A heightened risk of foreign interference and a shift towards enforcement of the new foreign influence and interference legislation means it is now critical to consider any compliance risks your business may face. ...

ASIC concludes position on use of stub equity in control transactions; ASX extends emergency class waivers and clarifies ability to ratify use of additional placement capacity; FIRB amending legislation introduced to Parliament; FIRB updates guidance on tax conditions; ACCC to examine competition in mobile apps; Fair Work Commission extends temporary COVID-19 flexibilities in 99 modern awards; Federal Government proposes to make electronic signing and virtual meetings permanent. ...

In the wake of Crowley v Worley Limited, Australia's first two shareholder class action judgments highlight the significant risk that applicants, and the litigation funders that support them, take when pursuing such claims to trial. Neither judgment sounded in any award of damages for shareholders. ...

ASIC has released its response to the submissions on its June 2019 Consultation Paper on certain aspects of the use of stub equity in control transactions, and the news is mostly positive. ...

This Incidence Response Map provides high-level guidance on responding to an 'incident', such as possible foreign bribery, serious fraud and other breaches of laws that can have significant financial, reputational and commercial implications. ...

Second tranche of draft FIRB reforms released; ASIC releases Corporate Plan for 2020-24; ASIC grants relief for escrow and non-promotional communications for IPOs and updates RG5 and RG254; High Court sides with employers and clarifies personal/carer's leave entitlements; ACCC releases ninth interim gas inquiry report; extension of temporary COVID-19 continuous disclosure and insolvency relief measures; ALRC reports on Australia's corporate criminal responsibility regime. ...

ASIC's Corporate Plan sets out its strategic priorities and actions for the next four years, especially its approach to its supervisory, surveillance and enforcement functions, and how each of those may have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. ...

We identify the key themes arising from the Inquiry and outline the practical implications of the recently introduced legislation regarding the regulation of litigation funders and the introduction of contingency fees in VIC. ...

Sugar and alcohol labels under the microscope, including new requirements for alcoholic beverages to display pregnancy labels; minimising regulatory risk regarding misleading conduct on the sale and promotion of food products; COVID-19 and food; and class actions in the sector. ...

Nucleus – corporate law developments: FIRB introduces temporary streamlined exemption certificates; ASIC issues guidance on product intervention power; ACCC raises concerns about two digital mergers; and other corporate law developments ...