In episode 25, Emma and Rebekah discuss the legal risks around ambush marketing ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. They discuss considerations for businesses that engage in marketing practices designed to leverage the reputation and hype surrounding a global event such as the Olympics, including intellectual property and consumer law issues in light of both recent and historical high-profile examples.

The Worker Protection Act 2023 will come into force on 25 October of this year, imposing a new positive duty on UK employers to take 'reasonable steps' to prevent sexual harassment of employees in the course of their employment. In the first instalment of this podcast, we discussed the impact of the Act within workplaces within the UK, and shared our insights based on experience with the adoption of similar legislation in Australia. In the second, we are going to share our experience from working with employers in Asia and EMEA about similar applicable laws and duties to prevent sexual harassment.

Speakers: Fatim Jumabhoy, Partner, Singapore; Emma Rohsler, Partner and EMEA Regional Head of Employment, Pensions and Incentives, Paris

In this quickfire episode of the Herbert Smith Freehills Tax Bites podcast, Australian tax partners Toby Eggleston and Ryan Leslie, along with Senior Associate Naison Seery, discuss the recently released Treasury consultation paper proposing changes to the foreign resident capital gains tax regime. Key topics include broadening the classification of assets subject to tax, updates to the principal asset test to a 365-day rule, and new notification requirements for the sale of assets over $20 million. The hosts delve into the potential implications of these changes, discuss uncertainties, and invite feedback before the August consultation deadline.

00:09 Introduction
00:28 Overview of Foreign Resident Capital Gains Tax Changes
01:02 Current Tax Base for Foreign Residents
02:48 Proposed Changes to the Tax Base
05:27 Detailed Breakdown of Proposed Measures
11:32 Principal Asset Test Changes
14:16 Notification Requirement for High-Value Transactions
19:29 Closing Thoughts and Consultation Details

In this episode of Talking Shop, Andrew Rich, a partner in the M&A practice at Herbert Smith Freehills and Global Co-Head of HSF’s Consumer Sector group, is joined by David Sinn, a partner in HSF's Real Estate practice Global Co-Head of HSF’s Real Estate Sector group. They discuss the resurgence of the retail sector in Australia, the impact of e-commerce and promotional events on retail sales, and the role of shopping centres in the current retail landscape.

Tony Damian and Andrew Rich gain insights from Guy Miller at WTW on W&I insurance in public M&A deals.

Explore the latest trends and insights in technology deals across the APAC region with our sixth episode focusing on the dynamic world of Fintech. Join Malika Chandrasegaran, along with Charlotte Henry and Michelle Virgiany, experts in financial services and tech regulatory matters, as they delve into the current landscape of Fintech M&A, discussing the shifts in activity over the past year due to post-COVID adjustments and regulatory changes. Charlotte and Michelle provide valuable perspectives on the trends seen in Australia and Southeast Asia, highlighting the driving forces behind Fintech M&A. We explore the key sectors and areas attracting investment, including payment functionality, digital lending, wealthtech, and core banking platforms. Charlotte and Michelle share insights into the evolving focus within these sectors, particularly in Southeast Asia where B2B payment gateways and innovative credit-related businesses are gaining traction. Additionally, we discuss alternate strategies and trends driving Fintech across APAC, such as Banking as a Service (BaaS), big tech's role, and innovative partnerships shaping the industry. Charlotte and Michelle share their excitement about the latest tech innovations, from AI advancements to the potential of mind-controlled typing technology.

In the latest episode of our public M&A podcast series, we look at the new UK Listing Rules that come into force on 29 July 2024 and what impact they will have on public M&A in the UK. In particular we discuss:

• what the new listing regime looks like and the reasons behind the changes
• what listed companies have to do when executing a significant transaction and
• the rules around related party transaction and reverse takeovers.

Speakers: Antonia Kirkby and Charles Steward