251-260 of 643 results
Take Two: anti-bribery reforms revived and long-awaited draft regulatory guidance released
The Australian Government has tabled the Crimes Amendment (Combatting Corporate Crime) Bill 2019 (the 2019 Bill) in the Senate, and the Attorney-General's Department has released Draft Guidance on the steps a body corporate can take to prevent an associate from bribing foreign public officials for public consultation (the Draft Guidance). Like the 2017 version of the Bill that lapsed earlier this year (the 2017 Bill), if passed, the 2019 Bill will strengthen Australia's foreign bribery laws, including by introducing a new corporate offence of failure to prevent bribery by an associate, and will introduce a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) scheme for resolving serious corporate criminal matters. Partner Rachel Nicolson, Senior Associate Andrew Wilcock and Associate Lewis Winter report on the key differences between the 2017 and 2019 Bills, and the content of the Draft Guidance. ...
Vietnam Legal Update: New Law on Bankruptcy to take effect in January
Vietnams new Law on Bankruptcy will take effect from 1 January 2015 bringing in a number of changes including a new definition of bankruptcy Partner Robert Fish and Junior Associates Giang Quang Nguyen and Linh Nguyen look at the most significant features of the new law and note what will differ ...
Opportunities for financial services from the China-Australia FTA
The Australian and Chinese governments recently announced the conclusion of negotiations on the China Australia Free Trade Agreement According to DFAT Chinas financial services commitments under the agreement represent one of the most substantial market access undertakings China has agreed to with ...
ASIC Register of Financial Advisers: will it raise quality of advice and standards?
The Federal Government has announced that ASIC will establish a public register of financial advisers, intended to benefit consumers, who will be able to check that their adviser is appropriately authorised and qualified before receiving personal advice. ...
ATO rules on Bitcoin - not enough purchase to be money
The Australian Tax Office has released draft rulings stating their view that the digital currency Bitcoin is property and not money Partner Gavin Smith Associate David Rountree and Associate Tom Tian consider the potential consequences for Australian businesses using Bitcoin ...
Bringing light to the shadows: regulation of the Australian shadow banking sector
The Financial Stability Board has been working since the GFC to develop a policy framework that mitigates the systemic risks of the shadow banking sector while simultaneously preserving its benefits We examine international developments in shadow banking and the Boards proposed regulatory response ...
Changes to tax rules for offshore investment
A Bill is currently before Federal Parliament that will more closely but not completely align the foreign non-portfolio dividend NANE treatment with debtequity concepts Partner Martin Fry and Senior Associate Jennifer Richards report on the changes ...
Some facts (and myths) about ASIC and product intervention powers
The closer you look at the recent discussion about product intervention powers for ASIC the clearer it becomes that the discussion has little basis in fact ...
What do the product intervention powers of the UK financial conduct regulator look like?
If you have been following the Financial System Inquiry you will not have missed the idea of giving the Australian Securities and Investments Commission ASIC additional product intervention powers These powers exist in the UK What do they look like This question is more relevant than ever right now ...
Allens bolsters banking and finance team with Nicholas Creed appointment in Perth
Allens has appointed Nicholas Creed as a partner to its Banking and Finance (BAF) practice in Perth, further strengthening the firm's team. Nicholas is a corporate finance practitioner with ...