Two years have elapsed since the introduction of new vertical block exemptions and guidelines in the EU and the UK. Since then, the European Commission has imposed the highest record fine on file for unlawful territorial restrictions imposed by a supplier on its resellers, in contravention of EU competition law. On the opposite side of the Atlantic, key developments in the US include increased enforcement of vertical restraints by US antitrust agencies.

In this episode of our Essential Antitrust podcast, host Jenn Mellott is joined by fellow antitrust partners Charlotte Colin-Dubuisson, Meghan Rissmiller and Al Mordaunt to discuss recent enforcement trends in the EU, the UK, the US and Asia.

The healthcare industry is one of the most vulnerable sectors to cybersecurity risk. In this episode of the MedTech podcast, Freshfields partners Vinita Kailasanath and Brock Dahl explore some recent examples of credible threats to the industry and how companies can implement technological innovation to help mitigate these risks.

In this second episode of our EUnpacked podcast series that looks at key hot topics being tackled in Brussels, podcast host Natalie Pettinger Kearney is joined by her colleagues Léa Bareil and Victor Garcia Lopez to talk about the EU elections and what it means in terms of the outlook for business.

The fifth episode of our restructuring podcast series, No Worse Off, which provides legal and commercial insights, and practical tips, on the world of restructuring.

The cross-border restructuring landscape has transformed in recent years, with the introduction of the UK restructuring plan and the arrival of similar, Chapter-11 inspired processes in jurisdictions across Europe. This has driven a rise in cross-border restructurings which use processes in multiple jurisdictions to deliver the restructuring – as in the recent Cimolai, Vroon and McDermott restructurings.

In this episode, we are bringing together a panel of our experts from across Europe and the US to discuss the rise of these multi-process restructurings. The panel will explore both the opportunities these multi-process restructurings present to deliver restructurings that otherwise would not be possible, and the complexities and pitfalls to watch out for.

Two former CFIUS Chairs discuss Treasury’s recently released draft rules and impending U.S. capital controls.

In this episode of our Essential Antitrust podcast, host Jenn Mellott is joined by Freshfields’ Aimen Mir and Brian Reissaus to analyze some breaking news out of the U.S. Department of the Treasury: draft rules operationalizing controls on outbound investment. Though targeted at China, the rules generate new risks and potential consequences for U.S. investments in Chinese companies or in companies and funds that themselves have operations or investments in China.

The geopolitical climate involving the US-China relationship has created opportunities in Southeast Asia, leading many businesses to look to Southeast Asia for growth. The region’s GDP growth is forecasted to reach 4.6% in 2024 and 4.7% in 2025, and businesses are keen to capitalise on its growth potential.

In this episode, Ninette Dodoo, an antitrust partner in our Asia antitrust practices, discusses the opportunities and challenges in Southeast Asia with partners from our Singapore office - Simon Weller, Jon Bowden and Samantha Tan - and Eric Johnson, a partner based in Vietnam. Join our panellists for some on the ground insights on recent legal and business trends in the region, including in disputes and arbitration. 

Keeping you up to date on executive compensation matters.

In this podcast series, the Freshfields People & Reward team discusses key topics in the executive reward space for publicly listed and private companies in 2024, including considerations for remuneration committees, transatlantic regulatory concerns, and the structure of specific incentive arrangements.

In the third episode of this series, Next Stop: CSOP, partner David Mendel and senior associate Nicola Jones cover all things related to tax favoured company share option plans, also known as CSOPs. David and Nicola discuss the recently increased flexibility of these share plans, and their attractiveness to companies, including in the private capital space, who are looking to incentivise key employees in their workforce.

Keeping you up to date on executive compensation matters.

In this podcast series, the Freshfields People & Reward team discusses key topics in the executive reward space for publicly listed and private companies in 2024, including considerations for remuneration committees, transatlantic regulatory concerns, and the structure of specific incentive arrangements.

In the second episode of this series, Remuneration vs Compensation – the Transatlantic Pay Debate, partner Alice Greenwell and senior associate Regina Erie discuss transatlantic reward issues and the ongoing debate about UK versus US pay practices. Alice and Regina cover topics beyond the perceived difference in executive pay levels between the UK and the US, including structural variations between the two jurisdictions in regards to tax and compensation.

In this special episode, Emma Gateaud is joined by Head of London Restructuring Richard Tett as he marks his 20th anniversary as a partner and his 30th anniversary at the firm. They discuss Richard’s life in restructuring, including his role models and career highlights, and how the market has changed over the decades.

On 25 April 2024, the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) published a suite of reforms to the way in which it carries out Phase 2 merger investigations.  Intended to streamline in-depth reviews, improve opportunities to engage with the CMA throughout the process and incentivise merging parties to put forward remedies at the earliest possible stage, the reforms came into effect immediately.

In this episode of our Essential Antitrust podcast, host Jenn Mellott is joined by fellow antitrust partner Colin Raftery, former Senior Director of Mergers at the CMA, to discuss the changes and what they mean for deals facing in-depth scrutiny in the UK.