Welcome to issue 15 of Norton Rose Fulbright’s International Arbitration Report. In this issue we continue our industry series to focus on the mining and metals sector.

Norton Rose Fulbright’s Global Chief Executive Gerry Pecht today appointed Richard Krumholz as the law firm’s new Global Head of Litigation and Disputes.

Sustainability is critical at all levels of the food and agri sector, from water conservation, fertilizer and pesticide development and usage by growers to processing, transportation, distribution and waste management.

Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright has advised Loan Market Group on its agreement to acquire National Australia Bank’s finance broker aggregation businesses comprising PLAN Australia, Choice and FAST.

Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright has advised French Telecoms operator Orange S.A. (Orange) on the EUR 268m acquisition of a controlling stake in fixed operator Telekom Romania Communications by Orange Romania.

A focus on the retail industry and the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The European Commission (the “Commission”) recently released a White Paper that is meant to address distortions of competition where companies active in the European Union (“EU”) benefit from foreign subsidies.

On October 26, 2020, the European Commission (the Commission) launched a public consultation on sustainable corporate governance (the Consultation), soliciting responses from stakeholders on a possible EU sustainable corporate governance initiative with the aim of ensuring “that environmental and social interests are embedded in business strategies”.

On September 24, 2020 the European Commission published its long-anticipated Digital Finance package, comprising legislative proposals and non-legislative communications.

A judgment of the High Court in London earlier this year considered, amongst other things, the correct interpretation of the term “forthwith.”

Times of economic crisis have historically often flushed out frauds and other unscrupulous dealings which may not otherwise have been discovered in normal economic conditions. It appears that the COVID-19 pandemic, together with other economic factors such as depressed oil prices, are no exception.

The month of October 2020 has seen ASIC use its product intervention powers by imposing conditions on the issue and distribution of contracts for difference (CFDs) to retail clients as well as releasing updated guidance on unfair contract terms laws for insurance.

Mining and materials activities can have substantial environmental impacts, from the point of extraction to processing, transportation, manufacturing and ultimate disposal or recycling.

With the coronavirus pandemic continuing to cause disruption and distress to businesses around the world, temporary support measures are evolving across EMEA and new restructuring legislation has been introduced in a number of jurisdictions to support businesses dealing with the disruption of business due to the pandemic.

https://www.nortonrosefulbright.com/en-au/knowledge/video/9e4f2155/hot-topics-in-risk-and-regulation-financial-crime

The recent court ruling for Thorn Group Limited leaves directors in Australia without any good alternatives when required to respond to an invalid shareholder meeting requisition notice.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the conduct of commercial life and, understandably, is a matter of focus right now.

Start how you intend to continue. That is the mantra for the on-boarding of new employees. Set up the relationship appropriately at the outset and demonstrate the culture of what is expected from the employee going forward. Therefore the first step is to consider the employment contracts and any related policies.

Canada continues to advance its role as a leader in carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) with recent announcements of governmental support at the federal and provincial levels for projects adding to a growing portfolio of carbon emission mitigation activities.

After their success in Europe and more recently in Taiwan, sponsors and international financiers are looking to other emerging markets in Asia to expand their offshore wind footprint.