Public International Law

Briefings in English - 2008

This briefing provides commentary on the ‘Dear CEO’ letter on remuneration policies published by the Financial Services Authority on 13 October 2008. It discusses the implications of that publication and the changing regulatory environment generally in the light of the requirement to maintain appropriate systems and controls. (17 October 2008)

China’s contaminated milk scandal will have far-reaching implications for companies involved in food production in that country. (October 2008)

Some broad themes have emerged from decisions on Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cases, particularly decisions of the Information Tribunal. Generally speaking, the Tribunal can be said to have favoured an expansive application of the regime. One manifestation of this, and this article’s focus, is the extent to which confidential information is protected. (October 2008)

Transfer pricing is probably the single biggest tax issue facing multinational businesses. Tax administrations have become more innovative and aggressive in challenging cross-border transfer pricing and profit attribution. Each tax administration wants to secure what it considers to be its ‘fair share’ of taxable income. However, the administrations act in a relatively unco-ordinated way – it is rare to find a co-ordinated approach that matches transfer pricing adjustments in one jurisdiction with corresponding adjustments in another. This leaves businesses exposed to parallel investigations and potential double taxation charges. This publication explains the challenges that international businesses face in transfer pricing enquiries in some of the key jurisdictions in which we operate. It also outlines other ‘hot topics’ in the field of tax disputes in each of our key jurisdictions. (October 2008)

In recent times, the role that business needs to play in helping fight climate change has received increasing attention. At the same time, many have argued that efforts to combat climate change will provide corporate, as well as environmental, benefit. This report introduces one approach to measuring the contribution made by business to fighting climate change, as well as the corporate success it may (or may not) bring. (September 2008)

The DIFC Arbitration Law 2008 came into effect on 1 September and opens up the Dubai International Financial Centre as a possible seat (or juridical place) of arbitration to all parties looking to seat their arbitrations in the Middle East. This briefing explains the background to the new law and the services it makes available to users of arbitration in the region. (September 2008)

The German Government passed a proposed amendment to the Foreign Trade Act on 20 August 2008. The amendment intends to control acquisitions of resident companies by investors based outside the EU and EFTA. (September 2008)

The Civil Justice Council has this week published its recommendations to the Lord Chancellor for a more efficient and effective procedure for collective actions in England and Wales. The central proposal is for a new generic collective action (including a possible ‘opt-out’ methodology) that, if adopted, would radically change the landscape for English litigation. We set out below our initial thoughts and will of course happily respond to any questions. (8 August 2008)

Further to the Labour Contract Law (LCL) which took effect on 1 January 2008, China’s Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council has recently released a draft of the Implementing Regulations for the Labour Contract Law of the People’s Republic of China (Draft Regulations) for public consultation. This briefing discusses the Draft Regulations’ key provisions. July 2008

The Energy White Paper 2007, published in May, confirmed the UK government’s intention to go ahead with a UK-wide ‘cap and trade’ emissions trading scheme for large non-energy-intensive organisations. This briefing examines the results of the subsequent consultation and the government's response to it. A further consultation on the detailed scheme design and on regulations to implement the CRC into law will be published over the course of the summer (July 2008)

The number of successful challenges to contract award decisions that contravene the Public Contracts Regulations 2006 is increasing. This briefing discusses a case that looked not at the substance of the Regulations but at whether they applied at all. (July 2008)

In recent times, the role that business needs to play in helping fight climate change has received increasing attention. At the same time, many have argued that efforts to combat climate change will provide corporate, as well as environmental, benefit. This report introduces one approach to measuring the contribution made by business to fighting climate change, as well as the corporate success it may (or may not) bring. (June 2008)

Companies whose products contain, or are manufactured using, chemicals may be unaware of their possible obligations under REACH. This briefing examines the need for pre-registration by consumer products companies and the consequences of not doing so in the prescribed timeframe. (2 June 2008)

The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Environment Law 2008 Members of our EPR group produced the following comprehensive legal analysis of environmental laws and regulations which appeared in the fifth edition of The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Environment Law 2008; published by Global Legal Group Ltd, London (www.iclg.co.uk).

The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Environment Law 2008 Members of our EPR group produced the following comprehensive legal analysis of environmental laws and regulations which appeared in the fifth edition of The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Environment Law 2008; published by Global Legal Group Ltd, London (www.iclg.co.uk).

