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Carluccio's serves up a rescue recipe

Published on 28 Apr 2020. By Paul Bagon, Partner and Olivia Whitehead, Hospitality & Events Executive

On Friday 24 April, RPC hosted a 30 minute webinar on the interaction of furloughing and insolvency law.

Coming to a bank near you? How "investment AI" could transform financial mis-selling claims

Published on 09 Nov 2023. By Daniel Hemming, Partner and Olivia Dhein, Knowledge Lawyer

Living under a rock is probably the only way anyone might have escaped the media attention given to ChatGPT and generative AI in recent months. Beyond the (considerable) hype, this technology could have a profound impact on financial mis-selling claims where financial institutions and fund managers turn to the new technology to help them select investments and products.

The Times recognises RPC among Best Law Firms 2024

Published on 30 Oct 2023.

International law firm, RPC, has been recognised by The Times in its Best Law Firms 2024 report, an annual ranking of the top 250 law firms in England and Wales.

BHS: Key Takeaways for Insolvency Practitioners

Published on 21 Oct 2024. By Paul Bagon, Partner and Matt Ward, Associate

The dust has now settled since Justice Leech handed down his judgment on the claim issued by the liquidators of BHS against certain of its former directors for wrongful trading and misfeasance. This included a novel claim for misfeasance trading. We examine the key takeaways for insolvency practitioners (IPs) arising out of this decision in light of the significant amounts ordered to be paid by the directors personally to the high street retailer's insolvent estate for the benefit of creditors.

Against a Backdrop of Rising Corporate Insolvencies HMRC Joint and Several Liability Notices: Should Directors be Concerned?

Published on 11 Apr 2023. By Paul Bagon, Partner and Laura Capece Galeota, Associate

It is widely anticipated that the next twelve months could be a challenging period for many businesses in the UK and that there could be a significant rise in the number of companies in financial distress.

Silicon Valley, Signature and Credit Suisse: what do they all share(holder) in common?

Published on 28 Mar 2023. By James Wickes, Partner and Oliver Knox, Partner and Jessica Pease, Associate

In what has been termed "the biggest banking crisis since 2008", both Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank have collapsed, and Credit Suisse has been rescued. Whether more banks are to follow suit is yet to be seen.

Choppy waters ahead? The significance of Oceanfill

Published on 20 Mar 2023. By Elizabeth Alibhai, Partner and Paul Bagon, Partner and Will Beck, Of Counsel and Knowledge Lawyer

The economic outlook for the UK in 2023 remains uncertain, and more companies may need to restructure their businesses to ensure survival. This

BTI 2014 LLC v Sequana SA and others – Supreme Court decision

Published on 06 Oct 2022. By Tim Moynihan, Partner and Harriet Ainsworth, Associate

The Judgment of the Supreme Court in BTI 2014 LLC v Sequana SA was handed down on 5 October 2022.

Corporate bankruptcy and insolvency litigation roundtable

Published on 09 Sep 2021. By Paul Bagon, Partner

The corporate bankruptcy & insolvency litigation landscape has experienced a turbulent period over the past year and a half, largely a consequence of the extreme circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Against this backdrop, many businesses have sought arrangements and restructuring plans in an attempt to avoid corporate bankruptcy. However, as government COVID-19-related stimulus is withdrawn and the true financial impact of the pandemic becomes clear, the focus turns to which businesses will remain in crisis or fold, and which are able to restructure and survive. As the battle lines are drawn, disputes are sure to rise.

What are the latest trends in bankruptcy and restructuring? What developments can we expect to see?

Published on 14 May 2021. By Paul Bagon, Partner and Tim Moynihan, Partner

The pandemic led to the biggest change to insolvency legislation in the UK for over 20 years.

The UK's new restructuring plan

Published on 21 Apr 2021. By Paul Bagon, Partner and Tim Moynihan, Partner

The UK has introduced the Restructuring Plan; a new, flexible court supervised restructuring tool. The Restructuring Plan draws upon features of the existing Companies Act 2006 scheme of arrangement procedure (which remains available) but includes features which are new to the UK but similar to those under U.S. Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.

