Can companies collaborate in the interests of environmental sustainability agreements without breaching competition law in the UK? This important question is tackled by draft guidance published by the Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”) on 28 February 2023 (“guidance”). The guidance sets out the CMA’s proposed approach to how agreements between competitors in relation to environmental sustainability will be assessed and aims to provide businesses with clarity and comfort on the CMA’s enforcement approach to encourage such initiatives to be progressed. The guidance aligns with the important role the CMA considers it has to play in tackling climate change, as noted in a recent statement by the CMA’s CEO on 25 January 2023.
As of 1 November 2022 trusts and funds for joint account (fondsen voor gemene rekening) will be required to register an Ultimate Beneficial Owner (uiteindelijke belanghebbende) (UBO) with the Dutch UBO Register as managed by the Dutch Chamber of Commerce. The initial registration for existing trusts and funds for joint accounts with the UBO Register will need to be completed before 1 April 2023. A trust with a trustee located in the Netherlands must register its UBO. The same applies, for example, in case a fund for joint account is created under Dutch law. Note that the criteria that apply to determine whether a UBO of a trust or fund for joint account qualifies for registration are different from (and wide in scope) those applied to Dutch legal entities.
With organisations increasingly relying on AI technology, UK and EU regulators are turning their attention to effective regulation of AI in an effort to recognise its benefits while instilling confidence in individuals that the increasing use of AI is being deployed appropriately and lawfully. In the EU, the European Commission’s AI Act (“Act”) proposal has undergone further changes following review by EU member states. The Council of the EU approved a compromise version of the Act on 6 December 2022. The European Parliament is expected to vote on the draft by the end of March 2023, with a view to adopting the Act by the end of 2023.
In January 2023, the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) published its much awaited consultation on its Draft Guidance on Horizontal Agreements. The CMA clearly indicated that it proposes to take advantage of its post-Brexit freedom and to depart from the position on this issue taken by the European Commission as set out in its Draft Guidance on Horizontal Agreements, and to take a more radical and permissive approach to the role competition law has to play in supporting environmental sustainability initiatives.
The Home Office (United Kingdom) has updated its sponsor guidance to incorporate recent changes to immigration rules as well as some other changes to the guidance. In this article, learn about these employment changes to ensure compliance.
In this multi-country guide, learn about the rules on approaching investors in different jurisdictions, in relation to an offer or issue of shares.
Learn about the potential introduction of a digital Euro.
A comparative global guide of foreign investment regimes in many jurisdictions.
Learn about the Digital Markets Act that came into force on 1 November 2022 in the European Union, targeting unfair practices in the online platform economy.
Learn about the risks of not using care with the language in contractual bonuses.