The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Environment Law 2008 Members of our EPR group produced the following comprehensive legal analysis of environmental laws and regulations which appeared in the fifth edition of The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Environment Law 2008; published by Global Legal Group Ltd, London (www.iclg.co.uk).

The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Environment Law 2008 Members of our EPR group produced the following comprehensive legal analysis of environmental laws and regulations which appeared in the fifth edition of The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Environment Law 2008; published by Global Legal Group Ltd, London (www.iclg.co.uk).

The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Environment Law 2008 Members of our EPR group produced the following comprehensive legal analysis of environmental laws and regulations which appeared in the fifth edition of The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Environment Law 2008; published by Global Legal Group Ltd, London (www.iclg.co.uk).

The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Environment Law 2008 Members of our EPR group produced the following comprehensive legal analysis of environmental laws and regulations which appeared in the fifth edition of The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Environment Law 2008; published by Global Legal Group Ltd, London (www.iclg.co.uk).

The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Environment Law 2008 Members of our EPR group produced the following comprehensive legal analysis of environmental laws and regulations which appeared in the fifth edition of The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Environment Law 2008; published by Global Legal Group Ltd, London (www.iclg.co.uk).

An overview of regulation in 40 jurisdictions worldwide. Please visit the website global-competition.com for a review and order form.

The recent English Court of Appeal case of Lettings International Limited v London Borough of Newham now represents a UK example of a successful challenge to a procurement award decision. The case also emphasises the importance of disclosing all relevant evaluation criteria to be applied in assessing tenders under the EU procurement rules. (May 2008)

On 12 March 2008, the House of Lords allowed Mr Norris’s appeal in part against the lower court’s decision that Mr Norris should be extradited to the US to face charges of conspiracy to fix prices, obstructing the course of justice and interfering with witnesses. It concluded that Mr Norris could not be extradited on the cartel allegation because price-fixing was not, at the relevant time, a criminal offence in the UK. This briefing outlines and analyses this judgment. (March 2008)

At the March 2007 European Council summit, EU member states committed themselves to cutting the EU’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 20 per cent by 2020, compared with 1990 levels, with a promise to move to 30 per cent if other industrialised countries follow suit. After some delay and intense behind-the-scenes lobbying by the member states and industry, the Commission finally published a package of legislative proposals designed to achieve these targets on 23 January. (March 2008)

In the first 10 months of 2007, the European Commission received 56 per cent more consumer safety alerts from EU member states than in the same period in 2006. What is driving this high level of activity in the EU? This report answers this and other questions on the basis of a major international study into industry attitudes to product safety and recall in the EU. (March 2008)

Ensuring effective, industry-wide implementation of a policy of treating customers fairly (TCF) was a focus of much of the FSA’s work in 2007 and this will also be the case in 2008. Notably, in November 2007, the FSA published a report entitled Treating customers fairly: measuring outcomes reporting on its assessment of industry performance on TCF. The following month, the FSA issued a press release announcing that firms were not doing enough to ensure that their appointed representatives were treating customers fairly in the sale of general insurance, mortgage and investment products. (March 2008)

A rapidly evolving landscape. (February 2008)

An update to the June 2007 guide, Class actions and third party funding of litigation.

The increasing regulation of the food industry in Europe is an inevitable consequence of the EU’s policy of strengthening consumer confidence in food safety and harmonising laws and regulations to ensure the free movement of food and feed. (February 2008)

On 1 January 2008, a new gambling regime came into force in Germany. The new law upholds the state monopoly for gambling until 2012. All internet activities are prohibited. Advertising is restricted to providing information on gambling activities and is prohibited on TV and the internet or by telecommunication. The law was discussed controversially before coming into force. It is expected that authorities will take action against private land-based and internet operators as well as financial institutions and service providers in early 2008. (January 2008)

This briefing is a round-up of some of the important recent developments in EU public procurement. We will focus on: the new Remedies Directive; defence procurement; and pre-commercial procurement for research and development services. (January 2008)

This briefing summarises the position and the issues that arise and sets out some of our more relevant experience in this area. Clients who had any involvement with the OFFP should consider taking appropriate preparatory steps in expectation of an approach from the SFO.