COVID-19: the supply chain

Published on 20 Apr 2020. By Paul Bagon, Partner and Tim Moynihan, Partner

Concerns regarding the strength of UK supply chains and the consequences which arise when links in the chain fail, are not new and were recently subject to significant scrutiny in the context of Brexit negotiations. But with COVID-19 causing a host of new problems for already stressed supply chains, what can businesses do to protect themselves?

COVID-19: Good news on wrongful trading provisions but why should directors tread carefully?

Published on 09 Apr 2020. By Tim Moynihan, Partner

The Government has launched a number of initiatives to assist companies and businesses to trade through the current financial stress. But what should directors still be aware of as they steer their organisations through these unprecedented times?

COVID-19: The suspension of wrongful trading provisions and a moratorium for businesses in restructuring – what is the likely impact on your business?

Published on 31 Mar 2020. By Paul Bagon, Partner and James Whelan, Senior Associate

COVID-19: On 28 March 2020 the Business Secretary announced further new far-reaching measures to help businesses combat the financial impact of COVID-19. What it the likely impact of the suspension of wrongful trading provisions and a moratorium for businesses in restructuring on your business?

Restructuring and Insolvency roundup January 2018

Published on 05 Jan 2018.

In this roundup, we look at crowdfunding, a sector which continues to be of interest to practitioners giving the changing regulatory landscape and the risk to investors. Other cases we look at include cover privilege in bankruptcy, the adequacy of ATE policies, and the requirement for boards to be quorate when directors appoint administrators.

Restructuring and insolvency roundup, July 2017

Published on 18 Jul 2017.

In this roundup, we consider four recent cases with implications for practitioners in the restructuring and insolvency sector.

“Gagging orders”: an office holder’s secret weapon

Published on 13 Mar 2017.

Practitioners are fully aware of the extensive powers available under ss 235 and 236 of the Insolvency Act 1986 (IA 1986) allowing administrators and liquidators as office holders (OHs) to require individuals and organisations to disgorge information.

Make insolvency great again

Published on 08 Feb 2017.

One of the great criticisms of the new President of the United States of America is that his companies filed for bankruptcy four times when he was a business mogul.

Restructuring and insolvency December 2015

Published on 18 Dec 2015.

An update on recent changes

Legislative changes in effect today: what IPs need to know

Published on 26 May 2015.

Previously under section 165 IA 86, liquidators in a voluntary winding up would have to seek sanction of the company (in members’ voluntary liquidation) or of the court or liquidation committee (in creditors’ voluntary liquidation) in order to exercise their powers to pay debts, compromise claims etc.

New Standard Contractual Clauses for data importers outside the EAA but subject to the GDPR

Published on 10 Dec 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner

Are the EU’s Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) needed if a data importer is located outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and already directly subject to the EU General Data Protection Regulation (EU GDPR)? In other words, where third party controllers and processors are based outside the EAA but subject to the GDPR, do you still need the SCCs to enable a lawful international transfer to them?

The UK’s new Data (Use and Access) Bill

Published on 10 Dec 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner

What does the UK’s new Data (Use and Access) Bill (the Data Bill) mean for businesses?

EDPB’s new publications on the ePrivacy Directive, processors and legitimate interests

Published on 09 Dec 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner

What are the key takeaways for organisations processing personal data set out in the recent Guidelines and Opinions adopted by the European Data Protection Board (EDPB)?

ICO Statement on Generative AI Model Training

Published on 09 Dec 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner

What position does the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) continue to take on Generative AI Model training?

ICO reprimands Sky Betting and Gaming for using non-essential cookies without users’ consent

Published on 09 Dec 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner

What proactive steps should website operators take to ensure that their use of cookies complies with UK data protection law? Put another way, are you sure personal data is not being collected by your website’s advertising cookies before users have consented to their deployment?

