrial relations partner Rohan Doyle and Melbourne Business School Professor Jennifer Overbeck continue their discussion on the evolving enterprise bargaining landscape, exploring how employers, unions and employees can move beyond short-term, power-based bargaining and invest in negotiation processes that create sustainable value for all parties.

They discuss practical approaches to navigating BATNAs, managing the threat of industrial action, building trust throughout the bargaining process, and communicating effectively with employees during negotiations.

This episode forms part of our ongoing collaboration with Melbourne Business School through the Industrial Relations Negotiations Program, which equips leaders with the skills needed to negotiate more effectively in today's industrial relations environment.

Registrations are closing soon. Learn more about the program and secure your place here: https://mbs.edu/hsfkramer.

In this edition of our banking litigation podcast, we consider some recent cases that will be most relevant to in-house lawyers at banks and financial institutions. This episode is hosted by John Corrie, a partner in our banking litigation team, who is joined by Ceri Morgan and special guest Alexander Gridasov.

Speakers: John Corrie (Partner), Ceri Morgan (Knowledge Counsel), Alexander Gridasov (Senior Associate).

You can find out more about the cases covered in this podcast on our blog at the following links:

Court of Appeal finds no breach of so-called Quincecare duty in “derivative” action brought by APP fraud victims against PSP https://www.hsfkramer.com/notes/bankinglitigation/2026-07/court-of-appeal-finds-no-breach-of-so-called-quincecare-duty-in-derivative-action-brought-by-app-fraud-victims-against-psp

Banking litigation podcast episode 51: Quincecare special – March 2025 https://www.hsfkramer.com/notes/bankinglitigation/2025-03/Banking-litigation-podcast-episode-51--Quincecare-special-%E2%80%93-March-2025

Court of Appeal finds administrator appointment arguably invalidated because of appointor’s improper purpose https://www.hsfkramer.com/notes/bankinglitigation/2026-08/court-ofappeal-finds-administrator-appointment-arguably-invalidated-because-of-appointors-improper-purpose

Multi-party claims: Court of Appeal upholds decision allowing over 5,000 motor finance claims to be brought together https://www.hsfkramer.com/notes/bankinglitigation/2026-04/multi-party-claims-court-of-appeal-upholds-decision-allowing-over-5000-motor-finance-claims-to-be-brought-together

All aboard the omnibus claim form? https://www.hsfkramer.com/notes/bankinglitigation/2026-08/all-aboard-the-omnibus-claim-form

High Court adjourns landmark securities class action trial due to risk of prejudice to overlapping criminal proceedings https://www.hsfkramer.com/notes/bankinglitigation/2026-04/Blog-post-template-text-only-version

High Court considers appropriate split for trial of s.90 and 90A FSMA claims in Entain litigation https://www.hsfkramer.com/notes/bankinglitigation/2026-07/high-court-considers-appropriate-split-for-trial-of-s90-and-90a-fsma-claims-in-entain-litigation

UK government consults on measures to speed up and simplify competition class actions regime

https://www.hsfkramer.com/notes/litigation/2026-07/uk-government-consults-on-measures-to-speed-up-and-simplify-competition-class-actions-regime

Law Commission to consider introduction of opt-out consumer class actions regime https://www.hsfkramer.com/notes/bankinglitigation/2026-04/law-commission-to-consider-introduction-of-opt-out-consumer-class-actions-regime

We are delighted to launch our new podcast series, Insuring AI, which explores the broad range of questions that AI is throwing up for the insurance world.

In this first episode, we discuss the legal statement on liability for AI harms published by the UK Jurisdiction Taskforce (UKJT) in July 2026 and its implications for insurance liability claims. The statement seeks to address in what circumstances, and on what legal bases, English law will impose liability for loss that results from the use of AI.

This episode is hosted by Greig Anderson, Partner in our Insurance & Professional Risks team, who is joined by Will Gibson, Senior Associate.

