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The Omnibus Directive – New EU consumer rights are on the way

Published on 01 Oct 2021. By Anna Greco, Senior Associate and Oliver Bray, Senior Partner

The Omnibus Directive – new EU consumer rights are on the way ~ Anna Greco and Olly Bray of RPC consider aspects of the Directive of particular importance for retailers.

What if the CEO asks me... about ESG-linked financing facilities

Published on 28 Sep 2021. By Edward Colville, Partner and Sukh Ahark, Partner, Co-head of India Desk

As focus moves from short term lockdown liquidity on to longer term financing needs, loan facilities linked to ESG and sustainability targets are back in the news.

What if the CEO asks me... about ESG-linked financing facilities

Published on 28 Sep 2021. By Edward Colville, Partner and Sukh Ahark, Partner, Co-head of India Desk

As focus moves from short term lockdown liquidity on to longer term financing needs, loan facilities linked to ESG and sustainability targets are back in the news.

Retail Compass Autumn edition 2021

Published on 21 Sep 2021. By Karen Hendy, Partner and Jeremy Drew, Partner

Welcome to the Autumn edition of Retail Compass, where we guide you through key upcoming legal and policy changes affecting Retail and provide our thoughts on those crucial, need-to-know issues.

New EPC rating requirements and the impact on retailers

Published on 01 Sep 2021. By Elizabeth Alibhai, Partner

The current requirements for EPC energy ratings will be extended to cover existing leases from April 2023. More notably, significant changes have been proposed in the Government’s Energy White Paper published in December 2020: to prevent landlords from renting commercial properties with an EPC grade of less than C from 1 April 2027 and to prevent landlords from renting commercial properties with an EPC grade of less than B from 1 April 2030. The possible impact for retailer tenants could be material.

What if the CEO asks me about… the people implications of our growing online presence

Published on 21 Jul 2021.

The Covid-19 pandemic has led to numerous changes in the retail sector, with one of the key ones being the growth in online sales – according to the ONS as of January 2021 online sales represented 35.1% of total retail sales versus just 19.5% in January 2020 (though the latest figures from May 2021 show that this has dropped back to 28.5% as things have started to open back up).

What if the CEO asks me about... whether we are all set for an advertising blitz now lockdown is easing?

Published on 24 May 2021. By Paul Joukador, Partner

As lockdown eases in the UK and businesses start to fully re-open, there has been a significant upturn in advertising. Many brands are urgently rushing to get their advertising out and are looking for the best placement of that advertising.

Retail credit rating downgrades

Published on 15 Apr 2021.

How to stop a downgrade becoming a default

What if the CEO asks me about... moving to a turnover rent model?

Published on 13 Apr 2021. By Elizabeth Alibhai, Partner

On 10 March 2021 the Government announced that existing protections for tenants on non-payment of rent and against landlords' use of forfeiture and CRAR (the ability to sell a tenant's goods where rent is not paid) were to be extended until the end of June 2021.

Asia: How staying-at-home has driven retail F&D collaborations

Published on 25 Mar 2021. By Jeremy Drew, Partner, Head of Commercial and Karen Hendy, Partner, Head of Corporate

Recent social unrest and the COVID-19 pandemic have accelerated the emergence of a new “stay-at-home economy” for groceries and fresh produce in Hong Kong.

Coming to America: United States market entry tips

Published on 18 Mar 2021. By Jeremy Drew, Partner, Head of Commercial and Karen Hendy, Partner, Head of Corporate

Most global retailers have contemplated entering the United States market – possibly just because of the sheer scale of the market. American retailers rang up almost $5.5 trillion (£4.1 trillion) in sales in 2019. Plus, for luxury sellers, the US market makes up a huge portion of overall global sales. Additionally, the impact that American consumers have on worldwide traditional and social media is tremendous, which amplifies the value of their purchases of your products.

Time for action on abusive card charges

Published on 11 Mar 2021. By Jeremy Drew, Partner, Head of Commercial and Karen Hendy, Partner, Head of Corporate

Eyes will be on the British government in 2021 to start paving a new and substantially different pathway for the UK which holds enough merit to justify the upheaval, bitterness and loss caused by its advocacy and delivery of Brexit. One relatively uncontroversial area is the reform of regulation governing retail payments in the UK.

New year, new strategy – what to expect in a post-pandemic retail landscape

Published on 04 Mar 2021. By Karen Hendy, Partner and Jeremy Drew, Partner

Most importantly, retailers and brands must be ready to change and evolve to meet the rapidly shifting demands of consumers.

