Search results
76 results ordered by
Consumer duty and claims handling – beware of sludge practices
The Consumer Duty is a new regulatory framework developed by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) aimed at creating a higher standard of consumer protection in the retail markets. The FCA expects the Consumer Duty to be a significant shift for the market in terms of its expectations on firms and in this blog we consider this shift in the context of insurance claims handling.
Read morePLC QTRLY - Q1 2024
This is our regular quarterly update to help our listed company clients and other market participants keep up to date with key developments relevant to issuers on the Main Market and AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.
Read morePLC QTRLY - Q4 2023
This is our regular quarterly update to help our listed company clients and other market participants keep up to date with key developments relevant to issuers on the Main Market and AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.
Read morePLC QTRLY - Q3 2023
This is our regular quarterly update to help our listed company clients and other market participants keep up to date with key developments relevant to issuers on the Main Market and AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.
Read morePLC QTRLY - Q2 2023
This is our regular quarterly update to help our listed company clients and other market participants keep up to date with key developments relevant to issuers on the Main Market and AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.
Read morePLC QTRLY - Q1 2023
This is our regular quarterly update to help our listed company clients and other market participants keep up to date with key developments relevant to issuers on the Main Market and AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.
Read morePLC QTRLY - Q4 2022
This is our regular quarterly update to help our listed company clients and other market participants keep up to date with key developments relevant to issuers on the Main Market and AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.
Read morePLC QTRLY - Q3 2022
This is our regular quarterly update to help our listed company clients and other market participants keep up to date with key developments relevant to issuers on the Main Market and AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.
Read morePLC QTRLY - Q2 2022
This is our regular quarterly update to help our listed company clients and other market participants keep up to date with key developments relevant to issuers on the Main Market and AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.
Read morePLC QTRLY - Q1 2022
Post-Covid and post-Brexit changes are on the horizon for the UK's public companies. This is the first of our regular updates to help our listed company clients and other market participants keep up to date with key developments relevant to issuers on the Main Market and AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.
Read more“Gagging orders”: an office holder’s secret weapon
Practitioners are fully aware of the extensive powers available under ss 235 and 236 of the Insolvency Act 1986 (IA 1986) allowing administrators and liquidators as office holders (OHs) to require individuals and organisations to disgorge information.
Read moreMake insolvency great again
One of the great criticisms of the new President of the United States of America is that his companies filed for bankruptcy four times when he was a business mogul.
Read moreChoppy waters ahead? The significance of Oceanfill
The economic outlook for the UK in 2023 remains uncertain, and more companies may need to restructure their businesses to ensure survival. This
Read moreLaw passed to regulate Significant Investments in Singapore Entities
The Significant Investments Review Bill (the "Bill") was recently passed by Parliament on 9 January 2024, and is expected to take effect in the first half of the year.
Read moreHong Kong Employment Law Update: Mandatory Provident Fund offsetting mechanism to be abolished after decade-long debate and campaigning
Following on from our brief update published on 9 June 2022, this article provides a detailed overview of the amendments put forward by the long-awaited Employment and Retirement Schemes Legislation (Offsetting Arrangement) (Amendment) Bill 2022 (the "Bill"), which was finally passed by the Legislative Council on 9 June 2022. The main feature of the Bill is the abolishment of the offsetting mechanism of the Mandatory Provident Fund ("MPF").
Read moreHong Kong Wage Subsidy Update – Government announces new round of Employment Support Scheme
The Government has at last finalized the details of the new round of Employment Support Scheme ("2022 ESS"). The purpose of the 2022 ESS to offer limited time financial support to small and medium-sized enterprises through providing wage subsidies to encourage enterprises to increase employment and to retain employees who would otherwise be made redundant.
Read moreIncreased penalty for employers who employ overstayers
Immigration (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 (“IAO”)
Read moreHong Kong's Legislative Council to consider Cancellation of MPF Offsetting
Under the Employment Ordinance, employers can offset long service payment or severance payment due to an employee against the employer's mandatory and voluntary contributions to the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF), Hong Kong's pension system.