Irish DPC fines LinkedIn €310m for behavioural analysis and targeted advertising breaches

Published on 09 Dec 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner

How certain do data controllers need to be of their lawful basis for processing personal data when engaging in behavioural analysis and targeted advertising, and how clearly must this be reflected in a privacy policy?

UK's new AI Cyber Security Code of Practice

Published on 17 Oct 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner

What is the UK's proposed AI Cyber Security Code of Practice?

EU AI Act into force 1 August 2024

Published on 17 Oct 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner

The EU AI Act came into force across all 27 EU member states on 1 August 2024. The aim of the legislation is to ensure AI systems used in the EU are safe and transparent.

New Minister for Data Protection Sir Chris Bryant

Published on 17 Oct 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner

On 8 July 2024, the Government appointed Sir Chris Bryant as the Minister of State for Data Protection and Telecoms (as well as Minister of State for Creative Industries, Arts and Tourism).

Social media and video sharing platforms targeted by ICO over children's privacy practices

Published on 17 Oct 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner

What must social technology platforms be aware of to ensure they are following the ICO's codes of practice for children's online safety?

Uber hit with €290m fine for transferring European driver data to its US HQ

Published on 17 Oct 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner

What does the Uber fine signal for international data transfers and the consequences of failing to comply with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (EU GDPR)?

X suspends personal data training of AI chatbot Grok following Irish DPC pressure

Published on 17 Oct 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner

How are the data regulators addressing the use of personal data when training AI language models?

The UK's new AI Bill

Published on 17 Oct 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner

The UK's Digital Information and Smart Data Bill

Published on 17 Oct 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner

What can we expect from the new Digital Information and Smart Data Bill (the DISD Bill)?

AI-as-a-Service – Key Issues

Published on 04 Oct 2024. By Praveeta Thayalan, Knowledge Lawyer and Tom James, Associate and Paul Joukador, Partner

Artificial Intelligence-as-a-Service (AIaaS), in the same vein as Software-as-a-Service and Infrastructure-as-a-Service, refers to cloud-based tools that allow businesses to gain access to an AI model hosted by a third party provider.

Procuring AI – Commercial Considerations Checklist

Published on 04 Oct 2024. By Praveeta Thayalan, Knowledge Lawyer and Paul Joukador, Partner

Many companies will no doubt be considering using AI within their business to take advantage of the massive opportunities for increased productivity and cost efficiencies promised.

AI and Privacy – 10 Questions to Ask

Published on 04 Oct 2024. By Jon Bartley, Partner and Praveeta Thayalan, Knowledge Lawyer

We set out in this section 10 key questions to ask yourself at the outset when developing or deploying AI solutions in your business.

Generative AI – Addressing Copyright

Published on 04 Oct 2024. By Ciara Cullen, Partner and Joshy Thomas, Knowledge Lawyer and Emma Dunnill, Senior Associate

When it comes to the interaction of AI and IP rights, bar a flurry of activity surrounding the inevitable outcome by the courts in the Thaler, Dabus case (see here) and the Court of Appeal's ruling on the potential for exclusion from patentability of artificial neural networks in the Emotional Perception case, most attention has been focused on copyright issues. There are three main potentially thorny issues and all have been extensively covered by the mainstream media.

Part 6 – Practical Considerations

Published on 04 Oct 2024. By Caroline Tuck, Partner and Joshy Thomas, Knowledge Lawyer and Ricky Cella, Senior Associate

AI focussed actors and providers have been focussing on their forthcoming AI obligations and on governance for some time, but it is now prudent for the majority of organisations to assess how their use of AI will come within the scope of regulation in key territories and become familiar with each regime (and devise a means to keep up with the anticipated fast moving changes). Planning for the costs of compliance and for AI governance including systems and procedures for data retention and record keeping should also be part of current business strategy together with building expertise on AI internally and identifying trusted advisors from the "noise" of what is being offered externally.

