A summary of the most material developments expected in the next 6-12 months which will be of relevance to UK listed companies.

The Pensions Ombudsman is overloaded. The determination process can take as long as three years. Now changes are proposed, to cut the backlog and reduce waiting times. Dan Saunders joins us to discuss the changes, and the implications for scheme members and trustees.

Subscribe to the HSF Pensions Notes Blog here: https://www.herbertsmithfreehills.com/notes/pensions/subscribe

In this first episode of the FSR Brief, Jon Ford and Michael Tan discuss the latest developments with the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) consultation on transparency in investigations (CP24/2 Part 2). They discuss whether the changes to the FCA's "Public Interest Framework" go far enough to address the significant concerns raised in relation to the FCA's proposal to name firms under regulatory investigation.

In the last episode for 2024, Tony Damian and Andrew Rich cover off some of the highlights of their 2025 M&A predictions!

Read our predictions here: https://www.herbertsmithfreehills.com/insights/2024-12/top-10-australian-manda-predictions-for-2025

In this not-to-be-missed final episode of InsideIR for 2024, your favourite IR team has done all the hard work for you, and pulled together a succinct summary of:

• the top 5 issues that shaped industrial relations in 2024, and

• our predictions on the top 5 IR issues that you will need to get ahead of for 2025.

In this bumper end-of-year edition, Rohan Doyle is accompanied by no less than 9 of his HSF IR colleagues from across the country.

Rohan Doyle (Partner), Victoria Fijalski (Senior Associate), Mathew Reiman (Senior Associate), Rachel Dawson (Partner) and Anna Creegan (Partner) review and reflect on 2024, calling out:

1. the steady stream of IR reform,

2. learnings from the new intractable bargaining jurisdiction,

3. the impact of same-job-same-pay,

4. the rise of multi-enterprise bargaining, and

5. the continued flow of FWO underpayment penalty proceedings.

Meanwhile, Wendy Fauvel (Partner), Kara Reynolds (Executive Counsel), Drew Pearson (Partner), Jessica Light (Senior Associate) and Sophie Beaman (Executive Counsel) look into their crystal ball, and outline the five IR issues to keep an eye on in 2025, including:

1. the approaching Federal Election and potential further reform,

2. the rise of the right to disconnect and flexible work,

3. the practical fallout of IR reform,

4. the increasing impact of new workplace delegates’ rights and the resurgence of union membership,

5. the commencement of new federal wage theft laws.

From all of us at Herbert Smith Freehills, thank you for your support of InsideIR and the HSF industrial relations practice in 2024, and have a safe, happy and restful end of year break.

In the final episode of The Third Wheel for 2024, Tim Stutt and Mel Debenham reflect on the year’s ESG developments and look ahead to 2025. They discuss the recent governmental response to the statutory review of the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth); the incoming climate reporting regime; and the future of nature-related disclosures. With elections at both the federal and state levels set for 2025, the episode closes with their thoughts on a possible pendulum swing towards greater scrutiny of proposed ESG regulations moving forward.

In our latest episode, Camille Puech-Baron is joined by Angeline Woods, Senior Director for Global Antitrust, Artificial Intelligence and EU affairs at Uber, where she talks openly about the fast-paced environment of a tech company and the need to be dynamic and adaptable. Angeline also shares her views on leveraging the challenges and setbacks you face as a woman in the tech industry, and to remain open to learning new skills and spotting new opportunities.

In this special pre-Christmas podcast episode, Nusrat Zar, James Wood and Jasveer Randhawa take a look back at some of the key developments from the last few months of 2024, with a particular focus on novel cases and cases which show the extent (and limits of) public law.

Please find links to our blog posts on the cases covered in this podcast below:

Human rights in climate litigation – thoughts from the Dutch Court of Appeal https://www.herbertsmithfreehills.com/notes/publiclaw/2024-posts/human-rights-in-climate-litigation-thoughts-from-the-dutch-court-of-appeal

High Court rejects human rights challenge to Government plans for tackling climate change risks https://www.herbertsmithfreehills.com/notes/publiclaw/2024-posts/court-of-appeal-clarifies-equal-public-law-protection-in-contractual-context1

High Court takes a dim view of using judicial review to disagree with policy decisions on the path to net zero https://www.herbertsmithfreehills.com/notes/publiclaw/2024-posts/high-court-takes-a-dim-view-of-using-judicial-review-to-disagree-with-policy-decisions-on-the-path-to-net-zero

Supreme Court issues landmark decision requiring assessment of Scope 3 emissions https://www.herbertsmithfreehills.com/notes/publiclaw/2024-posts/supreme-court-issues-landmark-decision-requiring-assessment-of-scope-3-emissions

Court of Appeal clarifies equal public law protection in contractual context and concept of possessions under A1P1 https://www.herbertsmithfreehills.com/notes/publiclaw/2024-posts/court-of-appeal-clarifies-equal-public-law-protection-in-contractual-context

How is Judicial Review relevant to public authority contracts? Some guidance from the High Court https://www.herbertsmithfreehills.com/notes/publiclaw/2024-posts/how-is-judicial-review-relevant-to-public-authority-contracts-some-guidance-from-the-high-court

Sashi Shashikanth, R (on the application of) v NHS Litigation Authority & Anor - Find Case Law - The National Archives https://caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ewca/civ/2024/1477?court=ewca%2Fciv&court=ewhc%2Fadmin

Understanding alternative remedies: Supreme Court stands firm on judicial review's role in holding regulators to account https://www.herbertsmithfreehills.com/notes/publiclaw/2024-posts/court-of-appeal-clarifies-equal-public-law-protection-in-contractual-context0

First judicial review under UK National Security and Investment Act rejected: lessons for future challenges https://www.herbertsmithfreehills.com/notes/publiclaw/2024-posts/First-judicial-review-under-UK-National-Security-and-Investment-Act-rejected--lessons-for-future-challenges

Don’t forget to subscribe to the channel to receive updates on future episodes: https://soundcloud.com/herbert-smith-freehills

Six years have passed since the first Lloyds ruling. How far has the industry got with GMP equalisation? Cathryn Marson discusses the current state of play, and the issues which she comes across when advising trustees.

Speakers: Richard Evans, Professional Support Lawyer and Cathryn Marson, Senior Associate

In this episode of our public M&A podcast series, we discuss Primary Market Bulletin 52 where the FCA reminds companies that they need to consider the UK Market Abuse Regulation, as well as the Takeover Code, if they receive an approach about a possible takeover offer.

In the podcast, we discuss:

• when an approach about a possible offer will be inside information;

• why it matters; and

• what happens if the target rejects the approach.