Read moreReimbursement of Maternity Leave Pay Scheme in Hong Kong
Hong Kong's statutory maternity leave has been extended from 10 weeks to 14 weeks with effect from 11 December 2020. From 1 April 2021, the Hong Kong Government has started accepting applications to reimburse employers' payment in respect of the extended period of maternity leave.
Read moreCOVID 19 Your workforce: What on earth is "furlough"?
Meaning of furlough, especially in the context of companies dealing with the impact of COVID-19.
Read moreCOVID-19 Your workforce: pay and costs - practical ideas our clients are exploring
COVID-19 Your workforce: pay and costs - practical ideas our clients are exploring. These are extraordinary times that place extraordinary pressures on all of us, including dealing with your workforce. We set out below some ideas that we are hearing about from our clients and some areas you may wish to think about in terms of your employee costs.
Read moreCOVID-19 Your workforce: supporting mental health when home working
COVID-19 Your workforce: supporting mental health when home working. Many of us are working from home during this crisis and while this can be an effective way of working for some, it is less happy for others; loneliness, caring for vulnerable dependants and challenging home environments are all being experienced. There may be members of your teams who fall into these categories.
Read moreAll is not (necessarily) lost: Crypto crime recovery
With over 2 million people in the UK now holding and using cryptocurrency, and the Chancellor announcing that a government backed non-fungible token ("NFT") is to be issued by the Royal Mint this summer, the market for crypto-assets is expected to continue to grow in the coming months and years; so much so that legislation is planned to implement a new regulatory regime for the crypto market.
Read moreCommercial Court cracks down on crypto-fraudsters (if it can find them)
In the first initial coin offering 'ICO' fraud case before the Commercial Court, Ion Science Limited & Duncan Johns v Persons Unknown & Ors, the court granted permission to serve disclosure orders on two cryptocurrency exchanges through which the claimants' stolen bitcoin had been traced, granted a world-wide freezing order against persons unknown, and gave ground-breaking guidance on the lex situs of crypto-assets.
Read moreUK retail sector M&A deals increase to 34 – up 21% on last year
• M&A targeting fashion retailers particularly active
Read moreChanging retail landscape leads to decline in employee numbers
The retail sector continues to face change and challenge from every conceivable angle and employment within the sector is following this trend.
Read moreDrones: don't fly out of bounds (legally)
Various commercial industries have already woken up to the myriad opportunities offered by drone technologies. Whilst the regulatory regime evolves, it is important that companies don’t fall foul of the law.
Read moreUS and Chinese regulators sign landmark agreement on inspection of Chinese audit work
On 26 August 2022, the US Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) and the PRC China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) and Ministry of Finance (MoF) signed a Statement of Protocol that would allow US regulators access to audits of Chinese companies listed on the US stock exchanges.
Read moreDisciplinary investigations against architects #4 - investigations panel stage
Further to our previous three articles which provided (1) an overview of the Architect Registration Board's disciplinary process and (2) a review of the complaints stage (3) the review stage, this article explains the next stage of a disciplinary investigation against an Architect: the investigations panel stage.
Read moreCode of Conduct for Leasing of Retail Premises to take effect from 1 February 2024
Following from the passing of the Lease Agreements for Retail Premises Bill which mandates compliance with the Code of Conduct for Leasing of Retail Premises in Singapore ("Code") for qualifying leases of retail premises earlier this year, the Lease Agreements for Retail Premises Act ("Act') is expected to take effect from 1 February 2024.
Read moreCould I mitigate my losses by using my premises for other purposes?
With the inevitable impact of the coronavirus on retail businesses, many will be looking to mitigate their losses. One obvious way of doing this would be to use their premises, often their single largest overhead, for other uses. But is this possible and what must you consider?
Read moreCovered: Insurance regulation – Asia edition
Covered: Insurance regulation – Asia edition
Read moreArbitration or winding up?
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.
Read moreBuilding on renewable energy #3 – Anaerobic Digestion
Anaerobic digestion is the process by which biodegradable materials are broken down in a controlled environment. Whilst being broken down, the materials emit gas (which can be used as a source of renewable energy), and produce heat (which can also be harnessed on or near-to site). The process also leaves a waste material (digestate), which can be used as fertiliser, contributing to the circular economy.