Part 5 – AI Regulation Globally

Published on 04 Oct 2024. By Caroline Tuck, Partner and Joshy Thomas, Knowledge Lawyer and Ricky Cella, Senior Associate

On 30 October 2023 the G7 published its international guiding principles on AI, in addition to a voluntary code of conduct for AI developers. The G7 principles are a non-exhaustive list of guiding principles aimed at promoting safe, secure and trustworthy AI and are intended to build on the OECD's AI Principles, adopted back in May 2019.

Part 3 - AI regulation in the US

Published on 04 Oct 2024. By Caroline Tuck, Partner and Joshy Thomas, Knowledge Lawyer and Ricky Cella, Senior Associate

Back in October 2022, the White House published federal guidance – a Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights identifying five principles aiming to guide the design, use, and deployment of automated systems. It was designed to operate as a roadmap to protect the public from AI harms and was followed in October 2023 by the US President's Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence. The Executive Order sets out eight "guiding principles and priorities", detailing how those principles and priorities should be put into effect, and reporting requirements

Part 2 - AI regulation in the EU

Published on 04 Oct 2024. By Caroline Tuck, Partner and Joshy Thomas, Knowledge Lawyer and Ricky Cella, Senior Associate

The EU AI Act, the main elements of which are covered in our previous article, entered into force on 1 August 2024. Most provisions apply from August 2026 but some apply earlier, or later.

Part 1 - UK AI regulation

Published on 04 Oct 2024. By Caroline Tuck, Partner and Joshy Thomas, Knowledge Lawyer and Ricky Cella, Senior Associate

There has been consistent messaging from the UK Conservative-led government that the UK has decided to adopt a light touch approach to regulating AI. This was evident in the AI white paper published in March 2023 which outlined a principles based framework (see ['The Ethics of AI – the Digital Dilemma'] for more information about the principles themselves and see here for additional coverage of the AI white paper). The UK government held a consultation on the AI white paper in 2023 and published a response on 6 February 2024 that adds slightly more flesh to the bones of the UK framework.

Regulation of AI - raising the trillion dollar bAIby - introduction

Published on 02 Oct 2024. By Caroline Tuck, Partner and Joshy Thomas, Knowledge Lawyer and Ricky Cella, Senior Associate

As with any new technology, existing data protection and privacy, intellectual property, competition, product liability, data security and consumer laws apply to its application in each jurisdiction. This has thrown up a number of important and newsworthy issues and considerations for AI developers and providers, legislators, consumers and rights holders. There are also several sets of high profile legal proceedings both decided and ongoing in several jurisdictions. These issues and legal proceedings are discussed in other sections of this AI Guide.

Retail Compass Autumn 2024

Published on 02 Oct 2024. By Jeremy Drew, Partner and Karen Hendy, Partner and Ciara Cullen, Partner

Welcome to the autumn edition of Retail Compass. This edition sees a surge of ESG-related legislative and regulatory updates. We hope to guide you through the most pressing, as well as the wider upcoming legal and policy changes affecting retail and consumer brands.

Construction and Engineering Law 2024

Published on 15 Aug 2024. By Tom Green, Partner and Arash Rajai, Partner and Alan Stone, Partner and Jonathan Carrington, Senior Associate

We are delighted to have contributed once again to ICLG's Construction and Engineering Law guide for 2024. The comprehensive guide delves into the multifaceted world of construction and engineering law, providing an essential reference for understanding and comparing the handling of common legal challenges across various jurisdictions.

Part 4 – AI Regulation in Asia

Published on 06 Aug 2024. By Nick Lauw, Partner and Pu Fang Ching, Senior Associate and Armani Cheng , Associate

This is Part 4 of 'Regulation of AI – raising the trillion dollar bAIby'

“Consent or pay” models under scrutiny in UK and EU

Published on 01 Aug 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner

Are “consent or pay” business models compliant with data protection law?

ICO forces Serco Leisure to stop using facial recognition technology for employees

Published on 01 Aug 2024. By Oliver Bray, Senior Partner

In what circumstances can facial recognition technology (FRT) be acceptable to monitor employees in the workplace?