The COVID 19 pandemic has brought mental health and wellbeing to the fore in many organisations. These issues have become more prominent across workplaces in recent years but we are now facing unprecedented challenges of supporting distributed workf...

Protecting companies from Coronavirus crime and fraud Whilst our communities, including the business community, are pulling together like never before to protect the country and the National Health Service from the Coronavirus outbreak, fraudsters a...

Listen as our panel answer some of the most common questions clients have asked us over recent weeks as well as digging into more detail around how your business should proceed with specific legal and technical challenges. A recording of the session...

In light of the Covid-19 outbreak both the UK and the Scottish Government have introduced measures to give both private and business tenants temporary protection from eviction and irritancy. Of particular interest for businesses is the extension of ...

In light of the Covid-19 outbreak both the UK and the Scottish Government have introduced measures to give both private and business tenants temporary protection from eviction and irritancy. Of particular interest for businesses is the extension of ...

The past weeks have seen several pieces of key UK legislation enacted with almost unprecedented speed, as the government and Parliament sought to deal with the rapidly escalating coronavirus pandemic. The Coronavirus Act 2020 received Royal Assent o...

It is becoming abundantly clear that the world as we know it will never be the same after the global coronavirus pandemic given the impact it has already had upon our daily lives, families, communities and the global economy. People have been forced...

By Decree No. 206 On Declaring Non-Working Days in the Russian Federation dated 25 March 2020 ("Decree No. 206") the President of the Russian Federation announced that from 30 March 2020 until 3 April 2020 would be considered non-working days in the...

Amid the COVID 19 outbreak, employers will be dealing with a host of issues around the management of its workforce, including those who have special requirements and needs. When it comes to pregnant workers, employers are required to carry out a ris...

Practice Direction 51Z: Stay of possession proceedings, Coronavirus The Coronavirus pandemic is having an effect on all areas of our lives, including the property world. Following Government announcements last month Practice Direction (‘PD&rs...

Episode 4 - COVID-19 webinar - When does a pandemic crisis spell disaster? - May 4 Listen to the replay of Eversheds Sutherland's episode 4 podcast providing guidance on at what stage does the pandemic crisis spell disaster. Reputations will be ma...

On 1 May 2020, the FCA published a statement clarifying its position on complaints handling and offering some relaxation of the rules in light of the practical challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.  The regulator says it will review...

On 23 April 2020, the President announced that from 1 May 2020, lockdown would be extended at level 4 – which provides for reduced restrictions. On 29 April 2020, the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, published and is...

In a resolution published on Thursday, the European Parliament has urged the EU Commission to apply a ‘transparent process’ in formulating revised blacklist of third countries with strategic AML/CFT deficiencies, suggesting an ...

As the European Banking Authority publishes a wide-ranging workplan for 2020, Zia Ullah and Ruth Paley explain the EBA’s role and its forthcoming programme, and take a look at the substance of the developments planned for the next twelve month...

As the three European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) publish a new joint opinion on money laundering and terrorist financing (ML/TF) risks affecting the EU financial sector, Zia Ullah and Ruth Paley take a look at the key risks, noting ...

Please click here to download our quarterly financial crime horizon scanning booklet. The booklet summarises key financial crime related legal and regulatory changes expected over the next 18 months to 2 years, a...

Please click here to download our quarterly Fraud and Corruption Enforcement update. Here we provide a quick overview of the recent key developments relating to criminal investigations and e...

As the FCA publishes new information on financial crime expectations for firms’ systems and controls during the coronavirus crisis, Ruth Paley and Hayley Astles of Eversheds Sutherland take a look at the key points for regulated firms to note....

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As Contracting Authorities will be aware, in circumstances where the Negotiated Procedure is used, they are able to negotiate with tenderers in order that their tenders can be adapted to meet the requirements in the contract notice, the specificatio...

A Councillor has successfully applied for judicial review of a decision by his own council to vary a contract for the development of a mixed retail, residential and transport hub in Winchester. The High Court ruled that the variations to the contrac...

Following the June 2016 referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU, the UK government triggered article 50 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union on 29 March 2017, thereby commencing the two-year formal process that will ultim...

On 13 September 2017, EDF and ERDF lost their fight to declare null and void the contracts they entered into further to bids that were rigged by Nexans France (“Nexans”), Prysmian Energies Câbles et Systèmes (“Prysmian...

Mergers and acquisitions (“M&As”) involving privately held companies in South Africa entail various legal, financial and other issues. Advanced preparation and an understanding of the fundamental practical and legal issues concerned ...

After insisting for weeks it would take no more refugees, Bangladesh relents and rescues hundreds.

Those sent home will continue to be monitored by local officials for signs of ill health, though, provincial officials say.

For companies that are financially stressed or distressed, a sale of the company or its business and assets might be the best exit route for its stakeholders. The desire to exit through a sale is often the preferred method for financial creditors wh...

On 26 November 2019 the FCA announced that it was using its product intervention powers to ban the promotion of so-called “speculative mini bonds” to retail consumers. The ban will come into force on 1 January and will last for 12 months...

Introduction The FCA published its Policy Statement (PS19/24) in relation to illiquid assets and open-ended funds on 30 September 2019. The statement responds to feedback provided in response to Consultation Paper (CP18/27) and settles on a final sl...

The European Commission published new Regulations on harmonised requirements in respect of sustainability-related disclosures and benchmarks contributing to sustainable finance (EU/2019/2089) (the “Disclosure Regulation”) in the Official...

On 16 October 2019, the FCA published their feedback statement FS19/6 on Climate Change and Green Finance[1]. This feedback statement summarises the responses from stakeholders to the Discussion Paper (DP18/8) on Climate Change and Green Finance[2] ...

On 18 February 2018, the EU added the Cayman Islands to its list of noncooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes (“Annex 1”). This has come as a surprise, but is unlikely to have any immediate impact on Cayman-domiciled funds. In this b...

Part A: Regulation of crypto assets     Germany

In addition to the FCA’s recent guidance (see our note summarising the main points here) on payment holidays and repossession actions addressed to mortgage lenders, mortgage administrators, home purchase providers and home purc...

UK goes into ‘Lockdown’ The current lockdown arises as a result of The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020. Broadly, this legislation restricts the movement of people to ‘essential journeys&rsqu...

The Government's proposed changes to the licensing regime established under the Licensing Act 2003 ('the Act') are set out in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill ('the Bill'). The amendments which are expected to be implemented will imp...

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On 15 March 2020, following the announcement by President Ramaphosa regarding South Africa’s precautionary measures that must be put in place to prevent the contraction and spread of COVID-19, South Africans came face to face with the stark re...

In its concern to block tax avoidance, HMRC is planning to make Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) ever more complicated, as two recent consultations show. Residential properties held by companies The first consultation proposes the imposition of SDLT on ...

A guidance note for clients Empty rates As part of its policy to encourage the use and occupation of empty buildings, the Government has introduced the Rating (Empty Properties) Act 2007 (the 2007 Act). Under the 2007 Act, with effect from 1 April ...

The Law Commission has published a consultation paper proposing wide-ranging reforms to the law governing easements, covenants and profits à prendre. The changes suggested by the Law Commission include: the creation of a single new method ...

A landlord had acted reasonably in refusing consent to an assignment to a newly incorporated company, despite the landlord having the benefit of the previous tenant's covenant. Royal Bank of Scotland plc v Victoria Street (No 3) Ltd concerned a cov...