Read moreBuilding on renewable energy
2019 was potentially a significant year for the renewable energy industry. Record temperatures and environmental catastrophes highlighted the need to reduce carbon emissions and make greater use of sources of renewable energy, and political parties championing green policies saw – for the most part – their share of the vote increase both domestically and internationally.
Read moreWhistle-blowing on illegal cartels drops 70% in 5 years
Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) recently increased award to £250,000 Calls to the CMA hotline have plummeted from 1,442 in 2017 to 427 in 2022
Read moreRPC advises Bizet Media in its acquisition of High Wire Post Production
International law firm RPC has advised Bizet Media, the parent company of Milk VFX, in its acquisition of Dublin-based High Wire Post Production.
Read moreCorporate tax update – February 2023
Welcome to the latest edition of our Corporate Tax Update, written by members of RPC's tax team.
Read moreCorporate tax update - January 2023
Welcome to the latest edition of our Corporate Tax Update, written by members of RPC's tax team.
Read moreCorporate tax update - May 2022
Welcome to the latest edition of our Corporate Tax Update, written by members of RPC's tax team.
Read moreCorporate tax update – January 2022
Welcome to the latest edition of our Corporate Tax Update, written by members of RPC's tax team. As this edition is the first of the New Year we hope that you, your family and friends had a restful and enjoyable end to 2021.
Read moreCorporate Tax Update - July 2021
Welcome to the latest edition of our Corporate Tax Update, written by members of RPC’s tax team. This month’s update reports on some of the key developments from May and June 2021. Included in this update are news of the historic G7 agreement as to plans for global tax reform, summaries of two cases on the required formalities for bringing contractual claims for breach of warranty and pursuant to a tax covenant, and news of another win for HMRC in an ‘IR35’ case. As ever we hope you, your family and friends are all staying safe and are enjoying the summer.
Read moreCorporate Tax Update - January 2021
Welcome to the latest edition of our Corporate Tax Update, written by members of RPC’s tax team. This month’s update reports on some of the key developments from December 2020. Included in this update are summaries of an unexpected twist in the DAC6 saga, a call for evidence on VAT and the ‘sharing economy’, and the Court of Appeal decision in the Development Securities case. As ever we hope you, your family and friends are all staying safe.
Read moreCorporate Tax Update - October 2020
Welcome to the latest edition of our Corporate Tax Update, written by members of RPC’s tax team. This month’s update reports on some of the key developments from September 2020. Included in this update are summaries of the Chancellor’s tax announcements as part of the Winter Economy Plan and the EC’s decision to appeal the decision of the European General Court in the Apple state aid case. There are also updates on new HMRC guidance on off-payroll working for private businesses and the VAT treatment of payments for early termination of contracts. As ever we hope you, your family and friends are all staying safe.
Read moreCorporate Tax update - July 2020
Welcome to the latest edition of our Corporate Tax Update, written by members of RPC’s tax team. This month’s update reports on some of the key developments from June 2020. Included in this update are a summary of a decision on the correct tax treatment of bonuses paid to members of an LLP, and an AG’s opinion on the VAT reverse charge position of services supplied for non-economic activity purposes. There’s also an update on HMRC guidance on “exceptional” circumstances in which anticipated losses can be used to claim back overpaid corporation tax. Finally, this update also reports on Covid-19 driven extensions to DAC6 reporting deadlines and to deadlines for notifying VAT options to tax. As ever we hope you, your family and friends are all staying safe.
Read moreCorporate tax update - June 2020
Welcome to the latest edition of our corporate tax update, written by members of RPC’s tax team. This month’s update reports on some of the key developments from May 2020. As well as some further COVID-19 related tax developments, this month’s report also has a bit of a sports theme with summaries of decisions involving an ex-England cricket captain and football referees. As ever we hope you, your family and friends are all staying safe.
Read moreStay connected and subscribe to our latest insights and views
Subscribe Here