Retail Compass Spring edition 2021

Published on 12 Feb 2021.

Welcome to the Spring edition of Retail Compass. We present our guide to the key upcoming legal and policy changes affecting Retail and our thoughts on the need-to-know issues - as retailers look forward to a post-pandemic landscape.

What if the CEO asks me about… the latest online customer solutions?

Published on 01 Dec 2020. By Paul Joukador, Partner

Nine months of extreme disruption has accelerated retail brands' need to maximise their online shopping experience. With Covid-19 restrictions here to stay for the foreseeable future, and the future purpose of the physical store being re-examined, there is no doubt that online will continue to be a key consumer interface.

Data and the trust barometer – the new frontline of retail

Published on 30 Nov 2020. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner and Karen Hendy, Partner, Head of Corporate

The inventor of the world wide web has a startup. Sir Tim Berners Lee's company Inrupt has launched Solid, a platform for giving consumers control over their data. Solid keeps user data in a secure locker, or pod, and access can be granted or revoked as needed.

Retail Compass Summer edition 2020

Published on 28 Jul 2020. By Jeremy Drew, Partner and Karen Hendy, Partner

Welcome to the Summer 2020 edition of Retail Compass – our guide to key upcoming legal and policy changes affecting Retail and our thoughts on the need-to-know issues.

CRE funds – targets for future litigation

Published on 20 Mar 2024. By Jake Hardy, Partner and Tom Hibbert, Partner, Global Head of Commercial Disputes

There was a wave of negative press about commercial real estate funds during the course of 2023. The higher interest rate environment and the pandemic’s economic and social legacy has stressed the sector. This was reflected in suspensions of redemptions by funds including BlackRock UK Property Fund and Blackstone’s (US) Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust, and the closure of the M&G Property Portfolio fund. Asset valuation concerns are leading to many CRE funds trading at a significant discount to their net asset value. Shortsellers are circling – see for instance, Muddy Waters’ disclosure of a large short position on the Blackstone Mortgage Trust.

Court of Appeal orders solicitor be struck off for serious breaches of accounts rules

Published on 27 Jun 2023. By Sumarsono Darsono, Partner and Jennifer Leung, Associate

In an important judgment in Law Society of Hong Kong v A Solicitor, the Court of Appeal set aside an order that a solicitor be suspended from practice for 24 months and substituted it with an order that he be struck off from the roll of solicitors.

Hong Kong – At a glance: major changes to cross-border enforcement of judgments in Hong Kong and mainland China

Published on 17 Feb 2023. By Samuel Hung, Partner and Anson Lo, Associate

The highly anticipated Mainland Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters (Reciprocal Enforcement) Ordinance (the Ordinance) is set to take effect in mid-2023. Once the Ordinance is in place, applicants will be able to enforce a broader range of mainland judgments in Hong Kong by way of a registration procedure and vice versa in relation to Hong Kong judgments in mainland China.

Restructuring Plans – A Sea Change?

Published on 26 Oct 2022. By Paul Bagon, Partner and Will Beck, Of Counsel and Knowledge Lawyer

Financial Services Litigation Hong Kong Chapter

Published on 27 Jul 2022. By Jonathan Crompton, Partner and Lillian Wong, Associate

Disputes Yearbook 2022: Retail and Restructuring

Published on 25 Apr 2022. By Karen Hendy, Partner, Head of Corporate and Finella Fogarty, Partner, Head of Restructuring & Insolvency

As part of the acclaimed Disputes Yearbook, Legal Business interviewed members of our disputes team exploring the litigation landscape and what RPC brings to the table.

Disputes Yearbook 2022: Civil Fraud

Published on 25 Apr 2022.

As part of the acclaimed Disputes Yearbook, Legal Business interviewed members of our disputes team exploring the litigation landscape and what RPC brings to the table.

Disputes Yearbook 2022: Banking Litigation

Published on 25 Apr 2022.

As part of the acclaimed Disputes Yearbook, Legal Business interviewed members of our disputes team exploring the litigation landscape and what RPC brings to the table.

Disputes Yearbook 2022: Technology disputes

Published on 25 Apr 2022.

As part of the acclaimed Disputes Yearbook, Legal Business interviewed members of our disputes team exploring the litigation landscape and what RPC brings to the table.

