The recently launched Hague Rules on Business and Human Rights Arbitration are an innovative framework for the resolution of business and human rights disputes through international arbitration. We look at how they operate and why companies might elect to arbitrate under the new regime. ...

This latest guide looks at developments at the end of last year and the beginning of 2020. It covers: Brexit and the transition, final-form recommendations for audit and auditor reform, new stewardship obligations for investors, tougher new anti-money laundering rules, FRC guidance for this year's annual reports and Section 172 statements, the extension of the FCA's Senior Manager regime, market abuse, ESG and climate, private equity reporting, transparency of ownership of UK real estate and late payment. ...

At a time when global powers continue to test international trade rules, a World Trade Organization decision involving Australian tariffs on Indonesian A4 copy paper highlights some of the key legal issues that caused tension between international trading partners in 2019. ...

Australia's modern slavery reporting regime was introduced one year ago, and 2020 will see the first set of modern slavery statements published by reporting entities. ...

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Corporate Crime) Bill 2019 (the 2019 Bill) in the Senate, and the Attorney-General's Department has released Draft Guidance on the steps a body corporate can take to prevent an associate from bribing foreign public officials for public consultation (the Draft Guidance).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and Associate Lewis Winter report on the key differences between the 2017 and 2019 Bills, and the content of the Draft Guidance. ...

On 7 August 2019, the United Nations Convention on International Settlement Agreements resulting from Mediation (the Convention) will be open for signature.  It will come into force six months after three countries have signed, with Singapore expected to be the first State to do so. ...

On 10 April 2019 the English Supreme Court ruled that nearly 2000 members of rural farming communities in Zambia can bring proceedings in the English courts against the UK-incorporated Vedanta Resources Plc Vedanta The claims relate to the copper mining operations of one of Vedantas subsidiaries ...

The need for companies to manage and report on climate-change risks is gaining momentum in Australia This is part of a global trend as investors and governing bodies increasingly expect companies to integrate climate risks into their strategy and reporting - yet tools for monitoring and disclosing ...

After eight years of negotiation, Australia and Indonesia have signed a bilateral free trade agreement that both reduces tariff and non-tariff barriers for trade and investment, and simplifies various regulatory requirements. ...

New legislation that greatly increases penalties for corporate and financial sector misconduct will have wide-ranging and significant effects Partner Alex Mason Managing Associate Chris Kerrigan and Associate Rachele Troup report ...