Episode 21: COP26 Key Takeaways for Sovereign Wealth Funds
In this episode of FInsight, Andrew Hedges and Kay She from Baker McKenzie’s EMI group in London discuss their experience and observations while on the ground in Glasgow. They cover business imperatives and challenges affecting the global economy and how sovereign wealth funds are well-positioned to influence and make an impact on broader sustainability goals and action plans. As discussions on climate-related issues evolve from commitments to execution in the recent COP26 UN Climate Change Conference, we unpack some of the key takeaways relevant for sovereign wealth funds.

Financial crime remains at the top of the regulatory agenda across the globe. As responses to the pandemic stabilise, and following some high-profile global incidents, regulators face renewed pressure to manage financial crime more effectively through robust supervision and enforcement. In the October 2021 edition of the City Library’s Compliance Officer Bulletin, our business crime, regulatory and cybersecurity lawyers explore the latest developments in anti-money laundering and financial crime in a series of articles

In this episode of FInsight, Baker McKenzie partners Daniela Fonseca Puggina from our Miami office and Jennifer Semko from our Washington D.C. office discuss litigation readiness for FIs. The episode also covers potential vulnerabilities and disputes that they need to prepare for, current and emerging trends in litigation (from our Litigation Intelligence Tool and Report), and how they can benefit from litigation preparedness.

In the latest episode of the Global Financial Industry Podcast, Baker McKenzie associates discuss: Sovereigns series – key principles of investment treaty protection. The episode covers recent examples of sovereign wealth fundsSWFs bringing investment treaty claims and how others can obtain access to these protections. The episode also analyzes why investors should consider investment treaties as part of their decision-making process.

In this episode, Charles Thomson and Henry Garfield, partners in Baker McKenzie’s dispute resolution practice in London, talk to Kate Geale about recent developments, legal issues, practical tips, and strategies around cross-border fraud and asset tracing in sovereign wealth funds (SWFs). The episode also tackles emerging trends around the growing emphasis on sustainability and the increasing impact of cryptoassets.

As the effects of COVID-19 continue to be felt around the world, businesses continue to face significant levels of instability and uncertainty caused by weakened financial markets and disruption to supply chains, workplace operations and business pipelines. Such instability and uncertainty will result in a growth in the number and…

On 25 August 2020, HMRC confirmed that there are now 10 ongoing investigations concerning the corporate criminal offence of “failure to prevent the facilitation of tax evasion (CCO) (see here). This follows HMRC’s previous update on the matter in February 2020 (see here). While this indicates that HMRC have only opened one new investigation since December 2019, a further 22 “live opportunities” are currently under review, which marks a significant increase in activity during the course of this year.  

This brings the total number of live CCO investigations and opportunities to 32. It is clear from this that, despite the impact of Covid-19 on resources, HMRC is nonetheless continuing to increase scrutiny through the CCO in its pursuit of corporate criminal tax evasion offences

As the effects of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) continue to be felt around the world, businesses face significant levels of instability and uncertainty caused by weakened financial markets and disruption to supply chains, workplace operations and business pipelines. It is almost certain that such instability and uncertainty will result in…

This article relates to a recent High Court decision regarding dishonest assistance, fraudulent trading (pursuant to s.213 of the Insolvency Act) and vicarious liability and will be particularly relevant to brokers, banks, traders and other intermediaries which process payments and other transactions.  The Disputes Resolution team shed light on the circumstances in which those entities and individuals may be found by the Courts to have acted dishonestly by failing to seek further information where they have suspicions of potential wrongdoing. This will also be useful reading in preparation for a post-Covid-19 world, when the repercussions of actions that took place before and during the pandemic will be better understood and will no doubt be thrust under a spotlight.

The COVID-19 pandemic will have long-lasting effects on our society and economy. It has already forced us to reevaluate how we socialize, work and conduct business, and has fundamentally changed the way we resolve disputes and administer justice. While the enforced, temporary changes to our lifestyle and the economy…