In an attempt to overcome these problems the recently published energy and planning white papers propose what amounts to a preferential regulatory system for nationally significant infrastructure projects that should, among other matters, ensure the delivery of the new energy generation capacity that the government envisages will be required in the next two decades. This involves further changes to the development consents regime, beyond those already introduced by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 for major infrastructure projects. (January 2008)

Briefings in French - 2008

Dès 2013, les entreprises européennes risquent de devoir payer leurs quotas d’émissions de CO2. Il faut impérativement qu’elles soient fixées au plus vite pour pouvoir s’y préparer, avertit Vincent Brenot, avocat au cabinet Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, spécialiste du droit de l’environnement et des secteurs de l’énergie et des infrastructures. (Juillet 2008)

Briefings in German - 2008

Wirtschaftliche und EU-rechtliche Aspekte der geplanten Beschränkung ausländischer Beteiligungen an deutschen Unternehmen (August 2008)

In diesem Briefing stellen wir Ihnen wichtige gesetzgeberische Entwicklungen im europäischen und deutschen Vergaberecht vor. Zunächst möchten wir Sie über die seit dem 1. Juli 2008 geltenden, niedrigeren EU-Schwellenwerte für gemeinschaftsweit ausschreibungspflichtige öffentliche Aufträge informieren. Anschließend geben wir Ihnen einen kurzen Überblick über die wesentlichen Neuerungen der reformierten EU-Rechtsmittelrichtlinien sowie den derzeitigen Stand der Umsetzung in das deutsche Vergaberecht. (Juli 2008)

Shareholder Aktivismus – ein Phänomen, von dem Österreich bislang weitgehend verschont geblieben ist – entwickelt sich mehr und mehr zu einem Problem. Berufsopponenten („räuberische Aktionäre“) drohen eine Klage an oder bringen eine solche ein, um sich ihr Anfechtungsrecht abkaufen zu lassen. Eine auf diese Weise unter Druck gesetzte Gesellschaft muss sich rechtlich wehren. Die Erhebung einer Anfechtungsklage gegen einen Hauptversammlungsbeschluss ist dann Rechtsmissbrauch, wenn nicht allgemeine Aktionärsinteressen, sondern illoyale Eigeninteressen verfolgt werden. Im übrigen ist zu erwarten, dass auch auf Ebene des Gesetzgebers künftig die rechtsmissbräuchliche Geltendmachung von Aktionärsrechten eingedämmt wird. (Mai 2008)

Um die Vorteile eines Schiedsverfahrens nutzen zu können, sollten die Parteien bei der Abfassung einer Schiedsvereinbarung Unsicherheiten vermeiden. Jede Unklarheit im Wortlaut der Schiedsvereinbarung erhöht das Risiko, dass die Zulässigkeit des Schiedsverfahrens in Frage gestellt wird. Vertragsparteien, die eine Schiedsklausel vereinbaren wollen, sollten ihr daher dieselbe Aufmerksamkeit schenken wie einer materiell-rechtlichen Vertragsbestimmung. Zusätzlich sind bereits bei der Abfassung der Schiedsvereinbarung künftiges Konfliktpotenzial und weiterer Regelungsbedarf zu berücksichtigen, um die Möglichkeiten, die die weitgehend freie Gestaltung eines Schiedsverfahrens bietet, optimal nutzen zu können. (Januar 2008)

Briefings in Italian - 2008

In Italia, lo Studio è presente dal 1997 con due sedi, Milano e Roma, e conta circa 125 professionisti, di cui 17 soci. Lo Studio offre un’ampia gamma di servizi legali, con particolare riferimento alle aree del diritto commerciale, societario e bancario, amministrativo, del diritto e della regolamentazione dell’energia, dei media, delle telecomunicazioni e nuove tecnologie, del diritto comunitario e antitrust, del diritto dei servizi finanziari, del diritto immobiliare e tributario. (Marzo 2008)

L’articolo analizza la recente sentenza della Corte di Cassazione (Sez. Un., 28 dicembre 2007, n. 27169), secondo la quale rientrano nella giurisdizione del giudice ordinario le controversie relative all’invalidità o inefficacia del contratto di appalto derivante dall’annullamento degli atti di una procedura ad evidenza pubblica. (5 marzo 2008)

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