High Court reviews permission for expert reports and delay after general adjourned period

Published on 07 Oct 2021. By Antony Sassi, Managing Partner, Asia and Rebecca Wong, Partner and Jennifer Leung, Associate

In Redland Precast Concrete Products (China) Ltd v AES Steel Mould (Hong Kong) Ltd1 the Court of Appeal emphasised that it is unlikely to interfere with the exercise of a first instance court’s case management discretion regarding directions for expert reports, unless an applicant can show that the lower court’s decision is plainly wrong. This presents a party seeking to challenge such directions with a high threshold to overcome in order to obtain permission to appeal. In this case, the applicant (the plaintiff) was unable to meet the threshold – therefore, its application for permission to appeal was refused by the court. Had the plaintiff acted more expeditiously, immediately after the general adjourned period (when the courts were generally closed between January and May 2020 because of the pandemic), things may have turned out differently.

Witnesses overseas and preparations for trial during a pandemic

Published on 17 Sep 2021. By Samuel Hung, Partner and Sumarsono Darsono, Partner and Jennifer Leung, Associate

A couple of recent High Court decisions demonstrate some of the issues that arise when a party applies for one or more of their witnesses to give evidence at trial by video conferencing facilities, or seeks an adjournment of a trial, because a witness is overseas and experiencing difficulties in returning to Hong Kong in time for a trial date given the COVID-19 pandemic. In such circumstances, the courts’ ultimate priority is the administration of justice, which involves (among other things) balancing the parties’ competing interests while exercising their case management powers. A trial date (a “milestone date”) is generally sacrosanct and live evidence in person at trial is the norm.

Disputes Yearbook 2021: Civil Fraud

Published on 06 May 2021.

As part of the acclaimed Disputes Yearbook, Legal Business interviewed members of our disputes team exploring the litigation landscape and what RPC brings to the table.

Disputes Yearbook 2021: Financial disputes

Published on 05 May 2021. By Simon Hart, Partner, Head of Banking & Financial Markets Disputes

As part of the acclaimed Disputes Yearbook, Legal Business interviewed members of our disputes team exploring the litigation landscape and what RPC brings to the table.

Court reviews witness’s reluctance to travel to Hong Kong because of COVID-19

Published on 05 May 2021. By Antony Sassi, Managing Partner, Asia

In Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Ltd v Nie, the Court of Appeal refused the defendant (who resides outside Hong Kong) permission to appeal a trial judge’s decision not to allow her to give evidence by videoconferencing facilities (VCF) at trial. Apparently, the defendant had been reluctant to travel to Hong Kong from Beijing (where she resides) to attend the trial because of concerns about the COVID-19 public health pandemic. Both the trial judge and the Court of Appeal appear to have been unimpressed by the defendant’s application. Giving witness evidence by VCF during a trial in civil proceedings is not the norm (even during a pandemic). A party looking to rely on such evidence needs to act promptly to obtain the court’s permission and provide good reasons for doing so supported by credible evidence.

Hong Kong courts further expand remote hearings for civil cases

Published on 20 Jan 2021. By Jonathan Crompton, Partner and Rebecca Wong, Partner

Hong Kong courts – Latest guidance on COVID-19 measures

Published on 10 Dec 2020. By Antony Sassi, Managing Partner, Asia and David Smyth, Senior Consultant

Hong Kong courts keeping calm and carrying on

Published on 11 Nov 2020. By Carmel Green, Partner and Antony Sassi, Managing Partner, Asia

Revisiting Your Multi-Tier Dispute Resolution Clauses

Published on 31 Jul 2020.

Examining the time bar for causes of action for the tort of negligent misrepresentation

Published on 10 Jul 2020.

Section 24A of Singapore’s Limitation Act (Cap. 163) provides, amongst other things, that the limitation period for any cause of action for damages for negligent misrepresentation accrues upon proof of damage in reliance of the negligent misrepresentation.

Arbitrable disputes in the context of winding up proceedings

Published on 05 May 2020.

This note discusses two recent decisions of the Court of Appeal of Singapore that dealt with the standard of review to be applied in winding up proceedings where a debtor asserts that there is a dispute which parties agreed to resolve by way of arbitration.

A Review in Confidence: Modernising the Law of Breach of Confidence in Singapore

Published on 17 Apr 2020.

The elements for a claim for breach of confidence were trite, having been established more than 50 years ago in the English case of Coco v. AN Clark (Engineers) Ltd (1) and affirmed in numerous Singapore decisions (2) .

