In this episode of our public M&A podcast series, we discuss recent activity levels, trends and themes we are seeing on public M&A transactions in the UK and recent and upcoming changes to the Takeover Code.

In episode 19, Emma and Rebekah discuss Ed Sheeran's recent successes defending copyright claims against him in the Manhattan Federal Court and the UK High Court, as well as other recent copyright stoushes between major pop artists. Emma and Rebekah unpack some of the nuances of copyright law, its role in protecting creators and the fine balance required to avoid granting a monopoly which would prevent others from using the building blocks of music, especially in western pop music which usually employs a 12-note scale.

In this webinar we explore some of the more unusual cases in recent years which typify the broadening of the boundaries of WHS law. Managing Partner Steve Bell moderates a panel of our work health and safety experts across Australia as they each reflect on changes in their jurisdiction.

Banks and scams: protecting customers and managing risk. How can banks walk the tightrope between broadening their appeal to a new generation of tech-savvy consumers whilst ensuring they keep their customers safe from online fraud?

In the latest episode of our new podcast series: Banking on people in an age of digital transformation Hannah Cassidy, Charlotte Henry and Marina Reason explore how the banking industry is addressing the increasingly prevalent threat of cyber hacks and scams, as it strives to strike a balance between bank, regulator and customer liability.

In this podcast, David Bennett and Maura McIntosh discuss product liability group actions, which have been an area of steady growth since these claims started to emerge in the English courts at the end of the last century. The podcast looks at how such claims are brought, how prevalent they are, and the main causes of action that are typically relied on.

The presenters are both authors of Class Actions in England and Wales, a textbook authored by Herbert Smith Freehills lawyers and published by Sweet & Maxwell. This is the sixth in our series of podcasts to mark the launch of the second edition of this leading textbook. Future editions will look at other topics of interest relating to class actions or areas where we expect to see growth.

In this episode, partners Rohan Doyle and Tony Wood discuss bargaining dynamics arising from changes to union and employer leverage following the Secure Jobs, Better Pay reforms, and share practical suggestions for how employers should approach bargaining planning in this new world of IR.

Many employers will be focussed on securing enterprise agreements which minimise the potential perils of multi-employer bargaining or arbitration by the Fair Work Commission. How should employers prepare for these changes? What’s more important now? And what are some of the key preparatory steps that employers can take to enhance their bargaining outcomes? Rohan and Tony consider all of this and more in an enlightening conversation covering the priorities for pre-bargaining planning (how much and how long in advance is desirable?), the importance of securing employee trust and engagement, being ready for compulsory arbitration by the Commission, what unions do well and where employers can do better. This episode has lots of practical tips and insights, including for experienced IR practitioners.

Banks and crypto: assets or liabilities? What level of regulation is appropriate to protect customers and their virtual assets? How can the need for improved regulation match the desire for innovation as digital transformation drives a new approach to banking?

Find out what Hannah Cassidy, Charlotte Henry and Marina Reason have to say in the latest episode of our new podcast series.

In this episode partners Toby Eggleston, Ryan Leslie and Nick Heggart and consulting Professor Graeme Cooper breakdown the Australian Federal budget and the implications for large taxpayers. Topics include proposed changes to Part IVA, build to rent incentives, Pillar 2 update and a special section for the mining sector. All you need in 26 minutes!

More details can be found in our tax insight: https://hsfnotes.com/taxaustralia/2023/05/09/tax-insight-tax-measures-in-australias-2023-24-budget/

Banks and social shifts: their impact on staff. Has the social and cultural landscape shifted in a way that benefits employees or their employer? Are employees more mobile, or can organisations find new ways to retain top talent?

With a focus on finance, Christine Young, Jenny Andrews and Adam Hylton explore how digital transformation, fostering a culture of openness and creative approaches to recruitment may up end the age old bargains banks make with their staff.

Aoife Xuereb, Nanda Lau and Andrew Rich discuss the outlook for M&A activity in Asia and Australia in the consumer sector, in light of the significant global macro-economic headwinds. They note that, despite those headwinds, M&A markets remain very much ‘open for business’.

They also discuss how many consumer companies are looking to use M&A to reposition themselves through carving out companies, divisions and brands that are either no longer core or underperforming. They note that private capital firms with cash to deploy and trade buyers with strong balance sheets remain as keen as ever to acquire strong brands with stable cash flows.

For more on what to expect in 2023 and beyond on the M&A front, read our Global M&A Outlook: https://www.herbertsmithfreehills.com/latest-thinking/global-ma-outlook-2023-consumer-2022-was-a-challenging-year-compared-to-2021