For a summary of the UKJT's final legal statement, visit our blog post:

https://www.hsfkramer.com/notes/litigation/2026-07/uk-jurisdiction-taskforce-publishes-final-legal-statement-on-liability-for-ai-harms

In this episode, we unpack the growing "Misdiagnosis Effect" in the age of GenAI, where organisations often focus on the technology they think they need rather than the problem they are trying to solve.

Casey Ballard (Head of Strategic Applications, UK, US & EMEA), Suzanne Cowan (Head of Corporate & Construction, UK & EMEA) and Uchi Jayawardhena (Head of Data Analytics) explore why successful transformation starts with the problem, not the technology.

Drawing on real client conversations and delivery experience, they discuss the value of navigating the often messy discovery process, balancing people, process, technology and data, and choosing the right solution rather than defaulting to GenAI. They also examine the challenges of consistency, governance and repeatability, highlighting why workflow redesign and automation can often deliver greater value than AI alone.

In this episode, partner Jason Betts speaks with Michael Pelly, legal reporter at Capital Brief and former legal affairs editor at the Australian Financial Review, about the key developments shaping corporate litigation in Australia.

They discuss the implications of the landmark ASIC v Star decision for directors' duties and corporate governance, the evolving landscape of shareholder class actions, and the role of the courts in driving legal reform. The conversation also explores the growing complexity of major litigation and the opportunities and limitations of AI in legal practice.

In this episode of our public M&A podcast series, we talk about the UK Takeover Panel's latest consultation (PCP 2026/1) on a series of miscellaneous changes to the Takeover Code. Proposals being consulted on include:

• when a voting agreement between a shareholder and the directors of a company will result in them being treated as acting in concert;

• a change to the definition of "reverse takeover"; and

• a change to the rules on extending a put up or shut up (PUSU) deadline.

In this episode, we discuss the UK’s new legislative regime which governs the development and deployment of autonomous vehicles (AVs), and what Chinese OEMs and AV operators should know before bringing AV products or services to the UK. We unpack the key features of the Automated Vehicles Act 2024, covering authorisation, liability and insurance, marketing restrictions, safety requirements, and cybersecurity obligations. We also consider the UK’s growing role as a destination for AV development, the importance of international regulatory alignment, and the opportunities and challenges for Chinese companies entering this rapidly evolving market.

Speakers: Cathy Liu, Lauren Burke

在本集播客节目中，我们讨论英国有关自动驾驶汽车的新立法制度，以及中国整车制造商和自动驾驶汽车运营商在将自动驾驶汽车产品或服务引入英国市场前应了解的重点问题。我们深入解析《2024年自动驾驶汽车法》的主要内容，涵盖授权、责任承担与保险、营销限制、安全要求以及网络安全义务。我们还探讨英国作为自动驾驶汽车发展目的地的日益重要地位、国际监管协调的重要性，以及中国企业进入这一快速发展的市场所面临的机遇与挑战。

主讲人：刘倩, Lauren Burke

In this crossover episode of Inside Employment, Inside IR and Inside Safety, Drew Pearson is joined by Nerida Jessup and Jessica Light to discuss the growing intersection between AI adoption and employer consultation obligations.

The team explores when the introduction of AI and digital technologies may trigger industrial relations and work health and safety consultation requirements, the risks of getting consultation wrong, and the increasing scrutiny from unions and regulators. They also share practical insights on managing workplace change, psychosocial risks and compliance while embracing innovation.

Recorded on 29 July 2026.

In this episode HSF Kramer M&A partners Rebecca Maslen-Stannage and Mia Harrison-Kelf unpack the Star Entertainment decision, one of the most closely watched director duty cases in recent years, and explore what it means for directors and executives navigating transactions.

The discussion covers the standard expected of directors when relying on management information, how to test and challenge information in a deal context, why insight matters more than volume in board packs, how to identify, manage and document conflicts of interest, and the importance of managing urgency in transactions through effective contemporaneous record-keeping.

A practical discussion on how the Star decision shapes corporate governance and director duties in the context of M&A transactions, and what every director, executive and general counsel needs to know to do deals safely.