Hong Kong Courts – In with the old and the new technology

Published on 15 Apr 2020. By Antony Sassi, Managing Partner, Asia and Jonathan Crompton, Partner and David Smyth, Senior Consultant

In Re Cyberworks Audio Video Technology Ltd,(1) the High Court of Hong Kong decided that it can, as part of its case management powers and of its own volition, order that a directions hearing take place by means of a telephone conference without the physical presence in court of the parties or their legal representatives.

Hong Kong courts begin use of video conferencing

Published on 15 Apr 2020. By Antony Sassi, Managing Partner, Asia and Carmel Green, Partner

Given the extended general adjourned period (GAP), during which the courts in Hong Kong have been closed except for urgent and essential court business, the judiciary has adopted an incremental approach to the use of technology for remote hearings.

Litigation in the time of Coronavirus (Hong Kong - Update)

Published on 15 Apr 2020. By Antony Sassi, Managing Partner, Asia and Jonathan Crompton, Partner and David Smyth, Senior Consultant

The "General Adjourned Period" (GAP) during which the courts in Hong Kong have been closed, save for urgent and essential court business, has been extended to 13 April 2020.

Hong Kong Court of Appeal hears appeal using video conferencing

Published on 15 Apr 2020. By Charles Allen, Partner & Head of Hong Kong office and Carmel Green, Partner

On 2 April 2020 the Chief Judge of the High Court issued a Guidance Note setting out the practice for remote hearings in the Court of First Instance of the High Court (but not the District Court) using the court's existing video conferencing facilities (VCF). Hard on its heels, on 6 April 2020 the Court of Appeal conducted a hearing by VCF in CSFK v. HWH [2020] HKCA 207.

Singapore's COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020 – Highlights and Commentary on Key Provisions for Temporary Relief for Inability to Perform Contracts

Published on 06 Apr 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a severe contraction in economic activity on a global scale, as a result of supply chain disruptions, manpower shortages, travel restrictions and a swift decline in demand. Singapore is likewise grappling with the economic symptoms of these ongoing waves of COVID-19 outbreaks, which will continue to dampen global economic growth.

The Supreme Court of Singapore Collaborates with the Supreme Court of the Union of Myanmar on the Enforcement of Money Judgments

Published on 18 Feb 2020.

The Supreme Court of Singapore Collaborates with the Supreme Court of the Union of Myanmar on the Enforcement of Money Judgments – the signing of the Memorandum of Guidance as to Enforcement of Money Judgments (the “MOG”) marks a significant milestone in bilateral relations between the Singapore and Myanmar judiciaries.

RPC represents party in key case for establishing the governing law of arbitration agreements.

Published on 31 Jan 2020.

In the recent case of Kabab-Ji S.A.L v Kout Food Group, RPC and Ricky Diwan QC (Essex Court) represented Kout Food Group before the Court of Appeal. In an important judgment, the Court established that on the proper construction of the relevant contract there was an express choice of English law governing the arbitration agreement despite that agreement providing for any arbitration to be seated in Paris.

The art of regulation: anti-money laundering compliance hits the art market

Published on 10 Jan 2020. By Davina Given, Partner and Sam Tate, Partner

From today, art businesses will be subject to regulation aimed at cleaning up money laundering in the art world.

Arbitration or winding up?

Published on 17 Sep 2019. By Charles Allen, Partner & Head of Hong Kong office

In But Ka Chon v Interactive Brokers LLC [2019] HKCA 873, the Hong Kong Court of Appeal upheld a lower court's decision to reject an application to set aside a statutory demand. The appellant had argued (among other things) that an arbitration clause in his agreement with the respondent required their dispute to be referred to arbitration.

Financial litigation roundup Spring/Summer 2019

Published on 08 May 2019.

Welcome to the latest edition of our financial litigation roundup. In this edition, we consider recent judgments and ongoing cases from the banking and financial world in the UK and Hong Kong, as well as legal developments across those jurisdictions.

TerraLex guide to tracing assets around the world 2018

Published on 23 Nov 2018.

We are delighted to present the TerraLex 2018 Guide to Tracing Assets Around the World.

Financial litigation roundup - Summer 2018 edition

Published on 20 Jul 2018.

Welcome to the latest edition of our financial litigation roundup. In this edition, we consider recent judgments and ongoing cases from the banking and financial world in the UK and Hong Kong, as well as legal developments across those jurisdictions.